Should I Tan Before my Boudoir Session?

SUMMA’ SUMMA’ SUMMA’ TIME!

Did anyone else just sing that to the tune of DJ Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince? Did I just age myself? Do I care?

If you’re up for a little nostalgia, Go play the tune while I get to the point of this post.

We are fully in the thick of summer here in Kansas City….I mean ALL THESE 90-100 degree temps LATELY, whyyyyyyy?? With summertime comes, well, sun.

Let’s chat tanning shall we?! A question clients often have when booking a boudoir session is “Should I tan before my photoshoot?” Depending who you ask, you might get varying answers - so here’s my opinion regarding the matter.

Generally speaking, no, you shouldn’t tan before your boudoir session. With the way I edit images, (a little on the warmer side) you don’t technically need to, even if feeling WASHED OUT is a concern. honestly speaking,, it is much easier for me to “warm you up” in photoshop than it is to cool down oversaturated or orange skin tones. Even the most natural spray tan in person can translate a little too orange in camera.

I ALSO always advise against self tanners. hello streak city. while most of your body may appear to be a bronzed goddess, self tanners tend to settle in creases like the hands and feet and those areas are a lot more difficult to correct in photoshop. and trust me - they will be noticeable in your photos. the other concern with spray tans and self tanner is the damage they can cause to studio furniture. if you do not get it done a few days in advance, you risk transferring some of the tanning product onto my furniture during posing…yes. it has happened and it’s an awkward conversation for both of us.

during the summer months, though, we have an entirely different concern. sunburns and tan lines. I make no guarantee that I can correct tan lines or sunburnt skin. it is difficult to edit out tan lines while keeping your skin looking natural vs “plastic” and over edited. If your session is scheduled during the summer months, I recommend lathering on the sunscreen if you are going to be outside for any length of time. if you end up with tan lines leading up to your session, reach out to me asap so we can assess if it will be an issue. note that rescheduling or extensive editing fees may apply.

if feeling washed out or paler than normal is a concern for your session, let’s talk about it beforehand! like I mentioned, it Is much easier for me to “warm you up” a bit in photoshop than it is for me to correct skin tone issues. and bonus! you will save TIME AND money SINCE YOU WON’T NEED THAT spray tan before you come!