Boudoir Photography

[StaceysStudio]

Hi All
I am setting up a photo studio in my spare room but need some help on what I will need to buy and also what's the best camera setting to take Boudoir Photographs of my wife.
I am using a canon eos 400d so if someone can give me some pointers that will help me out that would be great.

 

[ohms12]

I'm sure most will be happy to give you advice in return for pictures...

 

[TG.]

Hi All
I am setting up a photo studio in my spare room but need some help on what I will need to buy and also what's the best camera setting to take Boudoir Photographs of my wife.
I am using a canon eos 400d so if someone can give me some pointers that will help me out that would be great.

Boudoir can be quite specialised, and it's difficult to say what settings you will use without seeing the size of your room, what ambient light you have coming into it etc etc, there is a fair bit on the net about it though, so have a google, i just purchased a book on Boudoir the other day, not read it in anger yet, but initial speed read is quite good, this one HERE (don't take to much notice of the price, i got mine from waterstones for £17.99) i would say it's one of the better books for boudoir, their is more on the net, which ranges from what i would call just tacky photos of women in underwear, to excellent portraits in low-light situations, but you will know what i mean when you look, as regards your lighting, you will need 1 or 2 studio lights, or speed-lights, but again without seeing the room, it's hard to judge, why not post a shot of it, then maybe we can help a bit more

 

[StaceysStudio]

T.G thank you for you reply.
Yes your right don't want Tacky photos I want my Boudoir photos to have some class.
As for lights do you think I would be better with a soft box rather than a umbrella.
And for the room I have posted 2 photos of my wife that's the room I plan you use as a studio.
I just want to get the right set up so I can take good photos.
Any help you can give would be great.
Thank you again.

 

[Phil V]

Like Tel said, there's really no guide we can give to settings, as far as gear is concerned, a nice prime lens (50mm 1.8 or 85 1.8) will help.

The important stuff is lighting and posing.
For lighting you've got the choice of natural light or flash, natural is free but still needs controlling (reflectors and flags). For flash at least 2 lights (unless you're mixing with daylight) which can be flashguns or studio type flash. Then think about light modifiers, softboxes, beauty dishes etc. You'll still need reflectors and flags. Even for flashguns, you've got to think about stands modifiers and a means of triggering them.

For posing, look at other photographers work, you should also start to work out how they're lit after a bit of practice. I recommend Sue Bryce for glamorous portraiture (not really boudoir), She's put 'glamour' back into photography without any of the cliche glamour from the 70's and 80's.

If that seems like a lot to think about - that's the easy bit, controlling the light, keeping the model relaxed and happy and capturing it is where the work is. You're lucky to be starting off with a willing model.

You can start today with daylight, while sheets for reflectors, curtains to flag the light, your kit lens and a tidy bedroom. It's not really about the gear.

 

[TG.]

All good advice above from Phil, the 50mm 1.8 is cheap, but don't be fooled by that, it's great for studio shots, providing you can get back from your subject a bit, also improvising for reflectors with sheets etc, is also a good and cheap idea, as regards umbrellas or softboxes, i tend to use softboxes most of the time, as i'm always working in tight spaces (small rooms) and the light is not only softer, but more directional, will less spill, take a look at the bessel website HERE they have a reasonable selection of softboxes etc, at very reasonable prices, they also sell a speedbox, which is a foldable softbox, a lot better than having to put it together every time you use it.

I have posted 2 photos of my wife that's the room I plan you use as a studio.

Where have you posted these ? Edit, yes just seen them in your gallery, however they are not really giving an overall size of your room, stand in one corner and take a shot of the whole room size