Giving The Boudoir Album as a Christmas Gift
There are Christmas gifts.
And then there are gifts he absolutely did not see coming.
A boudoir album falls pretty firmly into the second category.
Every holiday season, we start looking for something different to give our husbands, fiancé, or partners. I know the struggle well.
Not another watch. Not another gadget.
Not something he could have ordered for himself from Amazon while sitting on the couch.
Something personal.
Something he can’t buy anywhere else.
And something that makes opening presents on Christmas morning considerably more, ummm... interesting ;)
A boudoir album checks all three boxes.
Why a Boudoir Album Makes Such a Good Christmas Gift
The obvious answer?
It’s you.
Not something you found online. Not something mass-produced. Not something he will eventually forget who gave him.
A boudoir album is completely personal.
But I think there is another overlooked reason these albums make such incredible gifts:
They don't disappear after Christmas.
A bottle gets emptied. Clothes eventually get shoved into the back of a closet. Electronics become outdated approximately six minutes after you buy them.
An album stays.
My albums are designed to be held, opened, revisited, and kept for years. Your favorite photos are printed and professionally designed into something that feels substantial when you put it in his hands.
And trust me, handing your special someone an actual album of your boudoir photos hits very differently than texting him a picture.
You can still text him your photos of course!
But giving him an album and watchng him suddenly forget how words work. That's pure gold.
You can learn more about why a boudoir album is worth having in my guide to boudoir albums.
The Best Part Is Making Him Wait for It
You don't even have to wait until Christmas morning to start having fun with this!
This is where your digital photos come in...
Send him one.
Just one.
Maybe a week or two before Christmas.
No explanation necessary.
Or send one with:
“Your Christmas present is almost ready.”
Then carry on with your day like you did not just completely derail his train of thought.
That is the beauty of having digital photos from your session. The album may be the big gift, but the digitals give you plenty of opportunities to tease what is coming.
Change his phone wallpaper.
Send one while he is at work.
Text him a cropped little detail that does not give away the whole photo.
Send one and then immediately put your phone on silent.
You created the photos. Have some fun with them!
Accordion Minis Were Basically Made for Stockings
Now let's talk about the accordion minis.
These little things are ridiculously cute.
They are small folding photo books featuring several of your favorite images, and they make an amazing addition to the main gift.
Slip one into his stocking.
Hide one somewhere he will find later.
Give him the mini first and let him think that is the gift before bringing out the album.
That is called building suspense.
They are also discreet enough to keep somewhere private without having a full-size album sitting around.
A boudoir accordion mini tucked into a Christmas stocking?
Ohh Yeah.
That is considerably more exciting than a new electric toothbrush.
And definitely more memorable, too ;)
You Don’t Have to Know What Photos Will Go in the Album Yet
This is something women sometimes worry about before they even book.
“How will I know which photos he will even like?”
You don't. Not yet.
And you do not need to.
First, we are going to create photos you love.
After your session, you will come back to my Colorado Springs studio for your private reveal. We will go through your finished photos together using my Yes, No, Maybe process and narrow everything down.
That is when you will see which images stop you.
And there will probably be more of them than you expect.
You may arrive thinking, “I just need a few photos for his Christmas gift.”
Then you see the gallery and suddenly you are emotionally attached to approximately 57 images.
It happens every time.
Once we know which photos you love, we will look at the collection that makes sense for you. My collections include a finished album, with digital options available depending on the collection you choose. A fully digital collection is available as well.
You do not have to design your Christmas gift before you have even stepped in front of my camera.
That is my department.
You can learn more about what happens during your private reveal before your session.
But Isn’t a Boudoir Session Supposed to Be for Me?
Absolutely. Yes.
And also, Merry Christmas to him. 😂
I do not think those things have to compete with each other.
A lot of women originally book boudoir because they want to give the photos to someone they love.
Then something funny happens.
They see the photos.
Suddenly the album they were creating “for him” becomes something they are awfully attached to themselves.
I am perfectly fine with that. In fact, I encourage it.
You can book the session because you want to give your husband the best Christmas gift he has ever opened.
You can also walk away loving the experience and your photos for completely different reasons.
Both can be true (and will be, babe. Trust ;)
In fact, I strongly recommend making sure at least part of this experience is for you. He gets the surprise. You get the confidence, the gorgeous photos, and the satisfaction of knowing you pulled off a gift far better than another pair of slippers.
When Should You Book a Christmas Boudoir Session?
Earlier than November 20th.
Please. 😂
The actual session is only one part of creating your Christmas gift.
After your shoot, I professionally retouch your images. You will return to the studio approximately one week later for your private reveal, choose your favorite photos, and select your collection.
Then your album has to be designed, approved, ordered, professionally produced, shipped, and delivered.
That takes time.
If you are planning a boudoir album as a Christmas gift, October/November is the sweet spot for booking. It gives us enough room to create everything without either of us watching a shipping tracker on December 23rd and developing an eye twitch.
You want to be wrapping the album, not emailing me, “Do you think Santa can help with production?”
What If You Waited Too Long for an Album?
First, do not panic. You are NOT out of options.
Depending on how close we are to Christmas, we may still be able to create something pretty spectacular.
Precisely another reason digital photos are so useful.
If your finished album will not arrive in time, one of your digital images can become part of the gift itself.
Print a small teaser.
Put it inside a card.
Or give him a little preview on Christmas morning and let him know the rest is coming (rawr)
Honestly, making him wait a little longer is not exactly the worst thing in this particular situation, right?
You can call it...a delayed gift.
Yes, he may call it torture.
Both descriptions are accurate LOL
This Is Not a Gift You Can Pick Up on Your Way Home from Work
That is really what makes a boudoir album different.
It requires some planning.
It requires you to actually do the shoot.
And yes, it probably requires stepping outside your comfort zone a little.
But the finished gift exists because you created it.
Your photos.
Your album.
Your relationship.
There will never be another one exactly like it.
And long after the wrapping paper is gone and the Christmas decorations are packed away, he will still have it.
Although whether you continue claiming the album belongs to him after you see your photos is entirely between the two of you.
I am not here to police the ownership of beautiful things ;)
Ready to Create His Christmas Gift?
If you have been thinking about doing a boudoir session, Christmas gives you a pretty fantastic excuse to finally do it.
I will guide you through the entire experience, including planning, posing, your session, your private photo reveal, and creating your finished album.
And maybe practice your innocent face for when he opens it.
You can learn more about the boudoir session experience, including how we plan your session and create your finished album.
You can also explore other artwork options available for you to choose from besides an album.
Nicole Fey is a Colorado Springs boudoir and portrait photographer and the owner of The Boudoir Experience in Downtown Colorado Springs. A Navy veteran and photographer with more than 16 years of experience, Nicole specializes in creating comfortable, fully guided portrait experiences for everyday women.
Ready to see what The Boudoir Experience is all about?
→ Visit Nicole Fey Photography
