How to Find the Right Boudoir Photographer in Texas
Updated: Sep 14
So you're looking for a boudoir photographer.
Maybe you searched “boudoir photography near me.”
Maybe you've been stalking photographers on Instagram for three weeks and still haven't booked anyone. 😂
Or maybe you know you want to do this, but you have absolutely no idea what you're looking for beyond:
“I want to look HOT.”
Fair enough. I can work with that. 😉
I'm Petra, a boudoir photographer in Waco, Texas, and women come to my studio from all over Central Texas — including Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, Temple and beyond.
And if you're searching for a boudoir photographer in Texas, I want to give you something I wish more people talked about:
Choosing your photographer is about so much more than liking pretty pictures.
Your photographer is going to see you in ways that most people never do.
You're going to be vulnerable.
You might be nervous.
You might be half naked in front of a complete stranger.
So yes, you should LOVE their work.
But there's more to it than that.
Here's what I would actually look for.
1. Find a photographer whose work you REALLY love
This sounds obvious, but don't skip it.
Look through their website.
Look through their Instagram.
Look at complete galleries if they have them.
And pay attention to whether you like the whole body of work, not just one or two photographs.
Do you like the lighting?
The posing?
The editing?
The expressions?
The way bodies are photographed?
The overall feeling?
Because here's the thing:
Your photographer's style matters.
You can ask a photographer to edit your images differently, but you can't expect them to suddenly become a completely different photographer.
If you love dark and dramatic photographs, don't book someone whose portfolio is bright and airy just because they're nearby.
If you love natural, soft images, don't book someone whose entire portfolio is heavily posed and dramatic.
Find someone whose work makes you stop scrolling.
2. Look at how they photograph REAL women
This one is HUGE.
Look beyond the model-looking women on the website.
Look for different body types.
Different ages.
Different shapes.
Women who look like women you actually know.
Because you don't want to walk into a studio thinking:
“Well… she looks like THAT. I definitely don't.”
You want to look at the photographer's work and think:
“Oh. Maybe I could actually do this.”
I photograph women of different ages, sizes, shapes and life experiences.
Some are nervous.
Some are confident.
Some have never done anything remotely like this before.
Some are celebrating a birthday.
Some are celebrating becoming a mom.
Some are turning 40.
Some are healing from something.
Some just want to do something ridiculously fun for themselves.
There isn't one “boudoir woman.”
There are just women.
3. Make sure your photographer knows how to pose you
This is probably one of the biggest things I would ask before booking.
Because if you've never modeled before, you're probably thinking:
“What the hell am I supposed to DO?”
😂
You shouldn't have to know.
A good boudoir photographer should be able to guide you through your session.
Where to put your hands.
Where to put your legs.
How to position your body.
Where to look.
How to move.
What to do with your face.
And when something isn't working, they should know how to adjust it.
At my studio, you don't need to know how to pose before you arrive.
I guide you through the entire thing.
That's literally my job.
4. Pay attention to how the photographer makes you feel
This is just as important as the photographs.
Actually, I might argue that it's MORE important.
Because you're going to spend several hours with this person.
You're going to be vulnerable.
You're going to change clothes in front of them.
You're going to laugh.
You might cry.
You're probably going to say something like:
“Oh my God, I can't believe I'm doing this.”
You need someone you feel comfortable with.
So read their website.
Watch their videos.
Read their reviews.
Look at their social media.
Listen to how they talk to their clients.
Do they feel warm?
Funny?
Professional?
Judgmental?
Stiff?
Overly polished?
Do they sound like someone you could actually spend a morning with?
Trust your gut.
5. Ask what is actually included
“Boudoir session” can mean very different things depending on the photographer.
Before you book, find out exactly what you're getting.
Does the experience include:
Professional hair and makeup?
Wardrobe?
Posing guidance?
Studio access?
Multiple outfits?
Image reveal?
Retouching?
Products?
Digital photographs?
Albums or wall art?
At Petra Novak Boudoir, your session experience includes professional hair and makeup, access to my VIP client wardrobe, shoes and accessories, posing guidance, multiple outfits, bubbly, European chocolates and an in-studio reveal and ordering appointment. (petranovakboudoir.com)
And yes, I believe the experience matters.
You're not just paying someone to take photographs.
You're paying for the entire experience surrounding them.
6. Ask about the photographer's studio
Don't underestimate this.
Especially with boudoir.
You want to know where you're going.
Is it private?
Is it comfortable?
Is there somewhere to change?
Is there a hair and makeup area?
Is there a wardrobe?
Is it clean?
Does it feel like somewhere you would actually want to spend a few hours?
My studio is in Waco, Texas, and I've created it specifically around the experience I want my clients to have.
