To Tan or Not to Tan: The Ultimate Guide for your Boudoir Session

Boudoir sessions are an empowering experience for every man, woman or couple. They allow you to feel comfortable and confident in your own skin. However, when preparing for such a session, you may face the dilemma of whether to tan or not to tan. While some prefer to show off their natural skin tone, some opt to accentuate their curves and lines with a bronzed glow. In this blog, we’ll provide you with the ultimate guide to help you decide whether to tan or not to tan for your Sheer Experience.

boudoir client posed in front of couch

To Tan: A bronzed glow adds definition to your curves and exaggerates your best features. However, it's important to avoid fake tan or spray tan if you're allergic or prone to skin irritation. Instead, choose a reputable tanning salon that uses organic products or opt for a self-tanning lotion. A gradual tan is always a better option than an instant tan, as it looks more natural.

Not to Tan: Embracing your natural skin tone can also produce stunning results in your boudoir photos. Soft, natural light complements every skin tone and highlights the beautiful details in your skin. It's all about confidence and being comfortable in your own skin. So, if you are not a regular tanner, don't worry about it.

Enhancing Your Natural Skin Tone: If you want to enhance your skin tone, there are some things you can do before your boudoir shoot. Hydrate your skin by applying a moisturizer after your shower, exfoliate your skin to remove dead skin cells and use a luminizer to add a subtle glow to your skin.

Your Outfit Choice: When deciding to tan or not to tan, consider your outfit choices. If you plan to wear white, a tan will show up more than if you opt for darker colors. If you're unsure, try on different outfits and see which one looks best on your skin tone.

Don't Worry Too Much: Ultimately, your confidence, personality and the mood of the photoshoot will play a more significant role than just the color of your skin. The goal is to feel comfortable and beautiful in the body you have. If you’re happy, that joy will translate in the photos.

Now that you have read our ultimate guide on whether to tan or not for your boudoir session, we hope you feel more prepared and confident for your upcoming shoot. Remember, whether you choose to tan or not, it's all about celebrating your natural beauty and feeling confident in your own skin. The most important thing is to have fun, relax, and enjoy the experience. And, as always, whether you choose Sheer or another boudoir photographer, go with someone you can trust and feel comfortable with. Now go ahead, fill out the form below to get more info on a session with us & strike a pose!

Eat the damn cake!!!

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A frequently asked question we get is, “what do I need to do to get ready for my #SheerExperience?” So we put together a few of our favorite tips, and we hope this helps whether it’s a session with Sheer, or another boudoir photographer.

  1. Be Confident - Nerves are part of your experience, and are completely normal to have. But it’s time to love yourself more and finally be confident in who you are. We promise to work with you every step during your #SheerExperience. Our goal is for you to feel like a completely new woman after your session.

  2. Wear lose clothing to the studio - The last thing you want are any unwanted lines that your clothing may leave, or trying to take off a tight shirt after you’ve had hair and makeup done. We recommend you arrive in sweatpants, a loose shirt, and braless.

  3. Skip the tanning bed and spray tan - If you normally tan stick to your routine. If you don’t though, skip that temptation to start. Skin that’s not used to the tanning bed may appear blotchy after a visit or two due to uneven tanning. The last thing we want you to worry about is your skin.

  4. Bring lots of outfits choices - I mean, who doesn’t like to shop, I know I do. Bring at least one more outfit than your session allows. Bring at least that totally fits your style, and something outside of your comfort zone. After all, this is something that’s probably out of your comfort zone to begin with, so embrace it and have fun.

  5. Get your body ready - If you shave then shave, and f you wax then wax. The last thing you want to do is try something new and have it irritate your skin. Paint those finger and toenails, but avoid really bright colors. French tips and neutral solid color gel photographs best. Even clean nails are better than chippy nail polish

  6. Start stretching - A common theme I hear from clients the next day is “you were so right, I can’t believe my muscles are so sore”. As little as 5-10 minutes a day can make a huge difference, and your body will thank you for it.

