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!

Why I Finally Did a Boudoir Session (& You Should Too!)

Hey #SheerBeauties! I took a big leap and traveled from New York to Youngstown, Ohio for my first boudoir shoot. It took a whole year of planning, intense workouts, and lots of prayer to make this happen…but it was all worth it! I'm excited to share the behind-the-scenes story & some of my favorite images with all of you.

There are many different reasons a person may want to do a boudoir session. For some it may serve as a wedding or anniversary gift, for others they may want to overcome body image issues or get a confidence boost. For me personally I had been following a dynamic couple; Brian and Jen, for many years on Instagram. Initially I had wanted to work with them as soon as I saw their feed and realized how incredibly talented they are. Despite this I was still a little apprehensive and it did take time for me to get more comfortable with the idea of being so vulnerable with my body in front of strangers. 🍑 I pretty much sat on the sidelines & pondered about how things would go if I ever booked my own shoot. Eventually one day I just decided to go for it & I’m so thankful I did! Shopping for lingerie & scouting out poses was so much fun. I really feel like my photos captured my personality and I was truly captivated & in awe of how I was captured on film. 

One of my favorite parts of my shoot was recreating the famous scene from the Wolf of Wall Street, “Morning Ritual”. Featured in these photo with me is an amazing local model, Tyjaan King.

When I saw my boudoir photos it was such a surreal feeling. I had never quite seen myself that way before & it felt almost as if I was seeing myself for the first time. The experience of seeing my photos allowed me to see how beautiful I truly am. Going through my divorce at a young age had left me feeling insecure, and this boudoir shoot definitely helped me validate myself and feel more confident in my own skin. It was worth every penny I spent! I can't wait to do it all again!

So, I challenge you to do a boudoir shoot at least once in your life. It doesn't matter if you're male or female, big or small, young or old. Boudoir photography is for everyone. It's time to embrace your inner beauty and celebrate yourself!

XOXO, Victoria

I did it for me! You can do it for you

“A friend of mine had invited me to the Sheer VIP group a few years ago. I had no idea what boudoir photography was, and when I found out, my self talk was awful! I figured I'd be a wallflower in the group and join in on building others up, because I was good at that.

When I took the leap to book my first shoot, I was on vacation with my daughter. I looked at the Sheer website and I was reading the blog. I couldn't tell you whose blog it was, but it hit me upside the head. I booked my first shoot right then and there. BEST. DECISION. EVER! I had so much fun the first time, that I couldn't wait to do it again.

For both, I did the shoot for me. Not for a present for anyone else, just a present for me. I still can't believe those pictures are of me. I don't know what sort of voodoo magic happens from the time the picture is taken to when it shows up on the viewfinder or in Jen's computer, but that woman I see, is what I want to believe about myself. I want to be able to look in the mirror and say, "Yes, this is me!" That was how I felt after my first time. I have one of the metals on my dresser so it's the first thing I see in the morning and the last thing I see before bed. That woman is confident, beautiful, sensual, sexy, and present. That woman is me!! That metal and those pictures help to remind me of where I want to be mentally.

Then this past Mother's Day happened. Life was doing its thing and I wanted to have something to look forward to. So, I went ahead and booked a second shoot. It was so much fun! There's even a few pictures I can tell that I had to remember to be serious because I was laughing so hard. Who does that, half or fully naked?!?! The app alone is such a good reminder of who I am and who I want to be and so handy! I've never liked pictures of myself much at all, and I haven't had an issue with that at Sheer. I do like them. Some I love, but I have yet to have one with Sheer that I just looked at and said eww or no or anything negative.

Between the VIP group, the sessions, and the photos afterwards, in whatever medium you get them in, the whole experience is worth it. Why? Because you are worth it, every second, every penny.”

XoXo - Casey

IS THAT ME?!?!

It’s still so hard to believe that it is me in these photos.

When I started this adventure I researched every place that offered boudoir photography and even thought about if I could do it myself, but when it came right back to the facts Sheer Photography had the best price for a professional and SAFE experience. 

Never was I scared, heck, I could see myself stripping it all off again.  It was so good for me. I use to weigh a lot; like 300 lbs., then I lost over half of that and ended up divorced after 15 years. All my kids are grown up and I’ve felt ugly, insecure, zero confidence and hated my body. 

Doing this boudoir session, was the perfect chance for someone to show me what I had to offer myself. The Sheer Experience did so much for me. I left there thinking I could make it again and even started looking for a better job.

Brian & Jen made me realize I have a worth and I can’t let anyone, a man, friends, or even family destroy that. I hope all women look at my pictures and realize that I'm definitely not a size 4 and that I even was heavier then I wanted when I came in for pictures but I am beautiful!! Love yourself. Every morning and every night I go to bed remembering this when I look at my wall art.

Don't forget the CHAMPAGNE!!!

Before my photo shoot, I was so nervous about all the little things and very worried about how I’d look on camera. I’ve always had a lot of body image issues and feel my body is “boring” and lacking curves in the right areas.

Ohio_Boudoir_Sheer_MissS-1.jpg

Jen starts to boost your confidence right away while she works her magic on your makeup, lashes, and hair. She makes it fun while she does it too, which helps ease the nerves.

Then its time to get undressed for the shoot & both Jen and Brian are so excited it really feels so easy! (Heck, I ended up totally nude by the end 🤣).

When Brian first turned the camera around to show an image I couldn’t believe it was me! After that, it was game on!

At the reveal with Jen, you’ll have a hard time choosing which images are your favorite and that says a lot about their work.

If you are looking to book a boudoir session with Jen and Brian, do it!! I followed their work for years until I finally got the courage, which I’m so happy I did. You will come out feeling super confident and sexy...what woman doesn’t want that?! Also, don’t forget the champagne if you want to have some bonus fun at your shoot!!

#SheerGirl Miss M

Miss M is one of our beautiful #SheerGirl spokesmodels and has done a few sessions with us. This is what she had to say about her most recent #SheerMoment..."I just want to start off by saying I Freaking love Sheer! Jen and Brian are the most down to earth people I have met in my life, I think of them as my Sheer Besties. I love everything about every one of my Sheer visits. Each time I step in front of their camera it gives me this sense of sexiness I mean lights camera BarbieToes! I've also learned that I do Sheer for me, myself and I! I love how it makes me feel as a woman!"