I used to be pretty wary of props and themed shoots, Christmas Boudoir Shoots included. You know those bad hotels where every room is different? Like “Hello ma’am, would you like to stay in our “Seaside Odyessy” or “Jungle Nights” room this evening?” but it’s a trap because every room is full of dusty fake foliage and very questionable decor. I sort of thought themed shoots would be like that unless there was an extravagant amount of money to throw towards it.
Friends, I was wrong. They are actually so fun.
If you’ve ever brought an unusual prop or outfit in for your shoot, you’ve probably heard my feather boa story. If not here’s the short version – someone brought in a horrible, cheap, tacky feather boa. I was low-key morally opposed to shooting with it because I didn’t want her to look tacky and cheap by extension. She seemed to really love it though, and I didn’t want to burst her bubble. So I said a little prayer to the photo gods and used every trick I could think of and…it turned out amazing.
So I am now officially team “no judgment” now, because you just can’t tell until you try it. We’ve made a lot of questionable Amazon trash look great. Or at least cute. We shoot and we don’t judge.
A Christmas boudoir shoot is a good time to discuss this because there are a lot of fun seasonal options, but you’ll probably be scared by some of them. Others might be cute but don’t justify a big investment in quality – a sexy Mrs Clause outfit is unlikely to be worn very often! We’ve had a lot of luck with wardrobe for shoots like this though, so I’ll share some ideas below.
Top Tip: Red Is Your Friend
This is my number one tip: buy red lingerie and accessorise festively.
Red looks intentional, but you’ll get plenty of use after the holidays too. It does double duty for Valentine’s Day, it’s easy to find, and you can strategically buy more practical, wearable styles that will work for everyday use. This can also work with a sparkly gold/silver set, but in my experience red is the easiest.
Accessories are easy too – throw on a Santa hat and a red lip, hold a wrapped present with a bow, show us your oversized candy cane, wrap yourself in lights, hold some mistletoe over your head, a cute mug with hot cocoa, etc. The accessories are pretty much 100% responsible for making it look Christmasy, so definitely plan a few (unless we’re shooting on a Christmas themed set already, in which case there may be enough on hand already).
You can also do what C did here, adding on a waspie and some red stockings to make the outfit look a bit more special. Remove these bits later and you have a great everyday option, or something that looks different enough for Valentine’s Day. Most good brands have a few options in red. If you’re after something a bit more themey, something like this Red Bow Lingerie Set or Red Satin PJ Set from Moxy would be cute.
For shoes, a classic black heel is great. You could also do red heels if you have them/want them, but I’d avoid them on red backgrounds like the one below (you’ll blend into the floor). You can also do fun things like snow boots, or obviously Louboutins are very on brand if you have them.
Festive Lingerie For Your Christmas Boudoir Shoot
For obviously festive looks, I’d suggest prioritising look over everything else. In other words, just buy whatever you think is cutest. The quality is often terrible anyway, and you’re unlikely to wear it more than a couple of times. Expect it to be poorly made, uncomfortable, and fall apart in the wash and then shop accordingly.
Most people find this kind of thing on Amazon or Temu, where there are many options all year round. I’ve photographed this “wrapped myself in a giant bow” idea a few times. It’s super cute, but if you get the kind that is just one long piece of fabric we tie around you please please please bring the instructions.
It is possible to find nicer sets. We’re ahead of the marketing teams right now, but it can be a great way to score a deal. This Naughty or Nice Sequin Costume Set from Victoria’s Secret is half off at the moment. There are some good deals on Poshmark for things like this too.
Otherwise, there will be a lot of seasonal options popping up soon from all your favourite brands.
Choosing The Vibe
Listen, you cannot be too serious with sparkly reindeer antlers on your head – it just doesn’t work.
We’ll have way more success (and fun) if we aim for something that feels lighthearted and a little mischievous. Think “Naughty List,” or “I’m the Present” and let’s save moody, mysterious looks for another time.
I like holiday shoots with more smiles than usual. It’s not hard because a lot of this feels silly and we’ll find plenty of things to laugh about. A bit of movement helps too, so we might use a fan for your hair, have you do a few little action shots, interact with some props, etc. I’m quite keen to shoot with a snow machine this year too.
Beyond that, I’d suggest a Christmas music playlist. Maybe some Christmas cookies or hot chocolate for snacks? It’s your Christmas too, right?!
Add Fur For Variety
You can sneak a second look out of any lingerie you buy by adding on a fur coat. This white one is nice, but most faux or real furs would probably work. Aim for natural, neutral colours, although a burgundy or red could be cool too? Avoid anything like leopard unless you are pairing that with a lot of red and you know what you are doing when it comes to styling.
A similar option could be a really chunky knit piece, the bigger the better and again I’d aim for neutral colours. You could also do a fur throw blanket or a thick fur rug. Other fun ideas for set variation, particularly if we’re shooting somewhere with a bed, are things like red or gold satin sheets, a red plaid blanket, lots of Christmas pillows, etc.
Booking Your Christmas Boudoir Shoot
If you’d like to do a festive shoot, please get in touch! They are a really good time. There are a couple of great Christmas set options at various studios in London starting from Nov.1st, and I’m up for any of them.
It’s best to shoot these ideas in November if at all possible. The earlier the better, because printed products need to be ordered before lab cutoff dates, and postage is obviously crazy around then too. Plus, how nice to have this done and wrapped up under the tree with plenty of time to spare? I’m determined to actually enjoy Christmas this year and not be running around like mad at the last minute, and if that means we have to start talking about Christmas in October then so be it.
xx
Stormy
