Boudoir photography has exploded in popularity recently, and to be honest, what's not to like? This type of steamy, delicately personal photography appeals on many levels. For the younger generation, boudoir photography is now becoming a trend as a sexy pre-wedding surprise gift for the groom to a fun group outing idea for a bachelorette party activity. For married couples, it is a great gift way to spice things up and is being used more commonly as a way to make a sexy, memorable, personalized gift for a birthday, anniversary or Valentine's Day (popular for wives as a spouse gift when made from the photos or equally for the husband to his wife as a pre-paid gift session with a professional photographer). For the newly single or older crowds, boudoir photography has grown popular as a living young / confidence booster to show that you're still as sexy as hell. And why not as sexy has no age limit or marital status? :0)
But what to do if you're too shy to go through with it? Not a fan of stripping to your undies and letting a stranger take photos or you (and who knows where they will end up!) ? Well the good news is that boudoir photography is an activity I highly recommend doing as a couple. All you need is a camera and an appetite for fun. Here's how:
Learn how to get the Most From Your Camera
Thanks to technology and a sudden drop in price for almost professional-grade photography equipment, most people today have fairly advanced, name-brand digital cameras. Cellphone and tablet cameras are also improving but for a boudoir shoot you may be pushing the limit of what those can do. In nay case, learn more about those features you never use and what different options buying some specialized lens can bring to the table. A quick internet search for the make an model of your camera will yield things like discussion groups, YouTube videos and other great resources you can brush up on to learn about how to best use your camera settings.
Find Poses That Work for you
Time to scour Pinterest and Google. The key here is not to find a pose and try to look as good as the person in the photo; what you're looking for are poses of people with your similar body type that look fun, exciting and sexy to try out. Once you find a good example of a pose, pay attention to the details: placement of hands, legs, hips, tilting of the head and facial expression (eyes, mouth, etc). Ensure you are happy with the level of nudity shown in the shot as well and how "incognito" is (are you OK with your face being fully visible? Or do you prefer being unrecognizable in the photo?)
Lastly, look at elements that made the photo standout to you such as background, lighting, camera angle and any other artistic effects. Remember, different poses work better for different people; there is a big difference between a standing up pose and a lying down pose, so look around and choose what you think will best make you look like the sexy vixen you are.
Get All Done Up
Please ladies, take my advice: choose something that makes you look, and most importantly, feel sexy. A photoshoot is like dancing; if you don't feel sexy you won't be able to pull it off no matter how much you spend on your get-up. How to feel sexy? First, choose an outfit that fits well. Something that does not fit well or suit your body type will lead to disappointing results. Accessorize with jewelry as desired. You may also want to get primped and pampered beforehand; as in getting your hair done, nails and maybe even a professional make-up session. This won't just make you look great, but you'll feel like a supermodel.
Bare Feet are for the Beach
It is very rare to see bare feet in boudoir shots. Why? Well, for starters toes can sometimes look awkward from different camera angles. Second, accessories like a pair of killer heels (remember you're posing for a few minutes, not walking half a mile in them so go with whatever your heart desires), ostentatious sex boots or classy yet racy stockings play well into the character of a photo shoot. As and added bonus, the high heels and tall stockings have a tendency to drive the eye down the leg, giving a supermodel-esque slimming illusion to your glamorous gams.
Choose the Proper Background
A good boudoir background should be clutter-free and non-distracting. If you want to do a bedroom shot, remove unnecessary pillows for the bed and clear off any sidetables or other furniture that will be in the shot. It may be better to use solid coloured or simple patterns background and they are probably already in your home in the oddest places - think of any curtains you may have, accent walls, wallpaper or even the tile in your bathroom shower. You can also use things like mirrors, windows and doorways for added artistic affects.
Lighting, Lighting, Lighting
The lighting in a photo can make all the difference. From a full-lit daylight shot to a discreet backlight silhouette, lighting can be your best friend or your worst enemy. First and foremost never use the flash of the camera and do not use any lighting that will create shadows on the subject. Play around with your location in a room to
Never go Overboard With Photoshop
Ugh, please stay away from this one, especially for a DIY photoshoot. Focus your efforts on getting the original photo to look great rather than have yourself artificially enhanced in a photo-editing or graphics software. To make it worse, you may even be offended at some of the "upgrades" your spouse decides to digitally give you.
Yes, Guys are Doing it Too
Believe it or not, dudoir (pronounced "dude-doir") photography is also becoming a thing. So there is no reason why you men out there can't join in the fun!
How to Keep the Photos Private
So how do you make sure these photos stay your little secret? First off, use a dedicated memory card and remove it from the camera once you're done, then store it in a safe place. This can be a locking box or by purchasing a card with built-in security protection. If you will be taking the photos with a phone or tablet, go into "Flight Mode" to avoid accidentally uploading a photo somewhere to the never-regions of the internet. Avoid printing the photos using an online service; stick to the home printer and you are better off bringing any enlargements on a USB key to a printing store and having it done on the spot (you may get some funny looks if you are recognized but it sure beats having the kid at the Walmart print center grabbing a few extra copies for later).
If you don't want to take any chances, simply increase your "unrecognizability" in the photo by taking photos focused on body parts, shadow/silhouette shots, using your hair or accessories like sunglasses to cover you face or by simply looking away.
Say cheese!
-BSYNH
Updates:
Need help looking good on camera? Try some of these tips!
As a boudoir photographer, I'm a little taken aback that the implication that their photos could "wind up somewhere". I take client privacy very seriously and would never share or post them online without permission. And I feel that this article is creating a 'fear of exposure' as a reason to keep them from finding a professional that can provide them with quality portraits that they seek. Encouraging people to set up a camera in their house and shoot their own boudoir photos... Is ALOT of work and can really take away from the fun of doing it, when you aren't pleased with the results and try to retake the pose several times because it's not in focus or the angle isn't flattering.
ReplyDeleteInstead you should be encouraging people to find a photographer that will meet their expectations of quality and privacy.
Hi Elaine, thanks for the feedback. As you can see the article is about DIY (Do It Yourself) boudoir photography, not professional. In certain cases, some people taking DIY photos have accidentally uploaded these private photos to their cloud file sharing account or other mishaps, etc. We agree a professional boudoir photo session can be safe, fun and sexy with usually great results! However some people are too shy or can't afford to do one ... or simply don't feel comfortable enough to go see a photographer yet still want to try being in front of the lens. This article is merely outlining some of the basics for a DIY photoshoot if they want to go with that option. Thanks again for reading!
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