5 boudoir photo tips and tricks
Boudoir taking on a life of its own
Sometimes, a photoshoot can take on a life of its own. It can be planned, or something happens off the cuff. No matter how well planned, you sometimes get less than satisfying results. Photoshoots can also give you great results even though they were improvised. Let’s look at 5 tips on approaching improvised photo shoots to get stunning boudoir photos.
In Boudoir it’s all about the subject
Remember that a boudoir photoshoot is nothing without a great subject. However, great subjects are sometimes in great demand. So when a great model contacts you with an availability to shoot, you sometimes have to get up and go. When you get a call out of the blue, careful planning can sometimes go out the window. A case in point is the photoshoot I did with Bendnotbreak.
Experience goes a long way
Ada and I planned a photo shoot for a while, but she lives out of town. This brought in a couple of complications.
- The actual location was not scouted
- I never saw the location
- I never shot at that location
Now, the old, inexperienced me would not have been able to handle how unplanned this shoot would be. But a more experienced relaxed me was ready. How? You might ask. I relied on a couple of attitude principles that all photographers should consider when shooting boudoir photography. Follow these tips and tricks to make your improvised shoot a lot easier.
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Boudoir Photography tip1 – Have the right attitude
Because the shoot was so last minute, forgive yourself for making mistakes. Understand that things might go wrong. Because you haven’t had enough time to prepare, you might take many shots without the correct shutter speed, foolish aperture, or crazy high ISO. Embrace those mistakes and realize that;
- Even mistakes can bring out some fantastic artistic options
- You need to forgive yourself and allow you to move on and get the shots you need
Boudoir Photography Tip 2 – Decide quickly. Indecision is your worst enemy
If you get the call to go shoot, do not worry that your camera isn’t “just right,” or that you have a lens with a weird focal length. Do what you must do with what you have and get out there. “A” photoshoot is way better than no photoshoot at all. Be prepared for the shoot as much as possible, but your priority must be getting it done. This is a time when you need to rely on your acquired expertise. You might not have “perfect” equipment, but it is a small problem compared to not having a subject to shoot.
Ada poses. My camera is completely on the floor.
Boudoir Photography Tip and Trick 3 – Use the “AUTO”
Technical photographers proud of using manual settings might want to give that up for a more “set and forget” attitude. It is not always terrible to go for auto. Set and forget lets you push setting concerns away for the time being. If you still need control, you can put all on auto and use the exposure compensation dial to be a bit more manual. There is no shame in being in auto.
As cliché as it is, the moment is THE most important thing. No one will look at your photo and say this shot was taken in AUTO.
Boudoir Photography Tip 4 – Trust your model
Give in to the expertise of the model. Ask her or him to offer you ideas and go with the flow. You can ask for certain poses, but you might want to let yourself be more open. Be open to ideas from someone who spends many days trying to get the right pose for the photographer. An improvised boudoir pose is a great deal about letting go.
bendnotbreak42 was excellent at finding fabulous poses. I did not even have to worry about what she would do
Boudoir Photography Tip and Trick 5 – The window is your best friend
Boudoir photography is all about light.
- What kind of light?
- Where does the light come from?
- How does light interact with the subject?
No matter what shoot you are on, you cannot escape the fact that your photography is only as good as the light you have. In the context of a quick and unplanned photoshoot, the window becomes your best friend. Pose your subject in front a window wherever you are. It not only is a source of the best light around (natural light), but it also is a perfect quick fix.
Initially, you might be afraid that the backlight will crash your photo, but you would be surprised how light can creep in on a subject from behind. Depending on how the model is placed, many options exist.
Sometimes, backlight photos can bring in a sensual element.
Follow these 5 tips, and I guarantee your boudoir photos will soar!
About the model
Although Bendnotbreak42 (Ada) models part-time, her modelling is quite stunning. She is continually developing her dancing and her modelling skills. Visit her Instagram profile by clicking here
Technical details of this photoshoot
These images were taken with the Fujifilm X-T2 and Fujifilm X-T3
I used the Fujinon 16mm f/1.4, The Fujinon 56mm f/1.2 and the Fujinon 35mm f/2 exclusively.
Also, Check out the video on 10 Boudoir Photography tips and tricks below
