OUTDOOR BOUDOIR ADVENTURE | 10 TIPS FOR A STUNNING RESULT
Living in Montana, we have some of the greatest opportunities for expressing ourselves in the great outdoors. A boudoir session in the wild is one of the most profound ways to express your Strong Confident Femininity. That is why I created the Strong Confident Femininity Adventure Boudoir Experience!
These boudoir sessions are beyond anything else when it comes to empowering you. This is in part because of the sense of accomplishment that comes from completing the hike and photo session. It is also because of the connection with the power of creation that you get when you are surround by the intricate beauties of nature.
These experiences involve a fairly decent hike, usually some cross-country trekking, almost always standing high above an amazing view and always a whole lot of fun. Not for the faint of heart, they are still accessible to those who are willing to work hard to make something beautiful.
Here are 10 tips for making a Strong Confident Femininity Adventure Boudoir Experience an event of your lifetime and getting images that will take your breath away every day for the rest of your life!
TIP ONE: HIKE OR WALK REGULARLY BEFORE YOUR OUTDOOR ADVENTURE BOUDOIR SESSION
If you don’t have a regular exercise routine, this is one way to motivate yourself into starting one - I double down on my walking about 2 months before the end of May when the season starts to be right for these session. Primarily I do that so as not to slow you down too much or embarrass myself. But adding in those walks daily is an amazing way to get ready for these experiences.
You want to be able to walk up to two miles one way - up hill - at a moderate pace. And to be honest, at least one of the best spots (and the location featured in this post) requires a good 15 to 30 minutes (depending on your pace) of very steep travel. So get out and hike every day to prepare yourself. A flat terrain walk is better than nothing as you are preparing, but really make an effort to include some hills in your excursions so you will be prepared to still have the energy and stamina for playing in front of the camera when we get to the top.
Not everybody will find it enjoyable to do a very steep hike, so we pick a location that is suited to your fitness and interest level. But all of these session do involve some moderate hiking so it is best to be prepared for moving your body.
As a caveat, keep in mind that I am doing these hikes with you, so while I want you to be prepared, do not be intimidate as I am not some super athlete. I pause to catch my breath, take in the views, and take a sip of water. It is all just part of the experience, and really is a lot of fun.
TIP TWO: HYDRATE WELL BEFORE AND DURING YOUR OUTDOOR ADVENTURE BOUDOIR SESSION!
This means drink your water ladies. It is so important! Even before a studio boudoir session you need to increase your hydration because it makes your skin glow. It is even more important for these Adventure Boudoir Experiences because if you are well hydrated you will hike stronger and recover quicker when we get to the top. And that means more time for creating amazing images.
In addition to being well hydrated in the weeks before your session, about two hours before we are hit the trail head, pre-hydrate by drinking 17 to 20 fl. oz of water. And plan on consuming about 1/2 a liter of water an hour as we go. I recommend using a Camel Back type devise for your water so you can sip while we walk, which is a better way to hydrate.
If you need further information about hydrating for hiking, here is an informative article about hydrating.
TIP THREE: WEAR GOOD HIKING SHOES FOR YOUR OUTDOOR ADVENTURE BOUDOIR
Sandals, flip-flops or heels are not acceptable. We will not even begin the hike if these are all you have with you.
Instead, a good sturdy pair of walking/trail running shoes, or even light hiking boots are all you need. But to avoid painful blisters, your shoes need to be well broken in - don’t run out and purchase them that morning, as that will pretty much guarantee painful blisters before the hike is over.
Do bring those flip-flops and heels for use once we arrive to the mountain top. The flip-flops will be great for walking around the area we are taking photos, and the heels can be slipped on for many poses to add a little extra to your images if you want.
TIP FOUR: HAVE A COMFORTABLE BACKPACK
You don’t need anything too big - we aren’t going on an overnight excursion and I will help you if you end up with overflow that can fit in my bag. But it is important that you have something that doesn’t rub or chafe you, as those marks will show in your images. And I recommend that you wear a t’shirt that has sleeves for the hike up, because that will protect your skin from the straps and pressure points of the backpack.
TIP FIVE: INCLUDE A WARDROBE PIECE THAT WILL FLOW IN THE WIND
A robe or skirt or sheet/blanket can all work for this. Our point is to have something that catches the wind and adds amazing moments to the scene. If you don’t have anything like this, no worries, you can use something from the studio wardrobe - just let me know in advance so I can bring it along.
TIP SIX: USE MAKE-UP SETTING SPRAY
We are going to hike, and your makeup needs to be rock solid. My usual studio Make-up Artist, Shayla of Beauty and the Belief, recommends Urban Decay All Nighter for this. It is available at Ulta in Bozeman and other locations, or online for ordering. Beware: hairspray is not a substitute for makeup setting spray, so don’t go there.
TIP SEVEN: BRING ALL THE REGULAR HIKING STUFF - AND THEN SOME
You know the drill: A warmer layer for hiking down in the evening, sun screan to keep yourself from getting a sunburn, dark glasses, a rain poncho (just in case) , energizing snacks, a flash light (again, just in case), a first aide kit, and if you have it, bear spray (this is Montana after all, so it is just in case as well). Remember, we will be in the mountains, it is best to be prepared.
And, bring some baby wipes to wash off the trail dust befor we beging making images.
TIP EIGHT: BRING REFRESHERS
Bring all the beauty related refreshers you will need - a hair brush, lip color or gloss, that kind of thing. Lotion for any dry skin is also refreshing and keeps you looking your best. You shouldn’t need your whole makeup kit, just a few refreshers - and a small mirror to check your look. And, a refreshing snack may be in order as well - although I discourage eating until after the shoot so you don’t have gunk stuck in your teeth. But a bar to re-emergize with as we hike up or before we hike down can be just the thing you need.
TIP NINE: DOUBLE CHECK YOUR LIST
Before we head up the trail it is important to double check that you have everything you need. There is no running back to the car for whatever is left behind, so it is super important to check your checklist more than once.
I recommend an “eyes on it” check before we drive to the trail head, and again as we are getting out of the vehicle and hitting the trail. We can often make do and improvise (a particular strength of mine) and I bring a pretty thorough kit of items to back up your list. But if your favorite lip gloss is two miles back down the mountain, the fact is, you won’t be using it for that particular session.
TIP TEN: HAVE AN ADVENTURESOME ATTITUDE OF FUN!
As with all hikes that involve the mountains, you are going to put in some effort to get to your location. And as with all boudoir sessions, there is work in making stunning images. But this is an adventure and the rewards for daring to go on it are absolutely amazing.
You will probably never experience anything more exhilerating as standing on a rock looking down on the forested landscape while the wind brushes your skin and the sunset drenches you in perfect golden light. Enjoy it! Get giddy about it! And leave behind the wories and complaints for this four to five hour adventure.
These Strong Confident Femininity Adventure Boudoir Experiences are one of the most unique and exciting ways to celebrate you! There is a limitedt time that the mountains are accessible for these every summer - basically the last week in May through about the second week in September. So if you want to do one, click the button below and get your date reserved!