Before the session, we make a real plan.
Your first conversation is not a posing test or a sales presentation. It is where Chelsea learns what brought you to the session, what you want the photographs to feel like and what is making you nervous.
You receive help with outfits and styling before the date arrives. Soft and romantic, bridal, fashion-forward, dark, personal or a combination can all work. The plan should come from you—not from forcing every client into the same set of photographs.
Hair and makeup are part of the experience.
Professional hair and makeup are included with the $350 session retainer. Besides preparing you for the camera, this time gives you space to settle into the studio instead of walking through the door and immediately being asked to pose.
Chelsea stays involved in the final look so it matches the session you planned. The goal is polished and recognizable—not making you look like a different person.
The first pose is demonstrated—not called out from across the room.
Chelsea gets into every pose before asking you to do it. She shows you where to place your hands, how to shift your weight and what to do with your expression. Then she adjusts the small details that are almost impossible to monitor yourself.
You do not need to practice posing in a mirror or memorize anything beforehand. Specific direction is built into the session from the first frame to the last.
You can see what is working while you are still in the room.
Back-of-camera previews help replace the picture you may have been worrying about with evidence of what Chelsea is actually creating. You are not shown every frame, but you will see enough along the way to understand the light, pose and direction.
For many first-time clients, this is the moment the nerves begin to drop. The process stops feeling mysterious because you can see the photograph taking shape.
Privacy is your decision—not the price of booking.
Your photographs are never shared on the website, social media or in a portfolio without written permission. You can choose to keep the entire session private and still receive the same experience and care.
Boudoir is personal. You should not have to trade access to your images for a session or explain why you do not want them posted.
You choose photographs after seeing the finished work.
Your private virtual ordering appointment happens after the session. That is when you view the finished photographs and choose the images and products you genuinely love.
The session retainer is $350. Photograph and product collections are purchased separately and begin at $1,899. Those are two separate costs, and both should be understood before you reserve a date.
Quick answers
Questions about this guide.
Is it normal to feel nervous before a first boudoir session?
Yes. Most clients feel nervous beforehand. The session is structured around specific posing direction, a relaxed pace and back-of-camera previews so you are not left guessing.
How long does a boudoir session take?
Plan for roughly 2.5 to 3 hours, including professional hair and makeup. Timing can vary slightly depending on styling and outfit changes.
Where is the studio for Albany-area clients?
Sessions take place in Chelsea’s private studio in New Lebanon, New York, serving Albany, Troy, East Greenbush, Rensselaer and the wider Capital Region.