HOMEMADE BOUDOIR: LEARNING TO LOVE OUR OWN BODIES

I did a boudoir shoot for my husband's birthday! For those of you who have done a shoot like this, I think you'll agree that it is very liberating! It is a great way to let your confidence and sexy show, especially if you don't believe you have either! Even if you don't think you are photogenic, it can turn out great and beautiful!  A great photographer can bring that out in you!

My shoot was a bit more challenging than the usual shoot though. I wanted my husband's gift to be ..... well, me.....but also my photography skills. ....So, I did my own shoot!  

What a fly on the wall would have seen...

During those shoots, the fly on the wall would see me changing poses several times, several different expressions, different angles, and several clicks. Then, me crawling back the camera to check if the focus was still good, if I was lined up with background well, if my feet or head or hands were in frame correctly, etc. I would make adjustments to the camera or adjust the lighting, then I would crawl back to do it again.  And repeat A LOT of times!  It's a long process! But it really wasn't that hard, in fact it was fun and opened me up quite a bit! if your worried about a little tummy flab don't worry, taking the photos yourself you can get all the right angles, or suck it in if needs be.

After each shoot, I would review the photos, deleting the "yuck" (and there were many!) and ranking the remaining. The group I found to be the best were processed in Photoshop to correct exposure settings, sharpen, and to make color tone adjustments such as black and white or to enhance colors.

The Gift - Mission Success!

We had to go out of town unexpectedly over my husband's birthday weekend. The situation was not what I had planned, so I had to improvise to make it the best.  Weirdly enough, I gave him his gift at a bar since it was the first time that day we were alone. I tried to get a seat at the end of the bar, but the seats were taken. So, while we were seated in the middle of the bar, he opened the present. He had a big smile and was very surprised! I had to remind him to keep the album low so we didn't show the whole bar!  :)  He loved it! He even said he wanted to show some close friends of ours!  That is the most awesome compliment he could give me, as a photographer and as a woman!

Pointers for Do-It-Yourselfers

If you plan to do a DIY boudoir shoot...

• Research professional boudoir photography websites.  There are some awesome ones out there! You can get great ideas on posing and lighting and composition. Let these ideas trigger some of your own ideas to make it more personal. 

Use as much natural light as possible. It will help you to keep the colors true.

Use props and/or costumes and different locations! Have fun with the shoot!  One of my shoots consisted of a sexy shoes, thigh high stockings, a Fedora, and a man's suit jacket and a tie.  It was a fun, playful shoot and was my favorite!  As for different locations, I shot all over my house. I also picked up a roll of paper from a local craft store and used it to create a backdrop.   When I was in editing, I used the Photoshop patch tool to remove the seams in the paper. After editing, it looks like a solid backdrop!

Shots do not need to be rated R. PG or PG13 shots can be sexy and fun and classy!  I think my results came out upscale, sexy, classy, artistic, yet still fun.  That being said, you know what he really wants ;)

Pay attention to the details. Notice how your hands are placed. Do you have a better side of your face or body? Use it to your advantage and position the shoot to focus on that angle. 

Reduce attention to what you prefer to hide. If you have things you prefer to hide (and what women doesn't after having kids!), pose to hide those things. For example, creative placement of a man's jacket or a shawl or a towel can be a great accent in the photo, but can hide a lot!

Smile, don't smile.  Smile sometimes, then for other shots, do a sultry look (practice in a mirror). Sometimes, look to the side or look up and smile. Vary your expression.

Do several shots in sequence, then check those shots in the camera. Are you framed in the shot as you planned? Or is only half of your head in the shot?  Is your hand cut out of the shot?  Notice what adjustments are needed so you can fix them when you get back in position.

Shoot in raw, if your camera can. It will give you more flexibility in editing.  

Edit to enhance the photo. It may be sharpen or soften or converting to black and white or enhancing colors. You are the artist, so bring out the best of the photo! If you use PhotoShop, there are websites that have free actions to process edits. They are awesome! Check them out! The simplest way for me was using my own phone and using a few different photo apps.

