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Sensual Boudoir Photography

Just like the human body is a beautiful piece of art, sensual boudoir photography is an art in itself.

iStock / © Neil Sullivan

Here are some tips from seasoned photographers who specialize in different genres of boudoir photography, including bridal, lingerie and nude female photography.

Tips for Successful Sensual Boudoir Photography

1. Choose a Suitable Setting

In preparation for your sensual boudoir photography session, choose a few settings that will ensure privacy and comfort. The client may want you to do the shoot in her own bedroom or a hotel room which has been rented for the day, in which case you have to consider portable lighting. Even just a few spotlights to light the subject from the side will work quite well. Use what ever is available in the room – the white bed sheet as reflector, the white pillow case for a softbox, or cushions to support flash. Not all exotic sensual photography shots have to be taken on a bed of course! Consider using plush chairs in the bedroom lit with natural light from a window.

My main advice is to keep it simple. In setting up the space, choose simple props such as plain white or black sheets. This of course, depends on what the client wants. For a more luxurious feel, think red. Drapes with a material like velvet or satin make a lovely backdrop. If some of the poses are on a flat surface, make sure it does not have a texture to it. A weave pattern gets imprinted on the skin which doesn’t look to good in subsequent images. Speaking of imprints on the skin, it’s a good idea to ask the model not to wear any underwear or tight clothes for a few hours prior to the shoot.

2. Consider the Room Temperature

It’s important to consider the temperature in the room. Imagine your model trying to relax and have fun with different poses while shivering, or alternatively, having sweat pouring off her from an overheated room! Have a robe, or some blankets or sheets ready so that the model can cover up between poses. With some people, the skin color changes when they’re very cold.

Take note that some professional photographers prefer the room to be a little colder than usual as it tightens the pores on the skin and uprights body hair, which can look quite sexy on photographs.

3. Set Aside Plenty of Time

If not a professional model, it usually takes a while for the subject to relax into the session. Set aside plenty of time for sensual boudoir photography and take plenty of shots so that there are a good selection to choose from later.

4. Pre-visualize the Poses

To pull off a successful sensual boudoir photography session, you have to be well prepared in terms of pre-visualizing your shots. Make sure that you know exactly what the client has in mind and perhaps show them examples of poses in photography books or magazines to determine whether you are both on the same page. You can also check online for sites with collections of artistic poses.

A good sensual pose to start with is a classic shot of the subject standing or sitting with her back to the camera and lit from the side to accentuate her curves.

For great results, ask the subject to sit or lay in a comfortable position and then move around her looking at shapes and how the light falls on her body ~ almost like a still life or landscape.

Unless the subject is an experienced model, a sense of anonymity often helps. Ask the subject to turn her face away from the camera. Not only is it less confronting, but it also serves to add a bit of modesty or mystery to a shot, which is very fetching in female boudoir photography. On the other hand, you can inject a sense of sexiness and playfulness into images as well with eye-contact, for example a model looking playfully over her shoulder or direct eye contact as she crawls towards the camera on hands and knees.

You may also discover that less is often more. Allow the subject to cover up certain parts of her body with her arms or hands. Less explicit images are sometimes a lot more sensual than letting it all hang out. Some subjects may also prefer to be photographed in sexy lingerie or even just an unbuttoned shirt.

5. Shoot in Black and White

Some of the most stunning sensual boudoir photography shots I’ve seen are black and white. The added benefit is that black and white shots are often less confronting to the model as it hides blemishes and blotches on the skin better.

If you shoot in black and white as opposed to shooting in color with the view of converting the shots later, you’ll also find that the whole look and feel of the session tends to change. It becomes less about the body and more about lines, form, light and shadow.

6. Use Longer Focal Lengths

If you use longer focal lengths in sensual boudoir photography shots, you’ll find that it allows the subject more personal space, which creates a more relaxed mood.

That said, for something different; consider using a 70 – 200 mm lens for close-up, almost abstract type shots towards the end of the shoot.

7. Keep the Mood Relaxed and Fun

One of the most important tips I can offer in sensual boudoir photography, is to keep the mood relaxed. To shed your clothes in front of another person ~ and often a stranger ~ is a very vulnerable experience. Make sure to offer positive feedback and encouragement, have a laugh, and enjoy the process. Above all, be professional and respectful!

If you found this page on sensual boudoir photography helpful, feel free to visit the following pages too:

* Sensual Female Photography

* Sensual Portrait Photography

* Body Art Photography

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SBI!