Posing tips for flattering boudoir photography

Contents

Chapter 1: Getting intimate - How to communicate & connect with your client

Chapter 2: The creative license of boudoir photography - Explore various boudoir photo ideas, outfits, and styles

Chapter 3: Dare to play with shadow - How to use light to create sensuality, mystery, and intimacy

Chapter 4: Mechanics of boudoir photography - Boudoir photography tips to set up and prepare for your shoot

Chapter 5: Finding shapes - Explore boudoir poses and 4 things to look for

Chapter 1

Getting intimate

If you’ve ever had the recurring dream of waking up naked in a room populated by strangers, you’re probably not alone. To be laid bare in front of a judgemental and unforgiving gaze is a true nightmare, and not something we’d wish on even or worst enemies.

The key to achieving beautiful images during a boudoir photo shoot starts with developing a relationship with your clients that allows them to drop their guard around you. In the absence of years of shared experience, asking the right questions so you can best connect with them is a great place to start. Communicate openly and clearly, and set realistic expectations that allows them to understand what the shoot will entail, and allows you to gauge what they’re looking for and hope to represent. The better you know your client before the shoot, the better you’ll be able to serve them. During the shoot, do your best to be communicative and at ease. Maintain relaxed body language, and regularly touch base with them. Their comfort is paramount; if they feel anxious and out of place, the images will show that.

Some example boudoir photoshoot questions:

• What do you love most about your body?
• Why did you decide to book a boudoir session?
• Who do you find sexy?
• Do you want your images to remain private?
• How revealing would you like your portraits?
• Is there anything you’d like to minimise or conceal?
• On a scale from 1-10, 1 being modest and 10 being smolderingly sexy, where do you want your images to sit?
• Are these for a special occasion?

Providing your clients with a list of do’s and don’ts can also be a helpful way to guide their preparation before the shoot. Here are some we’ve compiled over the years:

And you’re not off the hook when the shoot’s over, either. Make sure you know what your client expects, and when they expect it. Have you discussed your turnaround time for edits? How much editing and retouching do you offer? How will you present your images to them once they’ve been postprocessed? Will you send them a gallery to select from?

Remember that this is just a starting point, and that with each client comes a different set of opportunities and challenges. All of this information is crucial to beginning to create portraits together that feel authentic, beautiful, and powerful.

Chapter 2

The creative license of boudoir photography

There is infinite possibility to co-create imaginative works of art in photography, and in the realm of boudoir, this is especially true. So much of sexuality is imagination. The heat of passion has the power to transport us into altered states, and when creating images that reflect this, the creative license and freedom to chase fantastical worlds can be so inspiring.

Costumes can provide clients with the opportunity to step into a different version of themselves, even just temporarily. Channeling a different character can sometimes make it easier to summon that elusive confidence that is required when presenting yourself to a boudoir photographer.

If your client is interested in pursuing a creative route that is off the well-trodden path of black lingerie and smoky eyes, take their input and run with it.

There are plenty of different routes you can take with these shoots, and they don’t all have to include the classic sexily-reclining-in-bed kind of images. Your subjects don’t always have to be in various states of undress in order for it to be a successful shoot.

Begin to compile a costume box that includes sheets, blankets, cardigans, lace, and even props like dried flowers or paint so that your clients have an array of things to convey their essence through your lens. The name of the game is Play.

Chapter 3

Dare to play with shadow

As a photographer, your job is to paint with light. Shooting with the light or against it yields images that almost sit in direct opposition of one another. Now that you’re all over the rule of thirds, exposure, and other basics, it’s now time to learn to break them. Artfully.

Don’t be afraid to be bold. Lighting is a crucial element of boudoir photography. Soft light is your friend. In this world, we’re not trying to accurately and pedantically convey reality, we’re angling to convey mood. Using light to your advantage can transform, accentuate, and define your images. Rather than presenting the viewer with everything in bright high-definition, we invite the viewer to wrap themselves up in mystery, pondering what remains hidden and creating a sense of intrigue.

Work out what you’re trying to communicate in each image, and modify the light to suit. Where is the focus? Are you honing in on facial features or their curves? Watch the way the light falls on your subject.

Boudoir photography is a dance, a constant balance of light and shadow to create an air of sensuality, mystery, and intimacy. How you direct the viewer and lead their eye through the frame all boils down to highlighting, diverting attention, and framing; bringing to focus the certain elements that your subject desires to present, perhaps obscuring others.

Chapter 4

Mechanics of boudoir photography

If, like us, you don’t have your own studio, don’t be intimidated by photographers who do! There’s so much you can do with natural light, or one studio light and a backdrop. Hop into the app and check out the Suntracker feature to make sure you know what the sun is doing, and when. If you have one studio light, placing it slightly above the model and allowing the light to drop off is great for complimentary shadows. The main thing here is practice. Do a few light tests before your shoot, recruiting friends or even a model to sit in so you can practice without having to fumble around in front of a client.

In lieu of a studio, some photographers rent out AirBnBs and pre-advertise for a date in the future and offer 45-minute time slots for mini boudoir sessions. If it’s coming up to Valentine’s Day, or wedding season, tailor your spruke to highlight that. Organise hair and makeup artists to be there, and be on the specific lookout for places that have large windows, baths, and lush beds. Don’t forget your costume chest, as well, and pack it full of props and materials to add texture and allure to the shot.

Chapter 5

Finding shapes

You could probably go to university for 4 years and study How to Pose Boudoir exclusively, and still have more to learn at the end of it. There is so much nuance involved, and infinite elegant lines to be found on the human body. When posing women, in particular, sometimes it can feel like you’re swimming upstream against the current of social stigma that women are exposed to by the simple virtue of being alive in this world today. Do your best to foster an environment of trust, and remind them of their inherent beauty.

Considering this, give yourself a head start by using visual instructions. Invite your client to collaborate on poses with you, perhaps putting together a saved shoot on the Unscripted Posing App first, and going through the inspiration with them. Be patient and take the time to make sure they don’t feel confused or out of their depth. Work with them at their comfort level, and don’t push a boudoir pose that isn’t working.

In the app, we’ve taken the time to group our poses into Sitting, Standing, and Laying. To maintain a seamless workflow, shoot all poses within the same group together, demanding as little as possible from your subject, allowing them to focus on feeling comfortable and being sexy. This works particularly well because you can maximise photographs taken in each setting without too much disruption and tinkering.

Boudoir photography is most successful when both the model and the photographer feel comfortable and confident. Take your time, be clear, gentle, and direct. Steer very clear of overly-sexualised territory -- boudoir can be a misunderstood genre, full of leery men weaponizing photography for their own pleasure. But by being genuine and respectful, we slowly begin to dismantle these notions and show our clients they’re being honoured for the beautiful fabulous humans that they are!

Things to look for:

• Elegant lines
• Arching backs
• Pointed toes
• The S Shape

It’s intoxicating, the way that boudoir photography can have the power to inspire people and cultivate a space that helps them to step into their strength and sensuality all at once. There are many reasons as to why people may want to book a boudoir shoot. It can be a really potent way for people to empower themselves, and rediscover the bounds of their sexiness. And although the final photographs are important, it’s the vulnerability and self-discovery that unfolds on the journey towards them is what is really valuable. As a photographer, having the opportunity to honour the beauty of humans in all of their complexity is a true privilege.

Let's recap:

1. Establish a strong connection with your client
2. Embrace dramatic lighting situations – throw perfectionism out the window
3. Do your research and prep for your shoot
4. Be confident, clear, and patient