7 Tips for Boudoir Photography

Monday 13 July 2020, 20:10 by Elja Trum | 14,617 views | 5 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

Boudoir photography is a style of photography where you photograph someone in a sensual way. It often involves lingerie or (covered) nudity. The photos are sometimes taken in a studio, but usually in a hotel room or bedroom.

In the past, a woman's boudoir was a room where she changed clothes. Men were not allowed to enter, which explains its particular attraction for them. That is also the reason for choosing an intimate setting for boudoir photography.

With this type of photography, the intimate atmosphere and emotion are especially important. It can be somewhat sensual, as long as you keep it stylish.

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1. Don't touch your model

You want your model to feel comfortable during a boudoir shoot. Your model is literally (almost) baring all. So try to create a pleasant atmosphere. The best way to do this is simply to talk to your model. This helps you get to know each other, and the shoot will often become relaxed and enjoyable quite quickly.

As a rule, don't touch your model. If it really is necessary, for example to move some hair when she cannot do it herself because of the pose, ask first if it is okay for you to move her hair.

Of course, it is not okay to make inappropriate comments either.

2. Make your surroundings messier

Don't put your model on a made bed, as that doesn't feel realistic. Feel free to pull the sheets loose and throw a few cushions around. This creates a more natural image and suggests that the bed has been slept in.

On the other hand, mess can also make your photo look unsettled. So do tidy up your background. The best approach is usually simply to remove things. While taking your photos, don't just look at your model. Also pay attention to what is happening in the background.

Often, moving just a few centimetres, or tidying something up, can create an image that looks much neater. You don't want strange objects to appear to grow out of your model in your photos.

3. Shoot with natural light

Okay, I am a big fan of flash, but natural light is usually chosen for boudoir photography. Soft light generally works best, so a bedroom window with a net curtain in front of it works brilliantly.

So you can leave your studio equipment at home. In that respect, boudoir goes back to the essence of photography. A nice model, a beautiful location, beautiful light, a camera with a simple lens and a connection with your model.

Of course, using a flash is not forbidden. Certainly use it if the light is not to your taste.

4. Use backlighting

Backlighting works very well in boudoir photography. It is incredibly good light for this type of photography. Backlighting accentuates lines and shapes. So position your model near a light source, but try to keep the background behind your model dark.

The light source can be a lamp, but of course it can also be light from a window. When shooting with backlighting, preferably set your camera to manual, though you can also underexpose or overexpose in, for example, aperture priority mode.

You can then choose the right settings, because your camera will struggle in a backlighting situation.

Also try a few different angles, as this can produce beautiful and surprising results. The greater the angle between you, the model and your light source, the wider the backlighting will be visible on your model.

5. Shoot with a fast lens and wide aperture

During a boudoir shoot, you often work in locations with little light. You also want plenty of atmosphere and softness in your photos. It is useful to use fast lenses that allow you to shoot with wide apertures, meaning small aperture numbers.

When it comes to focal length, the 50mm is a very good lens for boudoir photography. Something longer, such as an 85mm, also works well. If you want to include more of the surroundings, a 35mm is useful too. These lenses are also available with wide apertures, such as f/1.4 or f/1.8.

I normally work a lot with zoom lenses, such as a 24-70mm f/2.8, but for boudoir, working with lenses with a fixed focal length is pleasant because of their high light sensitivity.

6. Add something in the foreground

For variety, it is also great fun to add something to the foreground, between your camera and the model. This can be something large, such as a cupboard or wall, but it can also be the model herself, for example when she is looking in a mirror.

If you don't have the model look at the camera in a photo like this, it can give your photo a voyeuristic effect.

You can also use smaller things, such as a piece of clothing, plant leaves, a flower or the shiny paper from a sweet. Hold this close to your lens, so that you are effectively photographing through the object.

This gives you a lovely haze in the foreground that can add atmosphere. A small mirror, or the reflective surface of your phone, can also create a nice effect for a creative photo.

7. Avoid tacky photos

There is a fine line between stylish boudoir photos and photos that are 'tacky'. A tacky photo looks cheap. I think the difference is clear to most people, although there are many borderline cases where it varies from person to person whether someone considers a photo tacky or not.

In my view, it is sensible never to publish photos without discussing them with the model first. After the shoot, send your selection to the model. If she says that she is uncomfortable with a particular photo, never use it.

It is useful to make agreements in advance and record them in a model release. Decide beforehand which photos you will and will not take. This prevents confusion and problems during and after the shoot.

More tips for boudoir photography?

At Photofacts Academy, we have a complete boudoir photography course. In this course, Frederik Herregods takes you through a complete boudoir shoot. What do you need to take into account, and how do you take the best photos?

» View the Boudoir Photography course

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