Boudoir Photos Tips and Tricks

Boudoir photography, whether professional or DIY, is typically intimate photos of womxn to feel sexy and confident in their own skin (it is of course not limited to womxn). Boudoir photos are great gifts for partners or for the experience of feeling good about yourself. We have compiled a list of boudoir photos tips to help you get the best outcome.

With the technology available, anyone can take their own boudoir photos without paying for a photographer. It just takes a bit of time, patience, and knowing some valuable tips and tricks to make the most of your photos. In fact, there are many influencers who touch on these points like photographer David Suh on TikTok.

Setting the stage

The most important part of boudoir photography is to feel comfortable. If you are not comfortable you won’t feel sexy and confident. Even if this is at home, make sure to check your background. There is nothing worse than a mess to distract from a beautiful subject. Lighting is important but can be manipulated slightly in editing, which will be discussed later. Soft, natural light is the most flattering and can disguise some blemishes naturally.

You’ll want a theme if you are telling a narrative through photos, or a few outfits you can try. While lingerie is common, it is not the only option. A collared white button down is also a classic. With boudoir photography it can be a tease to leave some for the imagination and the recipient will want more than what is shown.

For a challenge try to find a pose that isn’t too revealing while being completely nude. Boudoir photos can really show off your creativity in this way.  

Tips and Tricks

The stage is set, you are ready with your outfit and your hair and make up is ravishing. If you have a phone then you are ready. You may want to up your game eventually with something like a pop socket and mount, a selfie stick, or go fancy with a tripod for those overhead angles. After all, angles are everything.

You may find that certain poses work better for certain shapes. But a quick internet search can provide some inspiration for any body type from petite to plus size. If you have a timer on your phone this will be helpful.

You can also try taking a video of yourself and holding a pose for a few seconds, and move onto another pose. Then, you can go back to the video and take screenshots of your favorites and edit from there. The advantage to this technique is that it allows you to channel your confidence in a fluid way. You may find that as you go you get more confidence and find a pose you really like. You can always delete the video after you get your best snaps.

You can also manipulate your phone for certain angles so group those similar poses together in one video. This is the easiest way to replicate a photographer on your own.

Editing and Safety

It is typical to take dozens of shots and only end up using a few. When starting out, you may want to edit on the outtakes to see what style works. Be careful not to over edit or use too many filters. You may play with the lighting or contrast, add a black and white filter or similar. But too much editing always shows.  If you have a theme like vintage pin up, you may want to add a corresponding filter. Otherwise, less is more. Leave snap chat out of the bedroom.

Lastly, but importantly, is safety in modern times. Some may be gifting these photos as a special one off to their spouse. Others may be sharing them with partners, potential partners, or even on social media. If you don’t really know and trust that person from OkCupid, remember they may not hold your privacy as sacred.

Be especially careful with any photograph that has your face in it. You can crop it out, but still don’t send anything you wouldn’t want someone to save or share regardless of consent. Boudoir photography is supposed to be fun, but harm to your professional or personal reputation isn’t.