Bring three to five outfits, the shoes and jewellery that go with them, a robe, something loose to travel in, and any product you would normally put on your own face. Everything else on this list is a small item that saves a few minutes on the day.
Choosing what to wear is a separate question, and I have covered it at length in the guide to what to wear to a boudoir shoot. This post assumes those decisions are made and deals with the bag: what goes in it, how it gets there without creasing, and what to settle before you leave the house.
Pack the bag, not the wardrobe
The most common packing mistake is volume. People arrive with twelve pieces, spend the first twenty minutes of a one-hour shoot deciding between them, and lose the time they were hoping to spend actually being photographed. Three to five looks is the right number for a standard session, and they should already be in an order you are happy with.
A useful test: if you cannot say out loud why a piece is in the bag, it does not go in the bag. The ones that survive that test tend to be the ones that fit properly, that you have worn before, and that you already know you like on your own body.
Pack them in the order you want to shoot them, each set kept together, with its shoes and jewellery in the same bundle. It sounds fussy. It removes the single largest source of dead time in a session.
Outfits: getting them there uncreased
Creases show. They show more on satin and silk than on lace or cotton, and they show more in the sharp light of a studio than they do in a bedroom mirror. Hang what you can and roll what you cannot, rather than folding along a seam.
If you plan to steam or press anything, check the label first. The Federal Trade Commission's Care Labeling Rule requires covered manufacturers to provide complete instructions about regular care for the garment, or provide warnings if the garment cannot be cleaned without harm, and where ironing would damage a piece the label has to say so. A "do not iron" label is not a suggestion, and a melted strap on the morning of a session is not a fixable problem.
- Hang delicate pieces in a garment bag; roll knitwear and bodysuits loosely.
- Put anything with hooks or clasps in its own pouch so it does not snag the rest.
- Bring one spare of anything you have only one of, if you have a spare.
- Check every piece on your own body the week before, not the night before.
Shoes, jewellery and the things people forget
Shoes change posture in every frame, which is why they are worth packing even for a session where your feet are rarely the subject. Bring a pair you can stand in, not a pair you are breaking in.
The rest of the list is small and unglamorous, and it is the part people leave behind:
- Nude or skin-tone underwear, for layering under anything sheer.
- A robe or kimono, which doubles as a cover-up between looks and as a look in itself.
- Jewellery you actually wear. Sentimental pieces photograph better than borrowed statement pieces.
- Hair ties, clips and a brush, plus whatever you use to reset your hair between outfits.
- Double-sided tape, safety pins and a small pair of scissors for loose threads.
- Water and a snack. A one-hour shoot is more physical than people expect.
- A phone charger, and the phone on silent once you arrive.
If your session is tied to a wedding, add the pieces that make it specific: the veil, a garter, a shirt or jersey belonging to your partner. The bridal boudoir page goes into how those elements get used.
What to wear on the way to the studio
Tight waistbands, bra bands, sock cuffs and anything elasticated leave marks on skin that can take half an hour to fade. That half hour is the front of your session.
Travel in something loose: a soft dress, joggers and an oversized shirt, slip-on shoes. Skip the bra if you are comfortable doing so, or wear a bralette a size up. It is a small thing that removes a real delay.
Skin, hair and the makeup you bring yourself
The whole of my advice on skin is this: do not try anything new. If you want to test a product, test it early. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests applying a new product to a quarter-sized test spot twice daily for seven to ten days before using it more widely, because ingredients such as preservatives can trigger allergic contact dermatitis. That timeline does not fit into the week before a session, so anything unfamiliar should either have been tested a month ago or stay in the cupboard. Anything beyond that is a question for your own doctor or dermatologist, not for me.
If you are doing your own makeup, or bringing products to touch up with, check their age. The FDA notes that there are no U.S. laws or regulations requiring cosmetics to carry expiration dates, and that manufacturers usually recommend discarding mascara two to four months after purchase because eye-area products pick up bacteria with every use. The same page is blunt about sharing: don't share makeup, you may be sharing an infection. Bring your own, and leave the tube that has been in a hot car all summer at home.
Arrive with clean, dry hair and a bare face if a stylist is doing your hair and makeup. Arrive with your face done the way you like it if nobody is. Either is fine; what slows a session down is arriving half-finished.
Paperwork, payment and the admin you do not want on the day
None of this should happen while you are standing in a robe. Before the session date, you should have signed the agreement, paid whatever is due to hold the date, and read the part that governs rescheduling. Minnesota does not give you a general right to cancel: the Attorney General's Office notes that most contracts have no cooling-off period at all, so the terms you signed are the terms that apply. Ask about illness and weather before you need to.
Two other pieces of paper matter. The first is the model release, which is separate from the session agreement and entirely optional: declining it does not change your booking, your session or your images, and no photograph of you should ever be published without it. The second is whatever password or access detail your gallery uses, which is worth writing down somewhere that is not a shared device.
It is also worth knowing before you arrive that you can stop. A session can pause for a break, change direction, or end early, and none of that requires a reason. The post on what to expect at a Minneapolis boudoir session walks through the running order, and the guide to boudoir pricing in Minneapolis covers the money side so the ordering conversation is not a surprise either.
The list, in one place
- Three to five outfits, packed in shooting order with their shoes and jewellery.
- Nude or skin-tone underwear and a robe.
- Shoes you can stand in comfortably.
- Hair ties, clips, brush and any styling product you use.
- Your own makeup for touch-ups, current rather than ancient.
- Tape, safety pins, small scissors.
- Water, a snack, a phone charger.
- Loose clothes to travel in and to go home in.
- Signed agreement and payment already settled.
- Any sentimental piece that makes the session yours.
For the longer-range version of this, including what to do in the month before, see how to prepare for a boudoir shoot. If you want the packing list sent to you with your own session details on it, ask on the contact page or read through the boudoir session page first.
Frequently asked questions
How many outfits should I bring to a boudoir session?
Three to five for a standard one-hour session. Fewer than three and you run out of variety before the time is up; more than five and you spend the session changing rather than being photographed. Pack them in the order you want to shoot them and keep each set with its own shoes and accessories so nothing has to be hunted for.
What should I wear to the studio?
Something loose. Tight waistbands, bra bands and sock cuffs leave marks that can take half an hour to fade, and that half hour comes straight out of your shooting time. A soft dress or joggers with an oversized shirt and slip-on shoes is ideal. If you can comfortably skip a bra on the drive over, do.
Do I need to bring my own makeup?
Bring what you would use to touch up, even if a stylist is doing your hair and makeup. Check the age of anything in the bag first: the FDA points out that cosmetics are not required to carry expiration dates, and that manufacturers generally suggest replacing mascara within a few months. Do not borrow from anyone else's kit.
Should I bring someone with me?
That is your call, and you should ask before the day rather than arrive with a guest unannounced. Some people want a friend in the building; others find an audience makes it harder. Whatever you decide, it should be a decision you made rather than a default, and you can change it at any point up to the session.
What paperwork do I need to have finished?
The session agreement should be signed and any payment due should be settled before the day. Read the rescheduling clause while you still have time to ask about it. The model release is a separate document, it is optional, and declining it does not affect your booking or your images in any way.
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