To Tan Or Not To Tan

Everyone loves to have glowy, tan skin throughout the year. Now that it is slowly warming up here in Boston, we can finally get back outside and enjoy the weather and get our Vitamin D. Living in New England is tough on the skin, and I know it can be hard to deal with being pale and having dry skin before a big photoshoot. I totally get it! 

One question I get asked over and over again is if you should go to a tanning bed or get a spray tan before your boudoir session. Everyone feels better when they have a good tan, even me! My short answer to getting a tan or spray tan before a boudoir session is there is absolutely no need and I do not recommend it! Here are a few reasons why. 

Editing

You may not be thinking of the editing process during your boudoir session but I always add a healthy glow to my clients during the editing process. It’s not going to make you look like you just came back from a two week vacation in the Caribbean but it gives you that healthy glow we all crave. I do it to every client because it’s a great way to even out the skin tone and give it a healthy vibrant look. If you have any pesky tan lines, don’t worry! I can even those out for you :)

An Orange Effect

One reason why I don’t recommend getting spray tans is because it can leave an orange look on your skin. The camera picks up colors differently than our eyes do. It can make you look more orange than tan and unfortunately, that is not something that is easily edited out. It can also easily transfer onto your lingerie, especially white shirts, bras and underwear. 

Patchy

If you want a consistent tan, I would recommend getting out in the sun before your session instead of a spray tan. Just like spray tanning though, it can leave you with patchy or pesky tan lines that you don’t love. Sometimes, those lines and patches can be hard to edit out making your skin color look not so natural during the editing process. Be sure not to burn before your session. Not only is it bad for the health of the skin, but the last thing that you want is to be peeling the day of your shoot. 

Go Natural! 

If you want the best results possible, I recommend just coming how are you! Moisturize your skin the week of your session so that it is smooth and moisturized. It will give you that natural glow you are looking for and I will take of the rest. 

Boudoir is about feeling confident and sexy in the skin you are in! You definitely don’t have to get a tan to look drop dead gorgeous. I promise you are perfect, just the way you are!