Print on a high quality printer using high quality paper. I have one so I didn't need to worry about privacy issues.  

Put your photos in an nice album.  I found a good one at a scrapbooking store. I preferred white pages since they do not distract from the photos. I tried black pages, but I personally didn't like the tone of the black when the photo was placed on it. To me, it reduced the quality of the photo. In my opinion, the white page keeps the quality of the print high.

Be Confident!  Confidence makes a much better photo! 

Most importantly, relax and have fun!  When you relax, you'll find the results are better! Enjoy the fun of the shoot!  Enjoy and celebrate your sensuality and being a woman!  Women are beautiful and powerful! Celebrate it!   

2. Clever mirror placement lets you get ALL the angles

3. Slip on a pair of stockings, commando of course.

4. Do the photo shoot in the morning so you’re drenched in sunlight.

5. Because getting ready is the sexiest part of the day.

6. Hint at what you might have looked like getting ready on the morning of your wedding day.

7. Wear your fiancé’s shirt.

8. Lean against the window for a slightly voyeuristic vibe.

9. Go for a totally casual “I woke up like this” feel in your coziest sweater.

10. Act as though you do all of your mundane tasks in your underwear.

11. Play with a strand of pearls.

12. Sometimes more is less, as far as clothing is concerned.

13. But usually, less is more.

14. Enrobe yourself in luxurious fabrics.

15. Classy furniture and bedding will elevate the fantasy aspect.

16. A silhouette in black and white can also be super elegant.

17. Keep your shoes on. Because there’s nothing hotter than high heels + lingerie.

18. And incorporate them into your pose.

Certain poses work better than others in a boudoir setting. You always want to make sure to show off the body in the most flattering way possible. Knowing if you have a great pose is simple. Just ask: do you look as good as or better than you do in real life? If yes, then success! Finding the perfect pose may take some practice, so try out some poses in the mirror beforehand. Ask your partner to guide your movements, playing around with angles and shadows and be sure they take tons of snaps. Digital cameras allow users to see results instantaneously, making it easy to see which poses work, while deleting any failed attempts.  

19. Show off those long legs.

21. An upside-down pose can really show off your gorgeous face.

22. As well as a super-hot close-up.

23. Obligatory butt shot is 100% necessary.

24. It never hurts to go for the classic lying-supine pose.

25. This angle is totally flattering.

26. But if you choose to stand up instead, this pose is way sexier than standing arms akimbo.

hint, squish your breasts together.

27. Or play dress-up by incorporating some delightfully sparkly Christmas spirit.

Have some fun with outfit changes and props. Because hey, who doesn’t love playing dress up? Expect to wear between two and five different outfits during a shoot. Each of them should be a little different, showing various aspects of your personality, yet still working together as a cohesive collection. For instance, you can wear your partner’s favourite sports jersey or rock an edgy leather jacket. And why not incorporate some small props throughout the shoot? Just lay off larger ones that distract from the subject. Props like a feather boa are fun, while pieces like meaningful jewellery or a wedding veil add a sentimental element.

28. Or a little team spirit.

29. Casually slide off the bed for an extra sultry shot.

30. Getting on all fours doesn’t have to be tawdry

31. At some point, don’t forget to drop the whole sexy act and get playful. your man loves your smile

32. Because a cute and adorable boudoir photo that shows the real YOU can sometimes come out way sexier.

DO: CREATE A KEEPSAKE

Print photos and compile them in a beautiful album, something worthy of the goodies inside. If storing images on a computer, make sure they are saved in a secure place. If keeping photos on a smart phone, ensure they are password protected and be wary of iCloud to ensure nothing gets leaked à la Jennifer Lawrence.

GIVE HIM A CHANCE TO RETURN THE FAVOR, HAVE HIM STRIKE SOME POSES

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT STEP: DO IT TOGETHER

BECOME A PRO: MAKE IT LIVE MOTION