  7. Eat smart and drink lots of water - Drinking lots of water and eating right will help give you a healthy glow and make you feel so much better. Be sure to eat breakfast the morning of your session. Eggs, toast, fruit, juices are all perfect choices. AVOID THOSE FASTFOOD DRIVE THROUGHS. With that being said, if you’re at a birthday party and there’s cake, EAT THE DAMN CAKE. It’s cake after all and who doesn’t love it.

After #BodyLove 2.0

The #BodyLove projects that we do are something that we hold very close to our heart. The first time we did it, we wanted women to embrace their "flaws". If I asked you to name 10 things you love about yourself, I know it would be hard to come up with enough good qualities or features. But, if I asked you to name 10 things you didn't like about yourself, I'm sure it would be pretty easy. We are women, we always put everyone else before ourselves and never have time to look at all the good in ourselves. With our #BodyLove projects and every boudoir session we do, we want the women who come to us to feel special, to embrace their femininity and sexuality, to feel like they are enough, to know that they are gorgeous, sexy and desirable. We want to help bring that spark out of you that maybe you've never seen before or maybe you haven't seen in a very long time. 

We had 7 women come to us for #BodyLove2.0 who were nervous as hell and scared they wouldn't look good on camera, but they trusted us to show them just how sexy they were. We only had 15 minutes to get some amazing photos with each woman and help them see how freakin' HOTT they are! So, below are 4 images from each of the women who participated in our #BodyLove project along with what they thought of themselves before they got half naked for Sheer Photography and how they felt after their session and seeing their images.


"Before #BodyLove, When I looked in the mirror I saw me, as a mom, girlfriend, friend. I saw happy and sad. I saw all my imperfections. A typical day for me is waking up, getting my son ready for school, watch him walk on his bus. Then I get myself ready and go to work. Come home to my family, have dinner, a little fun and finally bed time. It's not a glamorous life, but it's mine. And I love it! After my #BodyLove photo shoot, I definitely feel more confident in myself. I didn't expect the confidence it gave me. I believe every woman must do this for themselves. They deserve it! When I look at my images, I see a sexy woman!" ~ Miss C


"Before #BodyLove, When I looked in the mirror I saw a girl trying to become a women. I saw a girl who's insecure and who didn't fully know who she was. I wanted to see what others saw. I wanted to see my true beauty. I wanted to see my worth. A typical day for me, I get up, get my four year old ready for school (usually rushing) throw on some makeup and black clothes (I'm a hairdresser) let out the dog and rush out the door. I work 6-8 hours at the salon, pick up my daughter, head to the gym, home to cook, eat, pack lunches, take a bath, bed, then repeat! After my #BodyLove photo shoot, I definitely feel more confident in myself. I see a sexy, strong, beautiful woman now!" ~ Carly


"Before #BodyLove, When I looked in the mirror I saw a body that defeats me. I tryed my best to love my body, but it really just seemed impossible. How do you love something you want to change so much? A typical day for me is, wake up, clean, get myself ready, wake up my husband and daughter, go to work, get off and pick up my daughter, go home and cook, do some more cleaning, get the little one fed and bathed put her to bed, work out, and lastly wait up for my husband to have some alone time with him. After my #BodyLove photo shoot, I feel the most confident in myself that I've felt in years. I now see a version of myself that I've never seen before." ~Miss C


