How To Write Social Media Captions For Boudoir Photography
Ok, it’s no secret that marketing for boudoir photographers is our cup of tea. 😏Our passion for the industry is derived from our appreciation of the female form. We’re all about encouraging positive body image. I myself have participated in several boudoir shoots … and I know first-hand what the experience can do for the self-esteem. (Read about my very first shoot here!)
When we realized that our little agency was a hit in this big industry, we soaked it all up. Over the past year, we’ve worked with several boudoir photographers all over the U.S. to help them grow a presence and develop their brand on social media.
So what does social media management for a boudoir photographer look like? Well, in a nutshell, the photographer provides us with a voluptuous gallery of content, gives us creative freedom to use whatever images we think will work best, and attach a caption accordingly. (We also implement a strategy for increasing engagement and growth of the platforms but we’ll leave that wealth of wisdom for a different post.)
In this blog post, I’m going to share how I come up with captions for the boudoir photographer social media accounts that I manage. Here goes!
Identify your vibe.
All boudoir photographers may share a common theme of nude or almost nude images but that’s pretty much where the similarities end. Boudoir is an art and each photographer has a very different style and vibe. With that said, I never ever EVER use the same captions on different photos from different photographers. To be blunt, it’s lazy and just not how our agency rolls. The captions I come up with are completely based on each photographer’s vibe.
For example, we have boudoir photographer clients who lean toward a soft, whimsical feel. We have clients who showcase an erotic or darker side in their art. Natural … glamorous … dramatic … you name it, I’ve written copy or selected captions for the style! The goal is to always mimic the style of the photographer.
The captions must flow with your style of art. If you specialize in outdoor boudoir and have a gallery full of fantasy or fairytale type images, the captions used on your social media platforms will be very different from a photographer who boasts black leather and red lipstick in their work. Always match the tone of the caption to the style of the work.
Variety is key.
I tend to gravitate toward quotes from poets. However, I’m not a one-trick pony so I like to keep things interesting. I’ll pull in engaging mantras, “10 Ways How To … ,” or ask a question seeking a response. Some days I’ll mix in a “How are you spending your Sunday Funday?” The point is, don’t just slap a Marilyn Monroe quote on every photo and hope for the best. You need to put some thought and energy into your captions. It makes a huge difference and will set you apart.
Also, the tone of your captioning should somewhat represent you as a photographer. Some of my clients are very open to blunt and sexually charged captions. It fits their personality and style as a photographer. I also have clients who are much more reserved or discreet. In these cases, I take a softer approach.
Keep in mind the region where you’re located, too! A photographer in the New York City area may have a more open-minded audience than perhaps a photographer in a Bible Belt state. Caption your photos so they speak to the audience you’re primarily serving.
Hashtags are life.
I mean, sometimes I view them as a necessary evil but you catch my drift. Using appropriate and geographical hashtags is a giant deal. Hashtagging “#boudoir,” “#boudoirphotography,” “#boudoirinspiration,” etc. is fine ... and it won’t hurt anything ... but broad hashtags are probably not going to help you a whole heck of a lot.
Who is your target audience (or buyer persona)? Is she a young mom in her 30’s? Do some research on popular hashtags for moms in your area. Or maybe your ideal client is a woman in her 50’s or 60’s who is a high-level executive. Take a gander at female career-focused hashtags in your region.
For more on crafting a detailed client persona, use our go-to tool: HubSpot’s Make My Persona Tool!
Lastly, don’t machine gun hashtag. It looks cheap and serves no purpose. Use relevant hashtags that have an actual following (who just so happens to match your ideal client persona).
Proofread your copy!
The death of all credibility can be attributed to poor grammar and punctuation. Seems silly and ridiculously simple but it’s legit ... and extremely important.
If you need a giggle, check out these epic grammatical mistakes made by marketers … shared by our friends at Impact!
Well, there you have it. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy. 🍋(Well, on second thought, maybe it’s not that easy because if it was, everyone would do it ... and we’d be out of a job. 🙀)
Just like your beautiful photography, successful social media management is an art. It’s an honor to be entrusted with the opportunity to share such empowering photos with the world. Follow these tips so you can do so in a way that preserves the authenticity and true beauty of what you see from behind your lens.