The Complete Guide to Boudoir Photography in New Braunfels (and Why It Might Change How You See Yourself)
There’s something I want you to know that might not seem obvious…
The women who walk through my studio door are women just like you.
They are moms, business owners, teachers, doctors, nurses, women in their 30s and 40s and 50s (I’ve even photographed one gorgeous 60+ year old!).
They are women who’ve spent most of their lives avoiding cameras.
Their boudoir session was them deciding they were done with that.
And that decision is one of the bravest and most powerful things I witness on a regular basis as a photographer for women.
If you've been curious about boudoir photography in New Braunfels but you've also been telling yourself it's not for someone like me, this guide is for you.
I'm going to walk you through everything:
what boudoir actually is,
what to expect at a session, how to prepare,
what it costs, and, most importantly,
why women keep doing this even when they're terrified.
What Is Boudoir Photography, Really?
Boudoi (how it’s pronounced: boo-DWAHR; don’t worry hardly anyone knows how to say it at first) is a style of photography that's intimate, flattering, and focused entirely on you.
Typically, it’s done in a studio or bedroom-like setting, and it ranges from elegant and minimal to bold and editorial depending on your personality.
Some women wear lingerie. Some wear an oversized button-down and nothing else. Some wear a sports bra and shorts.
The wardrobe isn't the point, you are the point.
What boudoir is not: a photoshoot where you show up and hope for the best.
A good boudoir experience is fully directed and supports or improves self-esteem.
That means the photographer, me, is telling you exactly how to pose, guiding expression, paying attention to flyaway hairs and wardrobe.
You don't need to know how to pose, know what you’re doing or catch all the details. That's my job.
The experience and the photos that we create reflect back to you, the beauty of who you are and the power in that.
By creating a space and an experience where you feel safe and comfortable allows you to relax into your real self, not your roles, and that’s what creates gorgeous photos.
A boudoir session should not make you feel uncomfortable or uneasy or bad about yourself.
The right photographer matters.
It takes a lot more than having skills with a camera to create a positive boudoir experience.
What boudoir also is not: only for certain body types, relationship statuses, or ages.
I photograph women in their 20s through their 60s+.
I photograph women who are celebrating a milestone, healing from one, or not celebrating anything at all, but just finally deciding they deserve this.
What to Expect at a Boudoir Session with Erin Valkner Photography
The process starts before you ever step in front of my camera.
Before your session, we’ll plan everything out beforehand. We talk about what you're going for, the vibe/mood, the wardrobe, what you want to feel when you see your images. I ask you what you love about yourself and what you're worried about. This conversation matters, because it lets me how to plan out the photoshoot.
Day of, you show up to my studio in New Braunfels. Depending on your choice, you’ll either arrive with hair and makeup ready, or you’ll have it done in the studio (this is part of the planning!) Then we go over wardrobe, map out the session and get started.
I direct every single moment. Talk you through all posing and expression. Most women walk in nervous and are laughing within ten minutes. For some it takes a little longer. Both are ok. My entire approach is built around making you feel comfortable and at ease, like hanging out with a friend.
After your session, you’ll get to see your gorgeous images and choose the ones you want for your album. This is where most women get quiet and truly get to see themselves differently. The way the people who love them have always seen them. So many women tell me they didn’t think their photos would turn out as beautiful as the ones on my website because they didn’t see themselves that way, and are so pleased they did the photoshoot.
How to Prepare for Your Boudoir Session
The number one thing I tell women is to stop trying to “get ready”. I don’t want you to go on a crash diet.
Stop waiting until you've lost weight or toned up or found the perfect piece of lingerie.
The body you have right now is the body that gets to be in these gorgeous photos.
That said, here's what actually helps:
Wardrobe. We will talk through all of this. Start pulling things together at least two weeks out. It’s helpful to think of something that makes you feel confident or beautiful. If you're not sure, that is absolutely ok. I have a process that will walk you through figuring it out even if you have no idea where to start. It’s also a good idea to avoid anything that leaves deep indentations in your skin (tight waistbands, shapewear) the day of.
Rest. Come to your session actually rested if you can help it. I know, I know, you don’t have time to rest, you’re busy and have a thousand things. Do what you can to get some sleep the night before and at the very least take a few deep breaths before you arrive.
Hydration. You should try to drink enough water anyway because it’s good for you! But for real, your skin will look fantastic when you’re hydrated. Start the week before, not the morning of, if at all possible!
Mindset. This one's harder to prep for, but here we go: Just know that it’s ok to be nervous or feel a little uncomfortable at first. The fact that you’re doing this and are willing to be seen and see yourself differently, that’s where the magic is; Not by being perfect, or perfectly ready, but just by showing up for yourself.
Common Boudoir Hesitations: (The fears women don't say out loud but I hear all the time and don’t want you to think you’re alone in feeling)
"What if the photos won't look like me."
This is the most common fear, and it's worth taking seriously, because you've probably had it confirmed before. Photos that looked too stiff or a not so great experience on another photoshoot.