It's private, intimate and filled with different sets and spaces so your session doesn't feel like you're taking the same photograph over and over again.
And if you're traveling from another Texas city, I actually think the private studio experience is one of the reasons it's worth the drive.
7. Don't automatically choose the closest photographer
This is the part I really want to talk about.
Because if you searched:
“boudoir photographer near me”
you might assume the best photographer for you has to be 15 minutes away.
Not necessarily.
Would you drive an hour for a photographer whose work you absolutely LOVE?
What about two hours?
For something as personal as boudoir, I would.
Women travel to my Waco studio from Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, Temple and throughout Central Texas.
And honestly?
I love that.
Because they're not just booking a photographer.
They're making a day out of it.
Hair and makeup.
Coffee.
Lunch.
A little shopping.
A boudoir session.
Maybe a hotel.
Maybe a girls' weekend.
Maybe just a day completely dedicated to themselves.
Sometimes the photographer you want isn't the photographer closest to your house.
And that's okay.
8. Read the reviews — but read the RIGHT parts
Obviously, look at the star rating.
But don't stop there.
Read what clients actually say.
Do they talk about how comfortable they felt?
Did the photographer help them when they were nervous?
Did they feel guided?
Did they feel beautiful?
Did they love the experience?
Did they mention feeling different afterward?
Those details tell you so much more than:
“Great photographer! 5 stars!”
Look for patterns.
If dozens of women are saying the same thing about a photographer, pay attention.
9. Ask what happens to your photographs
This is something you should absolutely understand before booking.
Ask:
Who can see my images?
Are they shared online?
Do I have to give permission for my photographs to be used?
How are my images stored?
What happens to the images I don't purchase?
Boudoir is incredibly personal.
You should feel comfortable asking these questions.
And you should feel comfortable with the answers.
At Petra Novak Boudoir, privacy is something I take seriously, and clients control whether their photographs are shared.
If you don't want your images online, you don't have to put them online.
10. Ask how much the whole experience costs
This one can get confusing because photographers structure their pricing differently.
Some charge a session fee and sell photographs separately.
Some have collections.
Some include digital images.
Some don't.
Some have minimum purchases.
Some don't.
So don't compare photographers based only on the session fee.
A $200 session isn't necessarily cheaper than a $500 session if you end up spending significantly more on the photographs and products afterward.
Look at the total investment and what you're actually getting.
At my studio, the session fee is currently $500 for an individual or $600 for a couple, with photographs and artwork purchased separately. I also offer in-house pre-session payment plans for clients who want to spread out their investment before their session. (petranovakboudoir.com)
There isn't one right pricing model.
You just want to understand it before you book.
11. Look for something that feels different
This might be my favorite one.
Because there are a LOT of boudoir photographers.
So ask yourself:
Why this photographer?
What makes them different?
For me, it's not just the photographs.
It's the whole experience.
The VIP wardrobe.
The private studio.
The hair and makeup.
The guided posing.
The ridiculous amount of different sets.
And then there are my Bonus Sets.
These are complimentary session add-ons that can include things like the shower, neon, blacklight, angel wings, whiskey, body chains, champagne, artistic body-scapes and a whole lot more.
Basically…
regular boudoir is not really my thing. 😂
I like making things interesting.
12. And finally… find someone you actually LIKE
This might sound silly.
It's not.
You're going to spend hours with this person.
So choose someone whose personality feels right for you.
If you want quiet and calm, find quiet and calm.
If you want someone who will hype you up, find someone who will hype you up.
If you want someone who will make you laugh and tell you exactly where to put your butt…
Hi. 😂
I'm probably your girl.
Because your boudoir session should feel like an experience.
Not an awkward appointment where someone tells you to stand there and smile.
So… what makes a boudoir photographer the “right” one?
It's not necessarily the photographer with the biggest following.
It's not necessarily the person closest to your house.
And it's definitely not always the cheapest.
It's the photographer whose:
work you love,
personality you trust,
posing style makes you feel comfortable,
studio feels right,
and overall experience makes you think:
“Okay. I can actually do this.”
That's the person I would book.
If you're looking for boudoir photography in Texas…
I'm Petra.
I'm a luxury boudoir photographer based in Waco, Texas, and I photograph women from Waco, Central Texas and cities throughout Texas who are willing to make the drive for an experience that's completely different from a typical photo session.
You don't need to know how to pose.
You don't need to be a certain size.
You don't need to already feel confident.
And you definitely don't need to look like a model.
You just need to show up.
I'll guide you through the rest.
And if you're coming from Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, Temple or somewhere else in Texas?
Come make a day of it.
I promise Waco is worth the drive. 🤎
Comments