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How To Take Tasteful Boudoir Photos Of Yourself, On Your Own? (My Guide)
Welcome to my guide on how to take sexy boudoir portraits yourself!
Look:
Boudoir photography can be shot professionally in a studio or you can do it by yourself for personal use.
If you are in a long-distance relationship with your partner, exchanging pictures with each other can help sustain it. (By “it” I mean the relationship.)
Truth is…
A lot of people are not aware that they are actually already doing boudoir photography. With the use of your phone, tripod or monopod, and with the use of some props, you are set to go.
But to make it more presentable, I’m here to help you out on how to shoot sexy photos without professional help.
So let’s begin!
Want to take better boudoir self-portraits?
This course will teach you the basics and principles you need to know to take boudoir photos on your own (and do it great). Check it out here.
How To Do A DIY Boudoir Shoot?
If you start reading online about this genre of photography, you might think that it looks difficult to pull off but don’t give up on it just yet. Wait and see when you actually do it yourself!
Once you get the hang of it, I’m sure that your photo skills will be comparable to a professional photographer.
If you are doing DIY shots, you’ll need to be creative and resourceful. You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars, just make use of the things that you have at home.
(One of the advantages of taking boudoir shots yourself is that you can deliver it without spending any cent.)
How awesome is that?
Now…
Here are the things to consider before, during, and after your photoshoot.
Before, During, and After
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Before
If it is your first time doing boudoir photoshoot it is ideal to try reading some magazines that have example photos of this genre.
Or you can refer to the Internet for some examples.
To start with…
It is good to decide on the theme that you will be portraying, where are you going to shoot, what are the poses that you can try, what type of clothes are you going to wear and what props will you include.
As for the equipment, you only need to have a camera (or your phone) and a tripod.
Familiarize yourself with how to operate your camera’s settings such as the flash, timer, etc.
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During
If you are doing it alone, place your tripod in the best area where it can get your angle properly.
You will likely need to do trial shots to check if you are in the right position with the proper exposure to lighting and check if the props that you will be using fits in with your outfit and aura.
For your own convenience, you can use your camera’s timer so you can do various poses in a few minutes.
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After
Most people also post-process their photos to get the best results. And that’s totally normal!
If this the skill you’d like to learn, here are a few great resources for you to check out:
- Boudoir Photography: The Secret to Flattering Images
- Lightroom Editing Mastery by Mark Hemmings
- iPhone Editing Academy (for iPhone users)
Doesn’t seem so hard now, does it?
My 5 Boudoir Photography Tips
Even if you are just doing it for yourself or for your partner, it is nice to experiment so you can get photos like you are a real boudoir model.
Here are my recommended tips to make your shoot fantastic!
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Dress up
Your outfit plays an important role in building up the mood of the photo.
Without telling the actual theme of the shoot, you can easily tell the genre that is being portrayed.
In doing sensual photos, there are a lot of get up that you can use. It is not only limited to sexy lingerie.
Truth is…
There is a notion that your sexiness will depend on what you wear but actually, there are ways on how you can pull off your femininity even if you are wearing clothes.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to spend much on your wardrobe. You can be creative in searching for pieces in your closet.
It is not only important that you feel comfortable about what you wear but to look good in your shots, choose for the ones that will give accent to your body.
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Put your best face forward
In this genre, you can have a fierce-looking or happy face depending on the kind of photo that you want to achieve.
It is said that your facial expression is one of the most important parts of this kind of photography.
With this being said…
You can consider putting on make-up. Don’t be afraid to experiment especially if you don’t do it normally.
If you plan on wearing make-ups, avoid putting too little because it may appear washed out when you use flash on your camera.
Also, to prevent the shine in your pictures, make use of semi-matte or matte foundation or powder.
Aside from your face, you also need to fix your hair to complete your look.
Boudoir Photography Course for Beginners
This budget-friendly course will help you learn the techniques you need to take great boudoir self-portraits. Click here to check it out now.
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Make use of props
There are a lot of props that you can use may it be an accessory, teddy bear, handcuff, lollipop, or even just a clean backdrop.
Even though you can use different ones just make sure that it is relevant to the theme.
I’ll say this…
Always keep in mind not to overdo it. Remember that YOU need to stand out, not the accessories.
Make sure that the color of the props goes along with the color of your clothing or lingerie.
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Choose the right lighting
Taking shots outdoors is easier in terms of lighting because you don’t need to use other equipment and that no need to exert much effort in controlling the reflection of light to your body.
Outdoor natural lighting also tends to distribute the light equally towards the body.
However…
If you are alone and just trying to get a selfie, indoor set-up is more convenient.
You can make use of artificial lighting that mimics the sunlight but you may need to have test shots to check how the light is thrown.
(You might also want to learn how to avoid shadows in indoor photography.)
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Learn to do the right poses
If you’re not familiar with what kind of poses to take, Pinterest to your rescue!
For example, you could type “boudoir poses that hide stomach” or “DIY boudoir photos plus-size” and Pinterest will provide lots of options.
You will look more natural if you are comfortable with your posture.
That is why before your shoot, you can practice different angles and choose for poses that are more suitable based on the shape of your body and facial expression.
So…
To make it unique, don’t just focus on your head-to-toe. If you are trying to achieve the sexy and more sensual vibe, make a stance that will feature the curve of your neck up to your waist.
Stay in front of the mirror so you can see how your body changes in your pose.
As they say, if you are happy with how you look in the mirror, most likely you will also be satisfied with how you look in your photo.
Boudoir Photos Of Yourself: Thoughts?
All in all:
Posing in front of the camera with a professional photographer can be intimidating and quite uncomfortable especially if you are not used to it.
And the good news?
You can take your own boudoir portraits, without using expensive cameras and accessories.
Now that I have shared my tips and tricks on how to do well in this genre, I’m sure that you will be able to achieve a sexy and sensual photo like what you see in magazines.
Now…
I’d like to hear from YOU:
- How do you feel about shooting your own boudoir photos (with a phone)?
- Do you already have ideas about the poses that you can do for your shoot?
Any questions, comments, suggestions? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
About Author
Lorraine Opeña
Photography enthusiast and content creator at Digital World Beauty. My main objective here is to create a valuable resource for you with honest tech gear reviews, course recommendations, and how-to tutorials.