How to Take Your Own Boudoir Photographs and Look Professional

So you want to take your own boudoir photographs at home by yourself? Well, now you can! I'm here to show you step by step how to do this with some great hints, tips and tricks to make this foolproof!

So let's start with the most basic and easiest type of picture to take, the black and white. For this I suggest a very uncluttered area such as a made bed, corner of a room or your couch. Try to avoid patterns other than bold stripes or simple floral patterns.

So once you pick the area next, you need to know what to wear. I recommend a black flattering dress with thin straps and a deep cleavage or vintage look lingerie. Who said you had to be naked? One place I recommend finding lingerie would be T.J. Max or Marshall's they carry high end lingerie at deep discounted prices. I would try to stay with classic looks of black or white, maybe pink if you are going to attempt color. Do not forget to use a great pair of heals! And since we are shooting all black and white you don't have to match everything.

So now you have place to shoot and something to wear, but what about the little things that make it special? I recommend blowing out your hair and curling with a large barrel curling iron or pinning it up leaving a few loose strands hanging down all the way around. Add a few pieces of special jewelry suck as a choker, pearls or large beads. Do not skip the earrings! Try putting on some perfume to make you feel special and put you in a mood.

So your ready to go but what about the technical end of it? You will need a tripod, digital camera with a timer and a light source. If you take your pictures next to a window you have your light source. but you can use a floor lamp and place it near you opposite the camera to get the best shadow effect. Keep your light source, if it's not the window, out of the shot. Then set your timer to take one picture every 15 seconds, trust me it is enough time to get situated since we are going to cheat a little.

Time to pose? The best poses are laying on your side, laying with a arched back or laying on your stomach with your feet kicked up behind you. Now look at your setting and imagine where you want to be in the picture. Now go lay where you want to be in the picture. Once you have your pose get something to mark where you are laying and where the parts of your body with be the furthest in the picture. Now mark them and get up. Go to the camera and set the shot up, making sure you get the markers in the frame as to not cut off any of yourself (unless you want to). You are ready to go! Hit the button and run to your markers and throw them on the floor and get posed.

Since you have a digital your can review the pictures till you get them right. use the following tips and abide by them for the best results.

-Don't use a harsh light.

-Simple clean lines

-Heavy dark makeup with bronzer

-Wear heels no matter what you wear

Time to edit? I recommend www.picnik.com. They have free editing or you can get an account for $24.95 a year. This site has great touch ups, fixes and editing than anyone can do!

Time to print? I have a few suggestions depending on the level of nudity. If you are showing any of your private parts you can have them printed through www.mpix.com. If you are just being suggestive you can have them done at www.walmart.com. Both services will ship to your house or you can pick your walmart prints up.

Time to give? Whether you are giving as a gift of keeping for yourself I do recommend getting a special album to put these in that can be easily hidden! Enjoy yourself and your memories and the fact that you did it yourself!