5 ways to make your Boudoir Pictures Awesome with Lingerie

Photographers and models alike have to work together to create stunning images that sets them apart from the crowd. Sometimes, it’s the subtle things about lighting and posing that make all the difference.

Skilled photographers have their work cut out for them. They have to create an artistic vision and then execute it with lighting, set design, posing,  camera angles, and then working with the model to create the mood. All this while keeping a sharp eye out for awkward body positions, folds in the skin, bad shadows and so on. And after all that they often spend hours in post-production to render their vision into a finished image. If you’re new to this it’s not nearly as easy as it looks. Professionals spend years learning how to execute this.

And the models job isn’t much easier. They have their own set of skills they need to learn and execute. For them, the journey begins well before the day of the shoot and includes everything from skin care, diet, hair style, nail care, and so on. But more than just beauty, their real skill comes from their ability to posing in a pro studio situation and execute the “look”.

The “Look” is hard to define and has to involve the photographer. It has to be part of the vision for the image. Is it happy, moody, excited, energetic, coy, sexy, contemplative and so on. A dark moody set with dramatic lighting may not suit a happy energetic expression.

Sexy Womens Camisole Dress - Translucent Nightwear Mini Dress with UnderwearOften, models have to own and provide their own wardrobe if it’s not a fashion shoot that provides wardrobe. That alone can be a significant expense along with their makeup and grooming supplies. So both have their jobs to do to prepare and execute the outstanding image they want.

Here are some points that both the model and the photographer want to watch for during their shoot.

1) Regardless of how perfectly in shape a model may be, posing her in certain positions can create unattractive folds in the skin. The waist and neck are well known problem areas for this. Bending forward at the waist is bound to create a tummy bulge in 99% of people in the world, as does twisting the hips in one direction and the upper body in the other. I often see this in poses were the model is lying down. The same applies for turning the head. It’s so easy to get unsightly folds in the neck if the head is turned too much in relation to the shoulders. If you spot these during a pose – adjust. Don’t ever catch yourself thinking you can “fix it in Photoshop”.

 

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Thin lace Floral Push Up Bra above

2) Enhancing the cleavage is pretty common in boudoir photography. The models age and breast size are going to require some planning for the shoot. The selection of bra becomes critical to getting the desired results. For larger women, push up bras are often the answer. They do a much better job of keeping breast shape than everyday bras and allows more freedom in posing. But making sure the bra is properly fitted is paramount. Too big, or the wrong cup size can leave undesirable  gaps between the bra and the skin that is a huge pain to fix in post production. It should go without saying that poses having the model leaning forward can ruin a shoot if the bra isn’t keeping the shape.

 

Sexy Black Faux Leather Corset Bustier S-6XL Plus Size

Leather and Lace Bustier above

3) Once the model has had children, they often worry about stretch marks. This can be both a real problem and a physiological problem. I’ve had women worry so much about their stretch marks only to see that they’re practically invisible and not a problem at all. Either way, if they perceive a problem it’s going to affect their confidence and self awareness. This can easily be dealt with by adding a bustier and both covering the midriff section and giving breast support at the same time. You can even drape a piece of material in an artistic way that solves the problem and adds to the image. Remember, what’s hidden is often much sexier that what’s showing.

 

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Black Sheer lingerie above

4) Shoulders and particularly upper arms can be another problem area depending on the model’s muscle tone. Often the upper arm can be disproportionate to the general size of the model. For that reason adding a simple robe, shawl, or lace jacket can be the answer. You also avoid poses where the model has to extend their arms or press them to her sides. The arms should never distract from the models face. This can include any large bright area of skin that pulls too much attention to itself relative to the image goals. You can adjust not only the pose, but the lighting and even the cropping to eliminate the problem area if it exists.

 

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V-String Boy Shorts above

5) The booty. An all important part of boudoir photography. This is a hard area to define as there is such a wide variety of likes and dislikes. Needless to say, it’s an area that you can go from totally covered with some fabric, or totally exposed with a g-string or thong. Boy shorts are a popular choice for many models. They cover but can be very sexy. You’ll just have to decide for yourselves what the best approach is as it’s going to be totally dependent on the desired image.

I’ve been photographing boudoir for decades and I’ve seen every size and shape of model there is and I can say without reservation, “every woman is beautiful” regardless of size or shape. The skill is to reveal that beauty. Good luck and good shooting 🙂

 

About the author: Kerry Allan has been a professional photographer his entire life specializing in portraits, boudoir, and catalog photography.

 

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