How to get ready for your boudoir session

A few grounded ways to arrive feeling like yourself

I’m so excited to guide you through some of my favorite ways to prepare for a boudoir session. Many of these tips apply not just to boudoir, but to any kind of photography experience where you’re stepping into being seen.

At Ritual Intimates, we celebrate your ability to arrive as your most authentic self. And that starts well before you walk into the studio. Preparing isn’t about changing yourself. It’s about giving yourself the space to settle in, feel supported, and lean into the very rad experience you’re about to have.

And yes, I know booking a boudoir session can feel nerve-wracking. That’s normal. This guide is here to help you feel more like you and to make the most of your session, without pressure or perfection.

1. Embrace Self-Care (In Ways That Actually Feel Good)

Self-care might look like:

• Taking a long bath or shower

• Going for a walk and letting your mind wander

• Booking a massage or bodywork session

• Cooking your favorite meal

• Muting or unfollowing social media accounts that make you feel weird

• Journaling or meditating

• Making a Spotify playlist that feels like you

• Sitting quietly with yourself, no agenda

  
  

These small acts of care help your nervous system soften. Sprinkle them into the days leading up to your session. Let yourself arrive feeling more grounded and more at home in your body.

2. Lean Into The Nerves

Your nerves are valid. Truly.

Nervousness doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong. It usually means you’re doing something meaningful. Whether this is your first session or your fiftieth, nerves often show up. Even I still feel nervous and excited when I’m having my own photos taken.

Our brains are powerful protectors. When something feels new or vulnerable, they try to keep us safe by scanning for danger. If anxiety shows up, try gently redirecting it toward curiosity.

Instead of worst-case scenarios, invite in the good what-ifs:

• What if this turns out really good?

• What if I love my photos?

• What if I have fun?

• What if everything is okay?

  
  

Even imagining the possibility of good can shift how we experience what’s ahead. You are safe. You are capable. And you are worthy of being here.

Let the nerves exist without letting them drive. They can fuel the experience rather than stop it.

3. Outfits Aren't as Serious as You Might Think

I promise you, what you wear is not the most important part of your session. And yes, I completely understand the what the fuck do I wear spiral.

Boudoir can be so many things. There’s no single look you’re supposed to have. The goal isn’t to follow a rulebook. It’s to wear something that feels like you.

Ask yourself one simple question:What do I feel best in?

That answer might lead you to lingerie. Or it might lead you to a favorite band tee, a satin sheet, an oversized sweater, nothing at all, or a mix of everything. It’s all welcome here.

Outfits matter only in how they make you feel. If shopping feels overwhelming, don’t worry. I send every client a curated wardrobe guide to help you explore options, silhouettes, and textures that photograph beautifully and feel good on real bodies. You’ll also have access to the client closet, with hand-picked pieces ranging from XS to 5X, if you want to experiment without the stress.

This part gets to be playful. Exploratory. Low pressure.

4. Remember - boudoir is a feeling, not perfection

Boudoir isn’t about outfits or poses or flawless confidence. It’s about the feeling.

The feeling of saying:

• Yes, I am worthy.

• Yes, I am allowed to take up space.

• Yes, I get to indulge.

• Yes, I get to see myself as art today.

  
  

You don’t need to arrive confident, healed, or anything other than exactly as you are.

Let go of any expectations of what boudoir is “supposed” to look like. The magic happens when you let yourself be present.

5. Day-of Magic

When the day arrives, your only job is to show up. That’s it.

You’ll be welcomed into a space designed to help you feel supported, seen, and held. I’ll guide you through everything. You don’t need to know how to pose. You don’t need to perform. All I ask is that you trust yourself, trust the process, and let the experience do it's thing.

Enjoy the moments. Let yourself soften into them. Let your authenticity lead.

Because boudoir doesn’t end with the session itself. It’s about creating something that reflects your personal energy and honors your story. This experience is about celebrating you as the living, breathing work of art that you are.

<3 - Maddie