After posting some of my boudoir photos, It turns out there are RULES!!

I just took pictures of what she asked...maybe I labled it wrong. SHe just wanted sexy photos for her husband.

But, If I am to call it a boudoir...what are the rules??

well.... really there aren't any rules............ maybe just trends and tendancies that seem prominent here.

I agree that the lighting can be varied. I've shot several and they are were all different lighting situations. Some darker, some very brightly lit.

I tend to keep things soft and subtle. I like to shoot wide open at f2.8 with the focus on the eyes and lashes. I will do some close up body shots but shooting from a side angle so that part of the frame is focused and part is soft.

As far as posing, I usually think about things I see in Victorias Secret catalog.

Melissa, I think saying there's rules is sort of over the edge. I don't think that there's rules but there's certain feelings or emotions that you most certainly are aiming for. I have never done one of these shoots, but if I were going to I immediately do my homework to find out how the guys that are the best, do what they do.

I would look at Tony Yang His lighting and angles are fantastic. There's also something that you need to work with the models on. They need to feel hot to convey hot. That sounded really stupid. But I'd make a CD of the sexiest music I could find and just have that rolling in the background.

Also study the lighting, exposure and posing of Onyx This is way beyond what many of us could pull off, but it's your inspiration to push yourself.

Again I don't do this stuff, but I've always wondered what these guys' settings are, what lights do they use. All that goes into these shoots is crazy and you really have to be creative and ask yourself, your clients, friends, husband, What is sexy like? What does it look like? Feel like etc. Just my initial input.

You don't take pictures for the people on this board. You shoot for YOU, and for your client. If you're happy, and she's happy, who CARES what other people (who, honestly, can be a bit full of themselves around here) say?

That's just my opinion.

I always thought that "it's okay to look, but not to touch" rule was over-rated...

Isn't that Maria's rule?

Her rule excludes the look part...

(you know...after 3 kids in 54 months...she said...hey, why don't you go join that new forum called OSP and post about 6,000 times...)

Must be hard shooting them without looking... So do you use the braille technique?

DAMN....I have so much to learn about lighting. My God Mark, thanks for sharing those links.

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I usually don't respond to comments like this but this seemed pretty harsh. Yes it is your opinion, but if you're gonna call me out like that, let's have a go at it. Cause it sure seemed like you did. And now this is going to turn into a drama thread which I doubt is what Melissa wanted. Oh yes, the girl who asked the question, "What are the rules?" She asked the question and specifically asked it on a board like this because being the NIIIIICE people we're asked to be on this board, we help each other learn and succeed. So I answered the best I could, with examples and pictures worth a study. Don't blast people for answering someones question and please don't say I'm full of myself unless you know me personally. No you didn't say my name but the sequence seems to point to Messica or I.

Melissa, my apologies for taking time from your thread for this rebuttal. I hope we can continue to push each other artistically and keep learning. If we all hit the nail on the head each session we did, there'd be no need to continue practicing what we love.

You're welcome Graeme. When Daniel Hice gets his site back up, you've gotta check out his lighting too.

Daniel lives not far from here, and its amazing what he has learned to do with lights over the last couple of years. Some great photography coming out of that guy!

Great example links Mark! Thanks for sharing them!

Just for the record, I was not referring to anyone personally. I certainly was not talking about you in particular, as I often read and learn from your posts. What I meant was that she should not alter her style or what her client wants to please people here. I'm sorry if you felt personally attacked. I just meant that no one here, on OSP, is entitled to make "rules" about what any person chooses to call a certain type of session. I was going to send this as just a PM, but have decided to post it in the thread so that the apology is public.

But Hillary... Those were Melissa's words...no one TOLD HER THERE WERE RULES.

Melissa posted a session saying it was her first. Asked for feedback. She GOT feedback and then asked for the "rules". I didn't see a single post that said "these suck" (bc they don't) ......or "you did this wrong" (bc she didn't) The "rules" term was hers and I, for one, think she was being lighthearted.

This was her first session, she wants to get better. She asked how to get better. She got answers. Don't go making a mountain out of a mole hill. If she didn't want our opinions, she wouldn't have asked OR posted a second thread asking for more.

+1 nicely said jess.

I agree that there are loose rules to shooting boudoir, but in a sense you need to define what they are for how you want to shoot and what your client's expectations are overall. Personally for me I shoot similar to Melissa---I shoot around f2.8 to give that perfectly sharp lash and face yet softer body type look. Unless I am trying to get a full body type shot in, and then I'll close it down a bit.

Lighting for boudoir is such a great opportunity to try new things! I have a very simple 3 light set up and have been able to move them around to create heavier shadowing or portrait quality lighting depending on the mood of the client or if Im wanting to experiment a bit.

For me, boudoir should be classier than "shots of some naked chick" and Im not saying thats what you've done, I havent even seen your shots since Ive been off the board for a week or so. For me, boudoir is all about revealing all without showing anything. Its the idea of what the client could be showing or portraying through lighting and how they're posing.

I think you will find a lot of great resources on this board and check out the information that Mark posted. A lot of times just exposing yourself to other artists in the field will help guide you with techniques you want to try, or possibly even help you define your own style of shooting.

sorry to threadjack...

Tami, I think you are awesome but I'm gonna have to speak up here.

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You are not better than chocolate!

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Dang it your sloganizer changed already...how the hell does that thing work?

yes i am. (hehehe).


melissa, i think a good idea would be to grab a girlfriend, a victoria's secret catalog, and a camera and a good private location and experiment. it takes time to get it 'right' and develope the type of style you want.

I love shooting boudoir sessions! Our studio has some specific "recipes" for various lighting set-ups... (which are also shared in our book - see www.theboudoirdivas.com)... but after I know I've got the typical shots with these set-ups, I LOVE experimenting with different lighting. Some of my favorite shots happen when I'm not following any rules or recipes. Melissa, have fun with it! Keep it up.