A Guide to Photographing Beautiful Women in the Boudoir

The female form has long been a favorite subject of every photographer, especially every male photographer. The popularity of nude photography, boudoir photography and female glamour photography is on the rise. Today, society accepts female nude body as something beautiful, not something to be hid beneath layers of ill-fitting clothes, not something to be hid away behind closed bedroom doors. Human sexuality is no longer the socially taboo subject that it once was. Today, women revel in their sexuality and seek out photographer who can capture their true sexual nature on film or on the memory card of a digital camera. Boudoir photography, once considered risqué by polite society, is on the rise. Brides today are looking to have a Boudoir Album made that will turn their husband on, on their wedding night.

Boudoir photography isn't for everyone. Boudoir photography isn't for those who are offended by nudity. Boudoir photography isn't for those who are offended by female sexuality. Boudoir photography isn't for the man who woman who gets so turned on just at the sight of a beautiful woman's naked body that they can't concentrate on the job at hand. So, who should focus on this type of photography?

Boudoir photography is for you if you truly like women. Boudoir photography is for you if you are able to make a complete stranger feel safe and secure in your presence. Boudoir photography is for you if you can draw a woman out, making her willing to bare her sexual nature in your presence. Boudoir photography is for you if you are able to make a strange woman feel sexy in your presence. Boudoir photography is for you if you can help a woman decide just how erotic she wants to make her boudoir album. Boudoir photography is for you if you instill a feeling of trust in your subject. A woman must feel secure in the knowledge that no matter what she does in front of you and your camera that no one but you and husband will ever see the pictures that you make.

With all that said, what do you need to break into boudoir photography? To begin with, you are going to need several portfolios. At least two different portfolios. You need a number of portfolios to show perspective clients because different girls perceive their boudoir album in different ways. Some will only want pictures of them wearing sexy lingerie; others will want to include shots of them bearing it all as they strike sexy poses. Some others will choose to do an erotic album. You need portfolios to meet the occasion. If you show a bride to be who wants nothing more than pictures of herself in sexy lingerie pictures of a bride to be getting herself off in front of your camera, she may feel very uncomfortable with you thinking that you may expect her to do the same thing. Every portfolio should include photos of a number of different models.

When starting out you may find yourself doing the first few shoots for free until you have created a few portfolios to use with future potential clients. Personally, I have never had a problem approaching female friends and strangers alike and asking them to pose for me. One of my favorite places to find strangers who might be willing to pose for me is in shopping malls, especially malls that have stores like Frederick's of Hollywood. Girls who work at Frederick's of Hollywood and girls who purchase clothe and lingerie there are usually girls who feel comfortable with their bodies, their sexuality, and enjoy having others appreciate their physical attributes and their sexuality as well.

What to look when checking a girl out as a potential model.

Attitude, what is her attitude toward her body and toward her sexuality? If she's wearing a short skirt is she conscious of the way she sits to keep from showing a lot of her inner thighs? Is she particularly careful about how she crosses her legs to keep from showing her panties even for a second or two? On the other hand, is she totally relaxed, not minding you seeing her inner thighs or catching a glimpse of her panties? If she wearing a short skirt let her know that you notice. Let your eyes linger on her thighs, if she spreads them further letting you see more of her inner thighs, you have a potential winner. If she arts them far enough to give you a glimpse of her panties, you have a winner.

When approaching a potential model don't be cute or misleading about what kind of pictures you want to take of them. Don't tell them that you want to photograph them in lingerie and then when they arrive at the shoot tell them that you want them to get naked for some truly erotic poses. Make sure that the girl knows exactly what they will get for modeling for you. When I was first starting out, I couldn't afford to pay a model by the hour. When dealing with a girl that had never modeled before I seldom paid them in cash, I usually bought them a meal, anything special that I wanted them to wear I bought for them, and then gave them a set of the pictures that I took.

Where to conduct the shoot?

If the girl is single, she may want to do the shoot at her apartment. If she's married you may have to shoot at a hotel or motel in a distant city to assure her that she won't be seen by anyone that knows her or knows her husband. If you want to shoot outdoors pick a spot where the two of you aren't likely to be seen by others unless she lets you know that the idea of being seen while posing nude for you turns her on, in hat case try and arrange to have one or more people that you know and trust stumble upon you and your model.

What to do on the day of the shoot.

Once on location, have your model get undressed so the marks left by any tight fitting clothes has time to leave her body. Do what ever you need to do to help her relax. I once had to do a shoot naked because the girl told me that she would feel more at ease if I was naked too. Provide plenty of breaks for your model, fatigue destroys sex appeal. If you are shooting outdoors, provide a way for your model to stay warm. Compliment her on her sexuality but never touch a model without asking her permission first.

Once you have your portfolios made and you have your first paying assignment, the same dos and don'ts apply. When selling a bride to be a boudoir album, I like to discuss the shoot with her in a private setting. I watch her closely as we talk, watching her for the same signs that I watched for in a potential model and I let those signs or the lack of those signs guide me in which type of boudoir album I pitch her on.