"Before #BodyLove, When I looked in the mirror, honestly, I saw imperfections that aren't easily remedied. I saw stretched out skin, rolls, and chunkier arms than I would like. I know what my pre-baby body looked like and I can imagine it still and it makes me sad. I was angry with myself for making excuses for so long, my body used to take care of itself, but know I have to work on it. I would look in the mirror and tell myself "hey at least you aren't as fat as I was two months ago!" I am trying to love myself again. Doing a session was gonna be my gift to myself when I got my body back, but it seems it's gonna take longer than I thought. A typical day for me is Monday thru Friday I get up at 6am and get myself and my daughter ready. I go to work at my new job from 8-5. I come home and make dinner, do chores, spend time with my daughter and dog. I prep my lunch for the next day and my clothes, as well as my daughters. Then I normally shower and have myself and my daughter in bed no later than 9. Every other weekend my daughter goes with her father so those weekends I pamper myself by doing chores and spending time with friends. The weekends I have my daughter are for her, chores, and family! And that's my life in a nut shell. After my #BodyLove photo shoot, I definitely feel more confident in myself. I have been building my confidence back up over time for a while now. Signing up for #BodyLove was a way to launch myself out of that comfort zone I have become overly accustom to. The ease I felt once I stepped into the unforgiving daylight for my session was welcoming. Jen advised me to take a deep breath and with that exhale went all my insecurities. Simultaneously, I felt my renewed confidence flood my body and I could breath freely again! All of this is due to BodyLove, Jen, and Brian for their mission to revive the Confidence in all women. When I look at the final products from #BodyLove I feel blessed. The pictures capture the strong independent woman I have become and pay homage to the remarkable body that has sustained and given life. I respect my body more after participating in #BodyLove. I knew I had a distorted view of myself and that I need to shift my focus. These final products from Sheer have done just that, they have taught me to love myself again." ~ Miss C


"Before #BodyLove, When I looked in the mirror I used to see a body I wasn't happy with and stretch marks from my daughter. I have been working on my body and now I see myself as a beautiful person with curves and a love for life. I carry my stretch marks as a trophy so many women can't carry a child and I have been blessed and done it. I'm loving myself again. A typical day for me is attending school part time and working full time with rotating days off and on. After my #BodyLove photo shoot, I definitely feel more confident in myself. I do not see myself now as just a mom and a nurse! I feel like a sexy individual and I feel like everyone should get a chance to feel amazing like this. Jen and Brian were absolutely amazing and made the experience fun and enjoyable! Can't wait to be able to come back and do it again!!!" ~ Emily


"Before #BodyLove, When I look in the mirror I see happiness and passion. I see love and strength. I see the reflection of a woman that has lived life to the fullest every step of the way. A typical day typically consists of work as a hairstylist from 9am to any hour of the evening. Depending on the day my husband or I will cook dinner and have a family meal when we both are home. Our morning routines are simple -- shower and style hair & make up as fast as a 3 year old will let you. Evening routines include board games or jigsaw puzzles, incredibly playful bathtime for our boy and some quiet time before bed. Everyday is full of love and laughter as corny as that sounds, life really feels like a dream come true. After my #BodyLove photo shoot, I walked out of the shoot with a different air to me. A weight I didn't realize I carried was lifted. For the first time just the feeling of being a woman felt STRONG and BRAVE. I think for some those feelings come in many different ways but for me it happened while I shed some cloths and let some inner beauty escape. My images completely shocked me. I see myself in a way I never felt; sexy!!! It's amazing that an image can show such depth to me, my inner beauty shining outwardly. They are drop. Dead. Gorgeous." ~ Miss E


"Before #BodyLove, When I looked in the mirror I unfortunately saw someone that used to be in great shape, but after 2 babies and a divorce, a woman that has lost the fiery spirit she once possessed. A typical day for me is getting up with my 9 year old son and 7 year old daughter. After running around getting them ready for school, I barely have the time to put myself together. I never left the house without makeup. Now, I am lucky if I can put coverup and mascara on before walking out the door (usually though it's on my way to work...). I work full time at an eye doctor's office doing the billing and coding. After work is Mommy mode, getting the kids to their multiple activities then home for homework and dinner. Once the kids are taken care of and tucked in, I collapse on the couch to watch a movie or read a book...most likely falling asleep! After my #BodyLove photo shoot, I see a woman who while not society's version of perfect is far from being the gross person she thought she was when she looked at herself in the mirror. I see a woman who embraced the moment & allowed herself to be confident & feel sexy." ~ Miss N

Ready to become a #SheerBeauty and see how sexy you are!?!?

fill out the form below and we will get back to you within 24 hours and stay tuned for our Mother's Day special

Every mom deserves some ME time!

