How Much Should You Spend On Lingerie for Your Boudoir Session?

HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU SPEND ON LINGERIE FOR YOUR BOUDOIR SESSION?

Is expensive lingerie really that much better than the cheap lingerie we can find on Shein? What do we really get with the higher price tag associated with luxury lingerie brands?

How much should you spend on lingerie for your boudoir session?

Let’s talk about it!

MY EXPERIENCE WITH LINGERIE

When I got married back in 2017, I didn’t have much money (or knowledge of lingerie). I was working with a budget for sure!

Before my boudoir session and my wedding, I purchased a handful of SUPER CHEAP items from Yandy.com along with one high quality lacy black bodysuit from Victoria’s Secret. 7 years later, and I still have the piece from Victoria’s secret and it’s one of my most worn items.

I got rid of the Yandy pieces about 6 years ago. They never fit nicely or flattered my body and the fabric felt cheap and flimsy (more so than lingerie should be). Most of it, I never even wore. My husband didn’t mind the cheap lingerie, but I did.

I didn’t feel my best (or even good) in those cheaper pieces, but I’ve worn (and photographed myself in) the piece from Victoria’s Secret on many occasions.

Since that initial Yandy haul, I only buy nice pieces of lingerie. That doesn’t mean I necessarily spend a lot on every piece, it just means that I do my research and avoid things I know will make the lingerie feel cheep.

Personally, I would much rather have 2 pieces of lingerie that I love, than 20 pieces that I hate.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOUR SESSION?

I’m not saying you should dump a small fortune on lingerie for your session, but I do think it’s a good idea to consider quality when you’re shopping for lingerie.

I know boudoir photography is already an investment – even without factoring in the cost of lingerie. So here are some tips to select beautiful pieces without breaking the bank.

THINGS TO AVOID

Avoid G-strings and things that tie on in the back. These details will automatically make your lingerie look and feel cheap.

In general, some stretch in your lingerie is ok. However, structured pieces that fit nicely will look so much better than a piece that looks like it was made for a doll, but stretches to fit your body.

Also, watch out for crotchless lingerie. While it can be fun in the bedroom, this really isn’t the move for a tasteful boudoir session!

The piece below is an example of a g-string. She still looked nice, but the lingerie itself looks a little cheap because of the g-string and it didn’t really do her any favors – although she’s obviously a beautiful lady.

I ended up adjusting my posing to try to hide the g-string as much as I could while showing off her lovely back and arms.

PAY ATTENTION TO THE FIT

It’s all about the fit. If it doesn’t flatter your body and hug you in all the right places, even an expensive piece of lingerie is no good.

Pay attention to what a piece is doing for you. Is it accentuating your assets? Hiding or flattering your perceived flaws? Even a cheap piece of lingerie can look good if it fits you right.

LOOK IN THE $20-$50 PRICE RANGE

This is the range where you can find some really great quality pieces without breaking the bank if you know where to look.

I love to get bodysuits and bras/bralettes from Adore Me, Amazon, Aerie, Hello LA Girl, Target, and Victoria’s Secret.

In all fairness, you can find some good pieces on Yandy.com as well if you know what to look for!

The pieces below were all in the $20 range, but they look really nice in the photos!

FIND PIECES YOU’LL BE EXCITED TO WEAR AGAIN AND AGAIN

If you don’t like it enough to wear it again for your man, it’s probably not a good choice for your boudoir session.

Besides, half the fun of shopping for your boudoir sessions is building your own lingerie collection for later!

That being said, don’t be afraid to treat yourself to a really nice piece if you happen to fall in love with one.

I invested in a more luxury piece from The Bradshaw Collection and I absolutely adore the bodysuit I purchased. The quality is outstanding and the fit is perfect. If you do choose to shop there, be sure to use my discount code ROSEWOOD for 10% off.

GO FOR QUALITY OVER QUANTITY EVERY TIME

I would rather you bring 2 pieces that are higher quality and you feel good in than 6 pieces that are cheap and you don’t love. If you don’t feel good in a piece, that will translate to your photos.

DON’T DISCOUNT YOUR OWN CLOSET

You don’t have to buy everything brand new for your session. Do you have a great matching bra and panty set already? Bring it!

Do you have a nice button down? A robe? Cute undies and a t-shirt or crop top? Bring those! Your outfits don’t have to be 3-5 pieces of nice lingerie. Variety makes for super fun photos!

Keep in mind, we can also do implied nude photos with a sheet or even just nude images as one of your “3-5 outfits”.

Don’t overthink your outfit selection. As long as you bring things you feel good in, I promise that you’ll love your photos!

TO SUMMARIZE…

Beware of lingerie that is too cheap because it may not fit well or you may just not feel good in it.

Also keep in mind, that if pieces are too expensive, you might wish you had the money back to spend on your photos at the end of the day.

The mid-range has plenty of good quality items that will look good and photograph great!