Frequently Asked Questions
WHY CHOOSE HEARTFIRE BOUDOIR?
We know how confusing it can be to choose the right photographer, and how important it is for an intimate experience such as a boudoir photoshoot! We’d love to chat with you over the phone or Skype to see if we’re a good fit for each other :) As a married couple, we strive to provide a professional experience whilst being personalised and customised to your specific needs. You’ll have two people on hand to help you feel supported, safe and at ease during the process. We also know what it’s like to be in front of the camera as boudoir clients ourselves, and have spent extensive time taking images of one another because it’s so important that we’ve been there too.
DO I NEED TO KNOW HOW TO POSE?
Not at all, that’s entirely our job. We’ll guide you through posing step-by-step, with demonstrations and cues that will make the process fun and effortless (outside of the occasional cramp from pointing your toes!).
DO I HAVE TO WEAR LINGERIE?
Definitely not! You can wear anything that makes you feel comfortable, confident and sexy. For some people, that might be lacy lingerie - for others, it’s going to be boots and jeans, summer dresses, sweaters, etc.
CAN I GO FULLY TOPLESS OR NUDE?
You absolutely can! We can do very tasteful implied nude or artist nude portraiture, as well as images that are a bit sexier too if that’s what you’re after. But you also never have to be naked if you don’t want to! It’s 100% down to what you want with your images, and what you feel comfortable with. You can wear as much or as little clothing as you feel suits you best.
DO YOU OFFER HAIR AND MAKEUP SERVICES?
We do - this is an optional extra! We know there aren’t many opportunities during a busy schedule to feel completely pampered, and having your hair and makeup done by a professional while you sit back and relax can be the perfect way to start your photoshoot experience! However, we also know that some people love doing their own or want to go make-up free for their session, so we try to make sure there’s an option for every person :)
BOUDOIR SEEMS TO BE MOSTLY WOMEN - DO YOU SHOOT MEN AND GENDER DIVERSE PEOPLE ALSO?
This one is a resounding YES. We feel that every single person deserves to feel amazing, and we love being a part of that. We photograph people of any gender, and are passionate about providing an LGBTQI+ safe environment.
DO YOU SHOOT COUPLES?
Definitely - being able to photograph the intimacy, connection and love between two people is such a privilege, and something we absolutely love having the chance to do.
HOW LONG WILL MY SHOOT LAST?
The length of your photoshoot depends on which package you select - we have a range to choose from, so you can select the perfect experience for you!
WHERE WILL MY SESSION TAKE PLACE?
The session will take place in our dedicated home boudoir studio, which has been specifically designed for privacy and the creation of gorgeous boudoir images. We can also arrange to travel to other locations (eg. hotel suites, AirBnBs etc - please note there may be a travel fee depending on the location).
CAN I BRING A FRIEND/SIGNIFICANT OTHER TO THE SHOOT?
Totally! If having an extra person there helps you to feel more comfortable and relaxed, that’s 100% fine. We always suggest just making sure that they are your BIGGEST support person, and will be cheering you on every step of the way.
DO YOU DELIVER EVERY IMAGE?
Not every image is delivered. After the shoot, we’ll go through your gallery and remove any duplicate images, shots that might be out of focus or that don’t match the vision we discussed beforehand. Our goal is always to provide you with a stunning and varied gallery that tells a story, and contains the absolute best images from your session.
DO YOU OFFER RETOUCHING?
Yes. The initial gallery of previews you’ll see will be unedited images - from there, we will finalise and retouch whichever photos you choose to purchase!
In today’s society, retouching can be a complex issue. Our goal is to ALWAYS make sure you look like yourself because we know that you’re beautiful exactly as you are, right now, and you don’t need to be changed in any way. We know as well that people may want more or less in the way of retouching, and we’ll always speak with you to understand YOUR exact preferences with respect to editing your photos.
We approach each image as its own work of art. We make tailored hand-edits and adjustments to things such as colouring, lighting, etc. Often, things like makeup, clothing, posing and shadows can impact the way skin tone and body shape appears in photographs, so we’ll make sure that the final images are a polished and accurate reflection of you.
We offer basic skin retouching also, and can remove temporary blemishes (such as bruises or pimples) as well as permanent features (e.g. scars) at people’s requests. We’ll never morph you into something that you’re not.
We will personalise our process to you and your needs, because this experience is about you giving yourself permission to put yourself first.
HOW LONG UNTIL I CAN SEE MY PHOTOS?
On average, your preview gallery would be ready 1-2 weeks after your photoshoot. After this, it will usually take approximately 4 weeks to receive your final edits! If you’ve chosen to order physical products, the delivery and production of these can take anywhere between 6 - 10 weeks depending on what products are ordered.
WILL YOU SHARE MY PHOTOS ONLINE OR WITH ANYONE ELSE?
Your privacy is incredibly important to us. This decision is absolutely down to you, and what you feel comfortable with - we will never share ANY photos without your written consent. We always love the photos we take and it’s a pleasure being able to share them with the world. Clients often find that sharing their images can be an empowering part of the overall experience, and enjoy knowing that their photos will encourage others to feel comfortable enough to take the leap too!
We have a range of options for sharing images, whether that is to keep your images completely private, to share some of them, or all of them. We’ll spend time discussing your preference around this at our in-person viewing after you’ve had a chance to see your full gallery.
WHAT TYPES OF PAYMENT DO YOU ACCEPT?
We accept cash, all major credit cards, and direct debit transfers.