Miss R was the winner of our Mother's Day Momination!!! As a Mother's Day giveaway, Sheer Photography offered one LUCKY MOM a chance to win the full Sheer Experience. The Sheer Experience isn't just a one day kind of thing...about a month before your session we like to meet with you to talk about outfit ideas, look through Pinterest to see what type of images you are drawn to, answer questions and just talk about who you are and what you want to become during your shoot. We understand this isn't something you do everyday...it's okay to be nervous and ask questions. We are here to help you through the WHOLE process.

Finally, it's shoot day...nerves are high, excitement is bubbling, you enjoy being pampered by our hair and makeup team, we go through your outfits together and finalize a plan. You change into your first outfit and we get started!!! Hopefully you took some Advil before you came, cuz we are gonna make your back hurt. "Pop that booty out!!!" This is your time to get outta the house, feel sexy and not have a care in the world (except for being nervous as all hell).

A few weeks after your shoot, we invite you back to the studio for your Premier Ordering Appointment!! This is the moment you have been waiting for!!! So many women are more nervous to see their pictures than they were to take them. Most women can't believe the pictures are them. It's so great to see yourself the way everyone else sees you! 

Like most women, Miss R works full time and never takes any time to do things for herself. This was her chance to let go and be sexy! 

This is what she had to say about her Sheer Experience..."Having a boudoir session with Jen and Brian was one of the best experiences I've had! I have always loved boudoir photography but never thought I would do it.

Being a mother, wife, and working full time as a nurse I don't make enough time for myself. My Sheer session was the perfect opportunity for some "me" time! I was nervous but as soon as I had my consultation and we discussed what to expect, what to wear, photo ideas, and all of my questions were answered, I couldn't wait for my session!

The girls that did my hair and makeup were very sweet and did an excellent job, and during my session Jen and Brian made me feel completely comfortable and beautiful. They coached me on what to do, and I had so much fun the entire time! My photos were ready quickly and I LOVED every single image! 

Jen and Brian know what they're doing and do an amazing job at it! It's something I would absolutely love to do again, maybe even a couples session with my hubby! I highly recommend Sheer Photography!"

Hair by Bianca Heasley. Makeup by Jodi Ciminero. 

Hair by Bianca Heasley. Makeup by Jodi Ciminero. 

We loved having Miss R in the studio and showing her how beautiful she is!!! We hope to see you back for a couples session soon!!!  

Ready for some YOU time?!?! Fill out the contact form below or give us an call at 330.646.1554

Insecurities...we all have them!

#BodyLove #SheerBeauty

This blog post is EXTREMELY SCARY for me to do. Why?!?! Because these images are of me. I never want to ask you ladies to do something I wouldn't personally do. If you guys have been following us, then you know I am not afraid to get in front of the camera. However, it was a little scary to get in front of the camera and show the world my insecurities. I have extra tummy weight, scars, cellulite and stretch marks...but that's ok because I know that I have those things from living life and bringing a beautiful child into this world.

Working with women of all ages, shapes and sizes has made me come to realize that EVERY single one of us has insecurities about our bodies. Sheer Photography would LOVE to help all women see their true BEAUTY instead of their "flaws". All women are beautiful and our mission is to help bring that out in each of you. It's ok to LOVE who you are and who you have become as a woman. 

As a woman, a wife and a mother to a beautiful little girl, there is nothing I want more than for my daughter to see her true beauty for the rest of her life. I know one day that she, just like every other woman I have met, is going to see her "flaws" and I won't be there to tell her how pretty she is, how wonderful she is and what a good person she is. But what I can do is help more women see their true beauty in themselves. 

