One of the most exciting things about booking a BOUDOIR session is getting to go shopping! It can also be one of the most stressful things, especially if you don’t know where to shop or what to buy. Like the stress of shopping for a bikini, only worse. :-[

A successful boudoir shoot starts with a good wardrobe, and good lingerie is crucial, so here are some of my favorite things to look out for.

Just a reminder though, all Boudoir by Amy clients have complete access to our Client Closet, that currently has over 1200 lingerie sets in sizes ranging from XXS-6XL. Everything you see in this post is a part of our closet. We have bodysuits, corsets, bra and panty sets, garters, stockings and everything you could possibly need. We handle all the cleaning, steaming, and sanitizing. So don’t stress about shopping, if that’s not your thing, and certainly don’t waste money on lingerie that you’ll never wear again.  But if you are as much of a shopaholic as I am then keep reading!

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Bodysuits

Bodysuits make up the bulk of our Client Closet, and for good reason. They feel good on and they look good on camera. There are so many styles that I like to shop for so I’m going to break this one down into subcategories. 

High Cut Legs

High-cut legs give the illusion of longer legs, and they are flattering on most women. Think 1980’s Jazzercise- high!

High Cut Thong

Bodysuits with high-cut legs look amazing from both the front and the back, but you specifically want a thong that’s high cut for booty shots. If you’re not used to wearing thongs no worries, it’s just for a few minutes ladies.

Plunging Necklines

Plunging necklines are a great way to show off the girls, especially if you’re smaller up top or have naturally perky boobs. If you don’t, no worries, we can also pose you so that your hands or arms are giving them a little extra support. ;-

Velvet

Velvet photographs so beautifully, and it hides a lot of things that most women don’t like to show. We love this strapless one below and have it in a variety of colors and sizes! 

Long Sleeves

My style of BOUDOIR is definitely more modest and feminine than other styles. In 20, 30, or 40 years from now, I want you to still be proud of your images, not be mortified if your kids saw them. One of the ways I achieve this is through wardrobe selection, and a long sleeve bodysuit shows off your sexy side without baring too much skin. These ladies are more covered in these images than they would be at the beach, and the soft feminine posing is really beautiful.

Strapless

A strapless bodysuit really highlights your décolletage, neck, shoulders, and face. I recommend finding one with underwire or padding for support.

THIS Bodysuit

Thank god for Shein, because they created one of my favorite pieces EVER. I love the half sleeves, the high cut legs, high neck, interesting edgy patterns, and the keyhole. I have several of these in the Client Closet and they look KILLER with the grey wings.

Other Versions Like It

Lace

Classic. Feminine. Looks good in a variety of colors. What’s not to like?

Strappy Bodysuits

One way to spice up your boudoir album is with strappy lingerie. Just be sure it’s the perfect fit, not super tight otherwise it isn’t as flattering. And don’t worry if it indents your skin a little it, we can smooth out the lines with a smidge of retouching.

Anything Black

Black is classic. It’s timeless, sexy, and it’s good to have tons of neutral pieces for your album.

Colors

This comes down to personal preference, but the most popular colors in our Client Closet are deep red, maroon, dark green, purple, white, and blush. We have tons of others, like blue, yellow, mint green, hot pink, beige/nude, and metallics, but maroon and deep red tend to look good on most skin tones. I’m not a fan of orange, it is rarely flattering, and hard to match with other looks for your album.

2 Piece Sets

Usually best for those ladies who love their ab muscles, or are at least comfortable with their tummy/hip areas, because these tend to highlight your mid section. That said, if you fall in love with a 2 piece set but feel like you don’t want to highlight your midsection (most women don’t) I can pose you in ways where it’s not the focal point.

3 Piece Sets

One way to elevate a bra and panty set is to add a garter. These tend to sit higher on the waist and really define your curves. Plus the straps give you something to do with your hands. You can wear them with or without stockings or heels, just be sure that the bra has some support, like padding or underwire. If you’re self conscious of your mid section choose a garter that is thick, like this one in red, over a thinner one.

A Body Stocking

For the adventurous soul. Some of these can be pretty revealing, but I can use thoughtful posing tricks to keep it classy.