Here's what I want you to understand about how I work: I'm not photographing an idea of you. I'm not trying to produce a specific kind of image and fit you into it. I'm watching for the real you and highlighting your unique and natural beauty.
The goal isn't "beautiful woman in a photo." The goal is: you look at the image and think, oh, that's actually me. That quiet recognition is what I'm working toward the whole session.
"I don't have the body for this."
I want to say this plainly, because it is the truth.
There is no “wrong” body for this. This isn’t meant to be motivational, it's just literally true.
The women I photograph range in age, size, shape, and relationship with their own bodies. What they have in common is not a body type. What they have in common is that they decided to stop waiting.
I want you to know I understand the fear that you'll look at your photos and have your worst thoughts confirmed. It's the reason a lot of women spend years circling this and never book.
But I've photographed enough women to tell you: the body you're waiting to have is not the requirement. The decision to show up is.
What I do in a session is highlight your features with beautiful lighting, angles, and a space to be comfortable, where you’ll be able to see yourself differently. Not idealized or turned into someone else. Just you, clearly, without the noise of self-criticism or comparison in the way.
"I'd feel ridiculous."
Maybe, for the first few minutes, just like when you’re trying anything new for the first time.
I don’t want to dismiss it because it's true for almost everyone, and I think knowing that helps. You walk in, the camera's there, it’s different that your usual day… it feels a little strange.
And then it doesn't.
Part of my job is making it easy, keeping it laid back and no pressure.
The whole goal is for you to be comfortable and everything is designed around this.
By the time we’re half way through most women have forgotten to feel self-conscious because we’re too busy talking or laughing or just being in the moment.
"I don't know what I'd do with the photos."
This one is worth talking about, because it's not really about the photos.
Some women keep them entirely private. That's not good or bad, for some women, that's exactly the point. The act of having them done and looking back at them when you need to. Having evidence, somewhere, that this is the real you.
Some women share them with a partner. Some women put them on their wall.
There's no right answer and I’m here to help you figure out what you want to do with the photos.
They are yours to use however you want.
What I'd offer is this: you don’t need to justify a use for the photos. The experience itestl is worth it. The photos are bonus. Don't let being unsure about what you'll do with them stop you from having them.
What Does Boudoir Photography Cost in New Braunfels?
I'll be real with you: boudoir should not be cheap.
You're not paying for a digital file. You're paying for the experience, the direction, the professional lighting, the technical proficiency, the editing, the care and attention, as well as the album and/or prints that live on for years.
It really is important, especially for boudoir sessions, that your photographer knows what they’re doing and is a true professional.
This isn’t an area to try to cut corners.
At Erin Valkner Photography, you have options for different sessions to fit your needs what you’d like to spend.
Most women invest somewhere in the range of several hundred to a few thousand dollars, depending on what they take home.
When you’re considering and weighing the cost, think about how much you’ve spent over the years trying to change the way you look?
Products, programs, things that promised you'd like yourself more on the other side?
This is something different.
This is an experience that changes the way you see yourself, not the way you look physically.
If you want specific pricing, reach out.
I believe in transparent conversations about money, and I'd rather have that conversation with you directly than have cost be the thing that kept you from doing this.
Plus there are lots of options and always a payment plan available.
Why Women Do This
The cliché answer is that they do it for a milestone, or as a gift to that special someone, or they do it for confidence.
And these are all true, but the deeper reason is that most women who book a boudoir session with me do it because they are tired of waiting to feel worthy of being seen.
They are tired of waiting until they lose the weight to feel like they are good enough.
Tired of ducking out of photos or not liking what they see in photos.
Tired of a complicated relationship with their own reflection that’s been there in the background for years, sometimes decades.
I won't promise you a session will heal every complicated thing you've ever felt about your body.
But I have watched, over and over again, what happens when a woman sees herself, really sees herself, in an image that was made entirely for her.
Something changes. There is a shift.
Not because the lighting was good (though it is). Not because I know how to flatter a body (though I do).
These add to it, but it’s because she got to experience being seen and cared for and witnessed.
And it didn't require her to be anything other than exactly who she is right now.
That's what boudoir is, at its best.
Ready to Book — or Just Curious?
It’s ok and absolutely normal to be nervous. You might spend the whole drive over talking yourself out of turning around. That's not a sign this isn't for you. That's just what it feels like to do something new and different.
Just about every woman I've photographed said she was nervous walking in. And they say some version of the same thing afterward: I can't believe I waited so long.
If you're in the New Braunfels area and you've been thinking about this, even if you’re not quite ready, just curious, I'd love to talk.
You can reach out through my contact page, sign up for the newsletter for updates/promos, follow along on social media, or just send me a message.
You don't have to be ready. I’m just glad you’re here! That’s the first step in showing up for yourself.
Erin Valkner Photography serves New Braunfels, San Marcos, San Antonio, Austin and the surrounding Texas Hill Country.