To Tan or Not To Tan: That Is the Question

A common question I get from my clients before a session is about tanning. And if you ask me if you should plan to a visit to your local tanning salon before our session, my answer will be, it depends. I know that at face value this isn’t a super helpful answer, but let me explain.

Being yourself matters!

One of the main reasons that I’m so passionate about providing sexy, sensual boudoir photos for women is that I want all women to be able to see their own unique sexuality and desirability.  Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes and I love to show my clients that they are amazingly gorgeous just how they are. During my boudoir and pin-up sessions I work with all different kinds of women to help them realize that there’s no one way to be sexy and that every woman can (and should!) feel powerfully beautiful.

But back to the tanning…

My answer to the question of whether or not to tan is ABSOLUTELY NOT!

Regardless if your tan is from the bottle, bulb, or the glorious sun itself – you’re setting yourself up for potential disaster when it comes to your boudoir shoot.

But with that being said, if you are someone who regularly tans and if doing so makes you feel good (because in the end it is your choice, not mine), just please consider the warnings I have listed below before you make your decision!

1. A tan on your skin can make your skin look really, really orange in photos (the camera sensor is really sensitive), and this is something I can not control. I am not responsible if you look like an Oompa Loompa from Willy Wonka in your photos. So tan at your own risk.
2. I beg you not to get a spray tan as they can leave a really wonky color cast on your skin. I even had one client years ago who got a spray tan and portions of her skin did not accept the dye and she was polka-dotted.  Also if done to close to your session, it can end up staining our furniture and bedding.
3. Watch out for tan lines, I will not air brush them!
4. Do not come to our session with a sunburn!

If you’ve looked at boudoir photos online in preparation for our session and feel like they show a one-dimensional (and maybe tanned) standard of beauty, I’m here to tell you NOT to buy what those photos are selling. Your individuality is what make you beautiful and your uniquely perfect body is what makes you gorgeous. Let me help you embrace that uniqueness, celebrate its beauty and bring you a little closer to truly loving yourself in the process.