This guide is for professionals and amateurs alike who want to shoot boudoir images. You may already be shooting this style of work, in which case this guide will give you a lot of hints and tricks for developing your skills as well as broad inspiration too.

 

I will show you how to work with sitters and put them at their ease. You will learn how to use a very small space very effectively. I will show you examples of my best-selling shots from the studio that you can simply re-create for your clients or sitters.

 

I will talk a little about the business of boudoir, but this is principally a book about photography and how to get the best from inexperienced subjects. Together you will create images that both of you are very happy with.

 

It is about creating images of women that explores their beauty and sensuality. They may be flirty and sensual or more artistic.

 

A boudoir style shoot should empower the subject, making them feel as beautiful as possible.

 

Boudoir photography should not be confused with glamour.  The purpose of each genre is really quite different.   Glamour photography is fundamentally about sexuality.  Boudoir photography at heart is about sensuality - something completely different.

 

It is this difference that has made boudoir style photography such a booming business segment.

 

Women want to feel powerful, beautiful and sensual.  Women want to express themselves in their own way - not as a objects of male objectification.

 

This does not mean you have to be a woman to photograph boudoir clients and models.  Far from it - I believe the chemistry of male to female (managed properly) can be a powerful tool to create amazingly powerful images for both men and woman.

 

All the shoots detailed in the book took place over three days in my studio.

 

I will show you how to use different areas of a studio to achieve different looks.

 

You will be able to take these studio setups and use them in your own home or on location.

 

You will learn my simple light recipes.   You will be able to duplicate these lighting setups with ease.

 

Single light setups are the most commonly used in this book.  So if you only have 1 light you will still be able to re-create these shots.

 

Two light setups are also shown - you will see how easy it is to add "quality" to an image just by adding a second light.

 

The lighting is simply explained and every shot includes a full lighting diagram so you can see exactly how it works.

 

 

I have been shooting boudoir images for private clients for many years.

 

I have worked with all shapes and sizes, all ages and looks.   

 

I want to give you all the knowledge and experience I have developed.   I want to show you how to put clients at their ease.  I want you to learn how to bring your sitter out of their shell.  You will see how to create stunning and powerful boudoir images.

 

You will learn when it needs to be "tits and bum" and when covering everything is even better.

 

You will learn how to work with your sitter to their comfort levels.

 

If you are shooting for business or pleasure I will show images that your sitter will absolutely adore - including our number one best selling image setup.

 

This guide features studio work - you will find this instantly and directly applicable to your own studio photography.

 

But also everything you see can easily be translated to your home, hotel or other location.   The lighting setups are simple and easily re-created on location.  They can be simply replicated with speedlights or studio strobes.

 

We also show you how to make a studio look like a location.

 

With boudoir shoots often you are trying to balance the need to show skin, but not too much skin.   I have also found that when asking our female sitters what their men prefer backs and bums feature heavily.

 

But in order to show a nice back without any bra straps you need the right kind of clothes (of which they aren't many) or you need something else - like a bedroom sheet.

 

It's a perfect prop.  It fits the setting and story perfectly anyway.   The sitter can use the sheet to reveal or hide as much as they wish.  It's flexible, easy and looks great.

 

In the first shot it's all about covering the front.  I will often take a shot of a turned back, with or without the girl looking over her shoulder.  Then I can turn her more sideways for this shot - where they can look quite provocative.