The Luxury Boudoir Experience in Bedford, New Hampshire
You don't have to walk into the studio knowing how to pose, what to wear, or how to act in front of a camera. Amanda guides you through the entire experience, from planning and professional hair and makeup to wardrobe, posing, your 90-minute session, and your same-day image reveal.
Your job is to show up. Amanda's got the rest.
What Happens During a Boudoir Photoshoot?
A professional boudoir experience should feel very different from just showing up for pictures. At the studio, the process starts before session day.
We'll talk through your goals, wardrobe, comfort level, style, and anything you're worried about before you ever step in front of the camera. On session day, you'll have time for professional hair and makeup, wardrobe selection, and prep before the photography begins. During the session, Amanda guides your posing and expression the whole way through. Afterward, you'll have your same-day reveal and get to choose the photographs and products you love.
The whole experience is built to remove as much uncertainty as possible. You don't need to know how to do Boudoir. Amanda does.
Step 1: Your Boudoir Consultation
Your Boudoir experience starts with a conversation. This is where I learn what brought you in, how you want to feel during your session, and what you want your photographs to look like.
You can talk about:
- your vision
- why you're booking
- how much coverage you prefer
- wardrobe ideas
- concerns about posing
- parts of the experience that make you nervous
- images or styles you love
- whether the photographs are for you or a gift
- privacy questions
- what happens after the session
There's no expectation that you already know exactly what you want. The consultation helps me build the experience around you.
Step 2: Preparing for Your Boudoir Session
You'll get guidance before your session so you're not trying to figure everything out the night before. We'll talk about things like:
- wardrobe
- lingerie
- accessories
- hair
- makeup
- nails
- hydration
- skin preparation
- what to bring
- what to avoid right before the session
- your desired overall look
Do I Need to Lose Weight First?
No. Your session shouldn't become another reason to postpone being photographed. I photograph clients across a wide range of sizes and body types and guide each one through posing, lighting, wardrobe, and expression. Learn more on the Plus Size Boudoir page.
Step 3: Professional Hair & Makeup
Your session starts with professional hair and makeup in the studio. This gives you time to settle in, relax, and transition into the experience before you ever step in front of the camera.
Your look should still feel like you. Whether you want something soft and natural, polished and glamorous, or more dramatic, your styling gets shaped around the overall feeling you want from your photographs.
Do I Have to Wear Heavy Makeup?
No. Professional makeup doesn't have to mean dramatic makeup. Talk about the look you want during your consultation so the styling supports the way you want to see yourself in your final images.
Step 4: Choosing What to Wear
One of the most common Boudoir questions I get is, "What am I supposed to wear?" There's no single answer. My current client closet runs from XXS through 6XL, and you're welcome to bring pieces from home too.
Depending on your style, your session might include:
- bodysuits
- lingerie sets
- robes
- stockings
- heels
- oversized sweaters
- button-down shirts
- jewelry
- sheets
- meaningful personal items
- more covered looks
- pieces from the client closet
Lingerie is an option. It's not a requirement. The goal is to choose clothing that supports the photographs you want to create. Explore inclusive Boudoir wardrobe options across a full range of sizes.
Step 5: I Guide Every Pose
You don't need posing experience. Most clients don't. I direct your body throughout the session so you're never left wondering what to do. That guidance includes:
- posture
- hands
- shoulders
- hips
- legs
- feet
- facial expressions
- eye direction
- breathing
- movement
- transitions between poses
What If I Feel Awkward?
Feeling awkward for the first few minutes is completely normal. You're doing something unfamiliar. I keep the session moving by giving you clear direction instead of waiting for you to invent poses or expressions on your own. As you get into the rhythm of the session, things usually start to feel a lot more natural.
Step 6: Your 90-Minute Boudoir Session
Your photography session runs about 90 minutes. That gives Amanda time to guide you through multiple poses, expressions, and looks without treating the experience like a rushed mini session.
You might move through different wardrobe choices and visual styles depending on the session we planned. Amanda directs throughout the shoot. The focus isn't on taking hundreds of random photographs. It's on creating intentional portraits through posing, lighting, composition, and expression.
Private. Guided. Judgment-Free.
Boudoir can feel vulnerable. The environment matters. Amanda's studio is built to create a private, professional experience where you know what's happening and what comes next.
You should never feel like you're being judged for:
- your age
- your size
- your relationship with your body
- your nervousness
- how much or how little you choose to wear
- whether you've done Boudoir before
You're allowed to ask questions. You're allowed to have boundaries. You're allowed to change your mind about an outfit or pose. The experience should feel collaborative, not pressured.
