Have you ever looked at those photos of women in lingerie, looking confident and sexy in low lighting? Do you then think ‘I wish I had the confidence to do that?! We can tell you that you aren’t alone- many women look at boudoir photographs with envy, especially if you’re slightly on the bigger side. The idea of being that exposed to a stranger is enough to give a lot of people pause!
But boudoir photography can be a fantastic way to boost your self-image, work on your confidence and practice self-love. Plus they make amazing gifts for that special person in your life. And the good news is, you don’t have to do a full-blown professional photoshoot to get the experience. In fact, with a bit of prep, you can take amazing boudoir photos at home!
Get Your Gear Together
Believe it or not, you don’t need a huge studio to take some great photos. In fact, phone cameras have gotten so good that you don’t even need a proper camera! Though of course if you wanted to break out the DSLR, you can! But all you really need is a device that takes photographs, a tripod and a remote control. Make sure if you’re using a phone that the lens has been wiped clean of fingerprints, dust or dirt. Make sure your tripod has the right adapter to fit your device, and your remote control can stay hidden in your hand. This saves you from having to get up and down to set timers and makes the whole thing run smoothly.
Pick Your Place And Props
Next, it’s time to choose a location for your boudoir photos. Try not to overthink this one, as you can make things too complicated! A few of our favourite locations include:
- Your bedroom
- A couch
- A bathtub
- An isolated outdoor space
In reality, anywhere you feel comfortable will be perfect! In terms of props, remember less is more. You want the focus to be on your body, so try to keep the background clutter to a minimum. But there are some props you can incorporate into the shoot, You can either use something specific to your life and relationship, or some great fail-safes include:
- Pillows
- Jewellery
- High heels
- Flowers
- Bridal veils
- Mirrors
- Chairs
- Fairy Lights
Just like with the camera equipment, you don’t need expensive lights to get killer boudoir shots. Most of the time natural light will be your best option! All you need to do here is position yourself close to a window. If the light seems too harsh, use a white curtain or sheet to diffuse it.
If you’re looking to create that backlit silhouette that really highlights your figure, then you’ll want to position yourself between the light source and the camera. If you’re looking to accentuate your muscles or curves, side lighting is also a great option. If you have no natural light source in the room, then a ring light will be your best friend! With one of these, you can play with light height, brightness and even colour to find the perfect lighting for you.
Outfits
Outfit choice is one area people struggle with the most, but they are also the most fun! There are no rules here, so just wear something that makes you feel sexy, confident and ready to take on the world! While a traditional choice is lingerie, it’s not the only thing you can wear. So get creative with outfits that are comfortable, sexy and embrace your style. Hell, we’ve seen some amazing boudoir shots with women wearing skin-tight jeans and t-shirts! Play around with different outfit choices until you find ‘the one’. And if you’re struggling for outfit ideas, you can always treat yourself to something new! Our top selling items, that would get you photo ready in an instant, include this beautiful cut out lingerie set, this sexy black lace set or, for that extra glam shot, this stunning satin robe.
Poses
Lights, camera, action! Now is the time to put on your best poses for the camera. There are lots of different poses you can try, some will feel very natural to you and others a little alien. Again, you’ll get the best results when you’re feeling comfortable and relaxed, so play around with a few and see what you like. If you get stuck, why not try:
Legs in the air: Ideal if you want to show off your long legs. Lie on your back and stretch your legs into the air. You can keep them both straight or you can bend one, whichever is more comfortable. Then tangle your hands in your hair, or lie them across your chest.
The V Sit: Sit yourself on the floor on your knees, and then let your knees slide as far apart as they can go, so that your lower half makes a V shape. There are so many ways you can go with this pose from here – you can lean forwards facing the camera and ‘crawl’ towards it. You can face the side and capture that beautiful silhouette, or you can face away from the camera, arch your back and wrap your hands in your hair to really focus on that booty!
Head Back And Stretch: For this pose, you lie down on the floor and place your hands flat on the floor. Bend one leg and keep the other one straight. Then you tilt your head back so that you’re arching up onto the crown of your head. You can also vary this one by stretching your arms above your head, or by sitting up and arching your back with your arms supporting you.
The Side Lie: Lie on your side and lean on your arm while stretching out your legs. Place your top leg over your bottom leg to draw attention to the curves of your body.
Trust us when we say you’ll definitely feel sexy by the end! And if there’s any poses we’ve missed, we’d love to hear about them.
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