Safety in Outdoor Boudoir

My most frequently asked question is some variation of: Is it safe to do outdoor boudoir?

It’s too big of a question to add to an faq page because frankly, there are too many different types of safety that deserve their own response. We go over a lot of this during the Intro Call and Consultation, which is our time in person to get to better understand who you are, what you want your images to be, and how I can best support you.

To feel as safe as possible requires trust. I never expect to be freely given trust and understand that I need to work to maintain trust. In this this blog, I will focus on physical and emotional safety.

A femme body is laying in the water wearing mesh and black lingerie. Their tattoos on their chest, tummy, and legs are highlighted in a moody boudoir image.

Physical safety

One of the first questions I get is what to do if someone approaches us outside. First, this has only happened one time.

The only time I have been approached is when a group of moms were running past and yelled “YOU LOOK AMAZING!” And my client and I giggled at how wholesome it was and continued. Shoutout to the passive PNW because most people look away immediately once they see us both in lingerie. 

Oh yeah, I wear lingerie with you. With your consent, of course. It’s important to me that you’re as comfortable and feel as safe as possible. For many of us, that means doing things with people. I would rather have onlookers be confused why I’m in lingerie and holding a camera. 

If someone were to ever approach us, I would put my body between my client and the person(s) approaching. It is my responsibility to de-escalate as much as possible and redirect them, as needed. It’s not your job. But if you want to respond back, you’re welcome to of course. 

Because my sessions happen in some of the most gorgeous spots in the world, there have been several times where folks come nearby to admire the view. Being on public land means it’s not *ours* alone and we need to also share the stunning scenery with our larger community. In these cases, I simply pause, put my body between theirs and my clients’, and wait. Once they have left, I check in with my client to see if we need to move or adjust anything. Then we do a lil mindfulness activity to get back into the moment. I get very protective of my clients so I also need a minute to ground myself. 

Additionally, I have a first-aid kit at all times. As much as possible, I show you the poses beforehand so I warn you about any slippery, uneven, or non-steady terrain. I ask for an emergency contact before our session just in case anything happened. I remind you throughout our session to listen to your body - it’s never worth a specific image if you don’t feel safe or comfortable in your body.

That’s it! The locations I recommend and location scout are all vetted with privacy in mind. And you know your body and comfort levels better than me! So together, I ask questions to better understand your level of comfort and shyness and make recommendations. I also prefer to do sessions during times and days that are the least likely to be busy. But with all the planning in the world, there is always a risk being on public land in nature. 

Two lovely folks of color are standing in a forest with ferns to the right. One on the right has large pink flowers in their hair and they tug on a harness of their partner. The person on the left looks up submissively to their partner.

Emotional Safety

I’ve already shared pieces of emotional safety because all the different types of safety intersect. But let’s just be honest - boudoir can be vulnerable. When I’ve hired boudoir photographers for me (which I do often), I still feel nervous and unsure, too, especially the first time working with them. 

The first step in my process is to chat on the phone. I know I know, it’s not everyone’s favorite. But for me, it’s the best way to start building emotional safety with all my clients. I want to better understand who you are, what’s important to you, and what you’re looking for so I can clarify my process best. Because I create customized artwork, it is very individualized. Which is fun! And creates a lot of flexibility! And it means you get to have a lot more creative involvement with me! And it also means that I’m not sharing information that isn’t useful or interesting to you. 

I’m not a salesperson - I’m a photographer! And I am so excited to work with people who are excited about this, too. No judgment if it’s not a good fit. You get full autonomy and consent here. 

I’ve had clients reach out to ask for additional phone calls or to meet to have coffee before our session - YES please! The more you communicate with me on what you need, the better I can show up for you. This is a customized experience to you. This is an investment in yourself. This means that sometimes we need to adjust things to ensure you feel the most excited and ready possible; I love it. I am honored to be part of your celebration!

Throughout all the times we connect, we continue building emotional trust - this is not something I assume or take lightly. I have to earn your trust and work to maintain it, too.

Are you interested to chat about what this could look like for you? I’d love to hear more about you. 

A Black femme holds their arm laying on rock with green forest in the background. They have their eyes closed and they look incredibly sensual.