Should You Have a Style Closet in Your Photography Business?

If you’re running a photography business, you’ve probably wondered if you should offer a style closet in your studio. The answer is... it’s totally up to you. While most of this post is centered around boudoir, you can apply the same principals to other genres where you might want to offer styles of clothing.

Some photographers like to keep things simple with a few classic pieces. Others go all out with hundreds of outfits in every size and color. Both approaches can work, depending on your brand, space, and what kind of experience you want to give your clients.

In this post, I’ll walk you through what I’ve done in my studio and how I’ve made my style closet a fun, low-stress perk that helps with client comfort, photo shoot organization, and even bookings.

What’s in My Style Closet?

I’ve built my studio closet over the past four years. Right now, I have about 500 pieces, ranging from size XS to 5XL, in all kinds of colors and styles. Most of my wardrobe comes from affordable stores like Shein. These pieces cost around $7 to $20, so I don’t feel bad replacing them when they get worn out.

I also have a handful of high-end lingerie sets from brands like Thistle and Spire and Honey Birdette. These cost between $100 and $300, and while I don’t have as many of them, they’re perfect for adding a luxury feel to my sessions.

My Favorite Addition: Luxury Body Jewelry

One thing that completely leveled up my client wardrobe was adding size-inclusive body jewelry. A size small can be adjusted with extenders, and a 2X can fit up to 4X. It looks stunning and instantly makes even the most affordable outfits look expensive.

At the time I’m writing this, I have about nine pieces and already have more in my cart. I truly love how it makes clients feel special, and it photographs beautifully. You can use my discount code OLIVIA15 at Tailored Body Jewelry to get 15 percent off your first order.

Why Clients Love the Closet

A lot of my clients feel overwhelmed when thinking about what to wear for their boudoir session. By offering a size-inclusive style closet, I take that stress away. It’s one less thing they have to worry about. They get to shop without spending money, try new looks, and know that everything in the studio will fit and photograph well.

Many of them say how thankful they are once they find out I provide outfits. It also gives me an edge over photographers who don’t offer wardrobe options, which helps me stand out in a competitive photography genre.

What to Include in Your Closet

If you decide to create your own style closet, you don’t need to go big right away. Start with a few bodysuits in each size, especially in black, which is always a client favorite. From there, consider adding:

• Blue, red, green, and black lingerie

• Some three-piece sets with garters

• Supportive bras and panties

• Men's shirts for an oversized look or an over sized sweater

• See-through button-up shirts for backlight shots

• Chiffon skirts for a soft, romantic vibe

• A few blazers for headshots or a boss-girl vibe

I also keep a few extra props around like velvet hangers and clips for organizing sets. These small details make a big difference in how the space feels and how smoothly the client workflow goes.

Keep Things Organized

To keep your style closet organized, I recommend using a spreadsheet or CRM to note what clients wore, what looked best, and which pieces may need to be replaced soon. Staying organized helps improve your photo shoot organization and overall client workflow. I note how many pieces i have in each color and size so when I need to buy more I can get pieces that will ad variety vs another black set when I already have 30 pieces in that size already.

Want a Shortcut? Use My Lingerie Guide

If you want help starting your own closet, I’ve created a lingerie shopping guide template with my favorite stores, screenshots, and layout ideas. You can add your own images and switch out any of my suggestions to match your brand. Stock images can fill in the gaps if you don’t have photos yet.

This is the exact kind of tool I give my students inside Photography Business Academy because it saves time and makes your brand feel polished and prepared.

Ready to Take Your Photography Business to the Next Level?

Offering a studio closet is more than just having cute outfits. It’s a smart strategy to improve your photography business, boost bookings, and take pressure off your clients. When paired with solid systems like CRM software with income tracking, and book keeping for photographers, it becomes one of those must-have photography business tools that truly help you grow.

Inside the Photography Business Academy, I teach all of this and more. You’ll learn how to:

• Set up a style closet that fits your brand

• Build a smooth and profitable client workflow

• Use tools like photography spreadsheets to stay organized

• Track your earnings and grow your photography income

• Improve your calls and conversions with communication tools

• Take part in photography posing courses and coaching

If you’re ready to learn how to grow your photography business with strategies that actually work, come join us.

👉 Click here to join Photography Business Academy and start building a business you love.