How to Shoot Boudoir in Any Light

No matter if you are brand spanking new or an old-time pro, light is the #1 end-all-be-all when it come to photography. I don’t care how fantastic your backdrop, environment, wardrobe, or client is, if you don’t have good light or you can’t figure out how to make bad light work for you, you’re in trouble.

I get asked a lot about light and my number one tip to you is this: look for the light first, compose the subject second. The first thing you should be doing when you pick up a camera is walking to wherever your light source is coming from. From there, it’s all about creativity.

SIDE LIGHT can be a really great way to add shadows and dimension to your photographs. This is particularly fun to play with for boudoir photography. How you use light is your artistic choice. You can balance it more, leave it super shadowy, or shoot at multiple angles to either maximize or minimize the shadows. 

To start, have your client face you and meter for the brightest spot on her face. Take that photograph and then increase your shutter speed for another photo, then decrease your shutter speed for another photo. Now you have 3 different lighting options to choose from. Adjust and go. If you want to balance the dark side more, use a white board, reflector, or V-Flat. Place it directly on the dark side, then move it around a bit until you have your client lit where you want her lit. Then take the same three photos with the same three settings. 

FRONT FACING LIGHT is the most balanced light you can get. Move her closer to the light source for brighter light. Move her further away for lesser light. This is a really great option for headshots or a more editorial 'look and style to your photos. 

Place her in front of the light, facing the light, your back is to your light source (make sure you don't block your own light). Meter for the brightest light spot and see if you like it or not and what adjustments you need to make. 

If it's hitting too low and missing her face, have her sit or lay down or use your white board or V-Flat to direct more light onto her face. If it's way above her head, have her step up on to a stool. Either way, get her in a position where the most light is hitting her face or the part of her body you're trying to highlight.

BACKLIGHT is one of my favorite techniques of lighting. This kind of lighting is what got me recognized for my first initial signature style that clients and even other photographers began to recognize. Always made my day when another photographer would me tell they would see a photo of mine online somewhere and know Instantly it was mine. I usually still include a set with backlight for each client, though right now and for awhile I've been in a dark and shadowy kind of place, which has been a super fun change for me. 

Place your client in front of a window, door or other main light source. You stand in front of your client. Meter for the light behind her to start. You will get a silhouette (which clients love) and then decrease your shutter speed until you get an exposure you like. For added light, open up your V-Flat right behind you to face her, or use your whiteboard set up on a chair in front of you (if you're standing it wont be in your way). Find your sweet spot and notice how ethereal and gauzy the light wraps around her. It can give any photograph such a romantic look. 

HARSH SUNLIGHT is fun to play with because moth photographers are afraid of it. :) It’s not easy to control and you get what you get and you work with what is right in front of you. Some find that intimidating. I find it so fantastic. It can have some really sexy and dramatic effects. All you have to do is place your client in the harsh sunlight, making sure the body part(s) you want to be the focus are the parts in the harshest part of the light. Meter for the sunlight and you’ll see that the parts in the harsh light are all you’ll see. This can be super artful.

SHADOW LIGHT is one of the most popular trends in boudoir photography. Not only is it sultry, but it’s also one of the easiest types of light to edit because the light is so low and most of your client’s body is in the dark. This makes editing pretty quick. 

The easiest way to get shadowed photography is to have your client in front and below the light source. Because light falls, this is the best way to allow the light to settle on the most protruded areas on the body, causing shadows on the flatter areas. If you’re shooting with window light, placing your client on an ottoman, couch, or even the floor will give you this kind of lighting. Meter for the light and you’ll see how the light falls beautifully on the body and softly falls away. This is different than harsh sunlight because you can still see other parts of the body, they are just more shadowy, rather than being completely invisible. It’s the same concept, just softer.

Now go play and have some fun.

is one of the most popular trends in boudoir photography. Not only is it sultry, but it’s also one of the easiest types of light to edit because the light is so low and most of your client’s body is in the dark. This makes editing pretty quick. 

The easiest way to get shadowed photography is to have your client in front and below the light source. Because light falls, this is the best way to allow the light to settle on the most protruded areas on the body, causing shadows on the flatter areas. If you’re shooting with window light, placing your client on an ottoman, couch, or even the floor will give you this kind of lighting. Meter for the light and you’ll see how the light falls beautifully on the body and softly falls away. This is different than harsh sunlight because you can still see other parts of the body, they are just more shadowy, rather than being completely invisible. It’s the same concept, just softer.

Now go play and have some fun.

Just in case you’d like to learn a few more tricks of the trade, swing by and grab my Free Posing Tips Guide for Photographers. It will give you posing tips for the body, the hands, AND facial expressions.

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