A Balconette Bra and Shapewear

This is one of my favorites, because the low neckline of the bra gives the prettiest cleavage, and the high waist makes it a feminine retro combo. Plus shapewear= snatched. We have this bra in several sizes, and a whole rack of shapewear. We also have silicone gel inserts for your bra to give a little extra boost, if you want. (I’m tellin’ ya ladies, we have eeeevvvvrrrrverything at Boudoir by Amy!)

High Waist Panty

In general, a high waist makes your waist look smaller and, when combined with my posing tricks, really accentuates an hour glass shape. It’s a forgiving cut and feels more modest than a low riding panty.

Lacy + Sheer Robes + Dresses

We have so many robes in different colors and sizes and they are amazing for 2 reasons. First, because it gives you something to do with your hands, you can drape them over your shoulders or wrap them around your body, which looks and feels natural, not “posed”. And if there’s an area of your body that you’d rather not show, a lacy robe is the perfect way to still look and feel sexy without feeling like you’re hiding. We also have a few sheer dresses that can be combined with or without other lingerie pieces.

Sarongs

For my ladies that want to be a little more modest or just want something natural to do with their hands, we have several sarongs for you to use. These are a lot of fun to toss up in the air, or have a little bit of leg peeping out.

Corsets

Corsets are the go-to option for many styles of boudoir, and they can make your curves look EPIC. But there are some things to watch out for. Be sure to buy steel-boned corsets if you want to really synch in your waist. Acrylic boning is not strong enough to hold the material together. You also need to buy one that is 7-10 inches smaller than your natural waist. Also, sweetheart necklines are much more flattering than straight necklines, which can flatten your girls (and who wants that?). A cheap corset is not the way to go, invest in a good one. A sheer/mesh black one can be layered over other lingerie for a truly amazing look. We love True Corset and Corset Story corsets.

We currently have 16 corsets in various sizes! one cool thing about under-corsets (like the one below) is that you can pair them on top your of other lingerie, or even your man’s white button up shirt, so it really snatches in your waist!

TA3 Swimsuits

If you’ve spent anytime in our VIP Group you’ll have heard me raving about TA3 Swimsuits. These things are amazing, and absolutely worth the $175 price tag. They synch your waist like a corset but they look like a bodysuit. We currently have the High Waist Plungey in white in an XS, and black in a S, M, L, and 2XL. But they have short torso and long torso versions, and the fit it very different. But trust me if you’ve ever had trouble shopping for a swimsuit, your search ends here. Several of my clients have bought them after their session. These are a new addition to the studio and I don’t have model releases for the clients that have worn them, but I’ll update this post with more pics soon.

Your Veil

Brides don’t forget to bring your veil! There are so many poses we can do with it. Bring your shoes, garter, rings, and jewelry as well. If yours isn’t in yet don’t stress, we have 3!

Your Favorite Jeans + a Tank

We can do amazing bum shots of you pulling your jeans up (it makes your bum look AMAZING) or you can do some more candid style shots. Pulling your tank up just over the girls, unbuttoning your pants, there are tons of options!

GOWNS

A BOUDOIR shoot can be anything you want! You’ve got your hair and makeup all done, you might as well get come glamorous Facebook-profile pic-worthy photos! We LOVE My Pretty Skirt, Etsy, Asos, and Rent the Runway. Here are just a few we have at Boudoir By Amy.

NOTHING AT ALL!

Many of my clients will end their session with a nude or implied nude set. Don’t worry ladies, I’ll pose you in a way that nothing shows. Or you can use one of our white sheets, your veil, your man’s button up shirt, or a lacy robe. But it’s also good to do a topless set (if you’re brave enough!).

So there you go! Those are some of my favorite things to look out for when I’m going on a shopping spree, which if you’re in our VIP Facebook Group you are pretty familiar with! I have a major shopping problem, and my idea of a fun evening is snuggling up next to my hubby with a glass (or two) of wine, our labradoodle Archie at our feet, and browsing Shein, Yandy, True Corset, and Amazon. I love shopping for you ladies! Every month I post photos of the newest Client Closet acquisitions in that group so you can get a preview of what’s to come. We also do fun contests, gift card giveaways, share Before + Afters, client testimonials, fun memes, and announce flash sales before we release them to everyone else. So be sure to join! We’d love to see you there!

xoxo, Amy