Short answer: absolutely not, unless you want to. Let’s talk about it.

This is one of the most common pre-session worries I hear, and I want to say this clearly – grooming is 100% a personal choice, and it has zero bearing on how amazing your boudoir photos turn out. I have never once, in five years of shooting boudoir photography, looked through a gallery and thought “oh no, she didn’t shave.” It has never crossed my mind. Not once. What I do notice is confidence, comfort, and whether someone feels like themselves in front of the camera – that’s it.

So whether you shave, wax, go fully au naturel, or do whatever’s normal for you day-to-day – it’s all correct. There is no “right” way to show up to your boudoir session.

If You Do Groom, Here’s How to Avoid Irritation

If shaving or waxing is part of your normal routine and you want to do it before your session, timing and technique matter more than the actual choice to do it.

Don’t shave the day of. Fresh shaving can cause redness, razor burn, and bumps – and studio lighting is not subtle. It will pick up anything happening on your skin. Shave 2-3 days before your session instead, so any irritation has time to calm down.

Stick to your routine. Now is not the time to try a new razor, a new wax spot, or a new hair removal method for the first time. Unfamiliar products or techniques can cause reactions you don’t expect – and you don’t want to be dealing with that the week of your shoot.

Moisturize after. Whatever method you use, follow it with lotion. Soft, hydrated skin photographs better than dry or freshly-irritated skin, full stop.

Waxing works the same way. If you wax, book it several days out – not the day before. Skin needs time to settle after waxing too, and doing it too close to your session can leave redness or sensitivity.

The Only Real Rule

Groom however makes you feel confident. That might mean a full routine the week before, or it might mean doing absolutely nothing different from any other day. Both are right. My job is to photograph you feeling like yourself – not a version of you shaped by what you think you’re “supposed” to do before a shoot.

Still have questions about how to prep for your session? Book your consult call– no question is too small.