How to take a Beautiful Boudoir Photo

Boudoir photography combines the features of portraiture, fashion, art, glamorous and erotic shooting styles. These photos show the beauty of the female body, sexuality, and passion. Absolutely any girl, even one that does not have model parameters, can try herself in this type of shooting as much depends on the skill of the photographer and the idea.

A bit about the origin of the boudoir photo concept. This style has existed since the 1940s and represents an intimate look at a person. You may have already guessed that "boudoir" is a French word that means a place where ladies can be left alone. It's customary to consider women as permanent models of such shooting, but men can also participate. It's worth noting that nudity is only implied as the main feature but rarely observed.

Boudoir photography requires courage and confidence. However, what to do if the model isn't quite ready to relax and trust the photographer? Here are some tips on how to have a photoshoot easily and get incredible photos.

Creating comfortable conditions for a model

Communication between a photographer and a model is very important in this case. Talk to the girl before the photoshoot about what she expects from the collaboration, what she's afraid of and what she wants to hide from the camera. Find out how much she is ready to open up and how you can help her do it. Some prefer refined and sophisticated posing, while others prefer more passionate poses.

Boudoir photo sessions usually need an intimate setting. It can be a bedroom in a hotel or a studio with the necessary attributes and decorations. Use lamps on the stage or light from the window to create interesting shadows. A model can use toys, a blanket, books, and other objects if she wants to cover part of her body.

Photographers worry no less before boudoir shooting than models. In order not to embarrass a person, you must understand her boundaries and be able to work with what you have. Unusual shooting angles, interesting scenery, a game with light and features of post-editing can compensate for the lack of confidence of the model.

Camera settings

For boudoir photos, you first need to work with aperture and ISO. Make sure that the shutter speed does not increase more than 1/200. So, you save yourself from unwanted jitter and other unnecessary movements that can ruin the photo. Depending on what kind of lighting you use - natural or studio - choose a variable that allows getting the right exposure. The digital camera uses room light as a neutral color and then natural light from the window. If the white balance is not set correctly, colors will be distorted

Lighting

It's not surprising, but to show the model in the best light, you must choose this lighting at first. If you decide to work in natural light, consider the time of day and the weather when setting the ISO. If it's cloudy, a higher value will be required, and if it's sunny, set a lower value. It's easiest to work with studio lighting equipment. Without a doubt, you will need a softbox for the on-camera flash, a diffuser or reflector, or an umbrella for a studio.

What to wear

This question often bothers models as it is necessary to choose something beautiful as well as comfortable for shooting. The style of a photoshoot involves putting on lingerie and nothing more. It can be something bright and sexy or a neural color scheme and ruffles. Besides, boudoir shooting is not always about underwear. You can use an oversized t-shirt or even a sweater. The main thing is to show privacy and a relaxed atmosphere in the photo.

It's recommended for a girl to bring a lot of clothes of different types so that you choose several images together. It's important not to limit yourself to one idea and not be afraid to move away from the concept. As for shoes, many models are photographed barefoot. Alternatively, you can use heels as they emphasize femininity.

Invite a make-up artist and stylist to a photoshoot so that they prepare a model. So, you won't only get a solid image made by professionals, but also help the girl believe in herself and relax. Women always feel much confident with perfect hairstyling and makeup.

If a model is insecure about her body

Even girls with a perfect body can be insecure. To help her forget about her fears, it's recommended to communicate with her not only before the photoshoot but during too. Give compliments, talk about her hobbies, joke. By communicating, you also create natural postures. Catching a model smiling without playing is priceless.

Many women worry that their body will look ugly in the photo. It's a fact that the camera makes objects larger and even thin girls may be disappointed when they see the result. Therefore, it's normal if a model asks to reduce her size in the image because editing is important and inevitable. Many photographers work in Photoshop. They adjust color, light and add filters and effects if necessary.

If you need to edit a human body for the first time, it will turn out to be not so simple. Fortunately, you can avoid hours of mastering this skill using one of the photoshop body apps. For example, Retouchme is a popular application for body photo editing. It is universal so you will find many useful features in it that can also make your life easier. You just upload the photo to this body editor app, make settings and get the perfect image in a minute.

Good boudoir photos always look attractive because of the feeling of intimacy between the model and the camera. A photographer needs to be able to complement this shooting style with a unique idea and capture beautiful shots. Use the tips above and practice to succeed.