Step 7: Your Same-Day Image Reveal
After your photography session, you'll get to see your images during your same-day reveal. This is when you experience the photographs for the first time and choose the images and products you want to purchase.
Images and products are purchased separately from the session fee, and your $499 session fee is credited toward your final package or a la carte purchase. For complete pricing and investment details, visit the Boudoir Investment page.
Your Photographs Deserve More Than a Camera Roll
Boudoir photographs can become something tangible that you can keep, revisit, or give as a meaningful gift. Depending on current product offerings, your finished images may be available through albums, printed artwork, or other premium presentation options.
Never Done Boudoir Before? Good.
You don't have to practice posing. You don't have to know your angles. You don't have to arrive feeling fearless.
And you don't have to spend hours searching the internet for instructions on how to "do" Boudoir correctly. My job is to create the photographs. Your job is to experience the session.
For a lot of clients, the biggest surprise isn't that the finished photographs look beautiful. It's how quickly the anxiety they felt before the session starts to fade once they realize they're being guided the entire time.
Why a Professional Boudoir Experience Is Different From Taking Sexy Photos at Home
There's nothing wrong with taking photographs of yourself at home. But professional Boudoir photography is a different experience. I control:
- lighting
- camera angle
- lens choice
- pose
- composition
- expression
- styling
- movement
- image selection
Instead of trying to balance a phone, set a timer, and guess at flattering angles, you can focus on being present while I direct the technical and creative side of the session. This is one of the biggest differences between taking pictures and creating professional Boudoir portraits.
A Full-Service Boudoir Experience in Bedford, NH
Amanda Marquis Photography is located at Bedford Village Shops in Bedford, New Hampshire. The studio provides a complete Boudoir experience including consultation, professional hair and makeup, wardrobe guidance, access to an inclusive client closet, guided posing, a 90-minute photography session, and a same-day reveal.
If you're looking for a Boudoir photographer in the greater Manchester and Southern New Hampshire area, start with a consultation. Ask questions. Learn how the whole experience works before you book.
Before Your Session
The most common questions about what happens during a Boudoir photoshoot, answered honestly.
Your experience starts with planning and a consultation. On session day, you get professional hair and makeup, wardrobe prep, and a fully guided 90-minute photography session. Amanda directs your posing and expressions the whole way through. Afterward, you'll have a same-day reveal where you can see and pick your favorite images.
Nope. That's Amanda's job. She guides your posing throughout the session, posture, hands, shoulders, hips, legs, facial expression, movement, all of it. Most of her clients aren't professional models and have never done a Boudoir shoot before.
The photography portion is about 90 minutes. Your total studio time is longer because professional hair and makeup, wardrobe prep, and the image reveal all happen on top of the photography session.
Yes. Professional hair and makeup are included in the experience and happen right in the studio before the photography part begins.
There's no required Boudoir outfit. You can wear lingerie, bodysuits, robes, stockings, oversized shirts, sweaters, heels, sheets, or whatever matches the look you want. The client closet runs from XXS through 6XL, and you're welcome to bring pieces from home too.
No. There's no weight or clothing-size requirement for Boudoir. Amanda photographs clients across many body types and sizes and guides posing, lighting, and wardrobe throughout the session. Learn more on the dedicated Plus Size Boudoir page.
Totally normal, especially at the beginning of a first session. Amanda gives continuous direction so you're never expected to know what to do. Most clients settle in as they get familiar with the posing and the flow of the session.
You'll see them the same day. After your session, you'll have a same-day image reveal where you get to experience your photographs and choose the images and products you want.
Images and products are selected separately from the session fee, and your $499 session fee is credited toward your final package or a la carte purchase. Visit the Boudoir Investment page for current pricing and purchasing info.
Amanda Marquis Photography is located at Bedford Village Shops in Bedford, New Hampshire, specializing in full-service luxury Boudoir photography.
A supportive female guest 18 or older can come along as your hype person. Partners can be there during professional glam and can come back for the reveal, but the current studio policy doesn't allow significant others to stay during the photography part. That's so you can relax and move through the session without feeling watched.
Yes. Boudoir photographs and albums are really popular for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, and other milestones. If you need finished products by a specific date, book your session well in advance so there's enough time.
You Don't Have to Know What You're Doing. I Do.
If the only thing holding you back is wondering whether you'll know how to pose, what to wear, or what happens during the session, start with a consultation.
Ask the questions. See the studio. Learn how the experience works. Then decide if it feels right for you.