I am asking all of you BEAUTIFUL WOMEN to let us show you that you are GORGEOUS. You are SEXY. You are AMAZING. You are PERFECTLY, IMPERFECT. No matter what "flaws" you see in yourself, you are BEAUTIFUL!! You are an amazing mother, daughter, wife, friend and woman. 

We are not here to judge you...we want to help build you up. We want you to see the beauty that everyone else sees in you. 

For one day only, Sheer Photography is offering a FREE #BodyLove #SheerBeauty image to anyone that would like to participate. You can be as clothed or unclothed as you would like. You can share your story with us or keep it private. This will not include hair or makeup, we would like to photograph you either in your natural state or your everyday type of hair and makeup. 

If you are available on Sunday, June 28th between 1:00PM - 5:00PM please fill out the contact form below or send us an email to schedule your COMPLIMENTARY #BodyLove photo shoot. We promise to keep it short and sweet. 

You only have one body, love the one your in!

#BodyLove #SheerBeauty

Mother's Day Giveaway!!!

Hey all you #SheerBeauties and wonderful mommas!!!

This year at Sheer we are all about showing women the most beautiful version of themselves. As women, especially mothers, we do so much for everyone else in our lives. Why not "Mominate" yourself or another wonderful mom you know for a FREE Sheer Experience plus 20% off products or images?!?! Winner will be announced on Mother's Day, May 10th 2015. 

Mother's Day Giveaway

The FREE Sheer Experience includes...

  • A pre-session consultation with Jen to discuss all the fun details of your Sheer Experience
  • Mood board and styling assistance
  • Professional hair by Bianca Heasley
  • Professional makeup with Jodi Ciminero
  • A 90 minute boudoir/beauty photo session in studio (Girard, OH)
  • Up to 3 outfits
  • Posing assistance
  • In person reveal and ordering appointment
  • Professional editing

Products and images sold separately. Our full price list can be found here

Sheer boudoir

The Rules...

  1. Like the Sheer Photography Facebook page. 
  2. Share this blog post on Facebook, then comment here!
  3. Email us a photo of the "Mominee" (yourself or a mom you know). Include a little information about the momma and why you/her should receive this amazing experience. Email us at SheerBoudoir@gmail.com
  4. Spread the love!! Share this blog post. Like, Share and Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Text your friends about us...the more you share, the more we love you!

The Details...

All "mominations" must be submitted by Saturday, May 9th 2015 at midnight. We will be announcing the winner on Mother's Day. The session must be claimed and booked by May 17, 2015 and shot by July 31, 2015. "Mominee" must be 21+ and has to be a mom.



Relaxed and Sheer

This GORGEOUS gal has done FOUR boudoir sessions with us...and this is by far my favorite of all of them!!! She is an all around amazing woman...she is a mother to three beautiful children, going to school full time and working. All while still be sexy as hell.

Ready to book your #SheerExperience?!?! Fill out the form below and we will get back to you within 48 hours. 

Valentine's Day Marathon 2015 - Girard, OH

One Day ONLY - January 24th - Only 5 spots avaialble

We know its not even Christmas yet, but Valentine's Day is right around the corner. If you didn't take advantage of our Christmas special and would LOVE to do a Sheer Beauty shoot as a Valentine's day present for that special someone or for yourself, we will be offering a fun filled day of Valentine's gorgeousness!! 

All ladies will receive a 45 minute session with your choice of red, black or white sheets, pretty roses and petals to use, 10 gorgeous images of yourself in your choice of a 4x8 Beauty Book or on our Sheer crystal USB, a huge confidence booster and an experience to remember for the rest of your life. 

This offer is only valid on Saturday January 24th and limited to 5 ladies, so book before it's too late. Book on or before December 31st to save $50.

$50 non-refundable retainer due at booking. You can purchase a spot below.