Wondering what to wear to a boudoir shoot? If you have been quietly thinking about a session, there is a good chance this is the one question that has been circling in your mind.

It is usually the first thing women ask me when they enquire at my Footscray studio, and I understand why. What you wear feels like the part you can get wrong. It feels like the difference between photos you love and photos you hide.

Here is the truth, from someone who has guided hundreds of women through this experience. What you wear matters far less than you think, and the things that matter most are probably not what you expect.

What to wear to a boudoir shoot: start with how you want to feel

Before you open a single online shopping tab, sit with this question. When you imagine seeing your finished photos, how do you want to feel?

Some women want to feel soft and romantic. Some want to feel powerful, like the woman who runs her world all week finally being seen for it. Some want to feel playful. Some simply want to feel like themselves, without the uniform, the school run clothes or the scrubs.

Your answer shapes everything. A silk robe tells a different story to a structured bodysuit. An oversized knit sliding off one shoulder feels different to lace. There is no right answer. There is only your answer, and when you book with me we talk through it together before you buy anything.

The pieces that photograph beautifully on every body

After years of photographing women of all shapes, ages and sizes in my Melbourne studio, these are the pieces I reach for again and again.

A bodysuit is the closest thing to a guaranteed win. It smooths, it shapes, and it lets you move freely without adjusting straps every thirty seconds. If you buy one new piece for your session, make it this.

An oversized white shirt, whether it is yours or borrowed from a partner’s wardrobe, is timeless. It hints rather than reveals, and it suits women who want beautiful images without wearing lingerie at all.

A silk or satin robe gives movement, drape and softness. It is also a gentle way to ease into the session, because you decide how much it opens and when.

A simple matching set in a colour that makes your skin glow. As a general guide, deep jewel tones, black, ivory and rich reds photograph beautifully. If in doubt, black is elegant on absolutely everyone.

Something that is simply yours. A partner’s shirt, a favourite dress, the necklace you never take off. The most moving images I create often involve the least expected outfits.

What about my tummy, my arms, my scars?

Let me speak to the question underneath the question, because for most women, “what do I wear” really means “what will hide the parts of me I have been taught to dislike”.

I want you to hear this clearly. You do not need to hide anything to have breathtaking photos. Posing, light and guidance do far more than any outfit ever will. That is my job, not yours. I direct you from the tips of your fingers to the angle of your chin, so you never have to guess what to do with your body.

If there is a part of you that you would prefer to feature less, tell me. We work with it, gently and without fuss. But I will also tell you what I see through my lens, because it is almost never what you see in the mirror. Softness photographs as sensuality. Scars photograph as story. The body you have right now, today, is enough. It was always going to be enough.

Fit matters more than size, and comfort matters more than fashion

A practical note that saves many women stress. Buy for the body you have on the day of your shoot, not the body you are hoping to have. Lingerie that fits properly is instantly more flattering than a smaller size digging in, and you deserve to breathe during your session.

Choose pieces you can actually move in. If you are tugging at a strap or worried something will slip, it shows on your face, and your face is the heart of every image. Comfortable does not mean boring. It means free.

One more tip from experience. Wear loose clothing to the studio and skip tight socks or fitted jeans that morning, so your skin is free of marks by the time we start shooting.

How many outfits should I bring?

For a full session at My Story Boudoir, three to four outfits is the sweet spot. I usually suggest a mix, something covered like a shirt or knit, something classic like a set or bodysuit, something with movement like a robe or slip, and one wild card that is purely you.

Bring more than you need. Part of your session is us going through your bag together, and I will tell you honestly what will photograph best. You are never left to decide alone. From the moment you arrive, you are guided through hair, makeup, styling and every single pose.

You do not have to get this right on your own

If reading this has brought up more questions than answers, that is completely normal, and it is exactly why my sessions include a styling conversation before you ever step in front of the camera. You bring the willingness. I bring everything else.

A boudoir session is not about the perfect outfit. It is about a woman deciding she is allowed to be seen, exactly as she is, right now. The wardrobe is just the doorway.

If this has been sitting quietly in your heart, you are welcome to reach out and ask your questions first. Send an enquiry here and I will personally walk you through everything, including what to wear. And if you would love the full experience with professional hair, makeup and styling included, ask me about the Muse experience when you get in touch.

Michelle x
My Story Boudoir, Footscray, Melbourne

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