Available light: Boudoir photography & Feminine portraiture
The direction of light is an elemental part of portrait photography. We can control how we pose and position our subject in relation to the light - and we might be able even control the direction of light, as we did with this sequence of photos of our model, Adrienne. To start off this personal workshop on Lighting for Feminine Portraiture and Boudoir Photography, we used only the available light that was streaming through the large windows in my studio.
This painted canvas backdrop is on a roller stand. Read more inside...
Shooting for my portfolio in the studio with a model, Kimberly Jay, I wanted to create sets of feminine portraits that looked dramatic, and straddled the boudoir photography genre and had a Film Noir look to them. The classic look of Hollywood portrait lighting has long drawn me, and with a set of Litepanels Sola 4 LED Fresnel Lights (B&H / Amazon), it is a look that I am still trying to finesse.
Other photo sessions where I have drawn on the Hollywood look:
Lighting a vintage styled boudoir photo session (model: Read more inside...
The video above of Jewell, and the video of Bella - shown in the companion article, planning to shoot a promo video - were both shot within a week of one another. These promotional videos are for a friend, Cate Scaglione, a New Jersey based boudoir photographer. There are part of a theme that Cate wanted to develop in her marketing. The motif for this specific video was that of a working mom allowing herself to indulge in a bit of "me time".
With this article I want to do a run-through of the gear we used. More essential than the gear Read more inside...
This video clip and photo shoot are the results of a discussion with a friend, Cate Scaglione, one of New Jersey's best boudoir photographers. At a photography convention, the topic came up whether male and female photographers approach their subjects differently (whether male or female). My take on this is that there is such a diverse range in styles and skill levels, that it would be impossible to make any clear grouping on styles depending on the photographer’s gender. Cate believes this does have an influence. And from that, the idea Read more inside...
The motive behind this photo session with Nick Mathews, is explained in the intro of the behind-the-scenes video clip of the photo session. One subject, one studio, two photographers and two different styles. We shot this in Cate's studio - she used available light, and I ended up using two Profoto B1 flashes (affiliate), and gridded stripboxes to control the light. The video clip shows some of how we directed Nick during the shoot, and as a professional model and actor, he was supremely easy to work with.
With this article, I'd like to Read more inside...
When planning to shoot a promo video - or any video for that matter - there should ideally be some narrative or some forward momentum in what is being portrayed. An idea that propels it forward and gives it meaning. A friend once tried to convince me that I should team up with another photographer who had video gear since we would make a really good video with the gear we had available between us. I immediately put a spanner in that by insisting that without an idea or a story, we're lost. We have nothing. Someone with an idea and a mobile phone would Read more inside...
I managed to acquire a lovely (and massively big) lighted table for my studio. I picked it up for quite a low price at a photography studio auction in New York, and now it has a new home. It was a missing piece in my studio - especially since I also offer the place as a photography studio rental (NJ) . But I digress. In other studios that I've used, I've used the glow of the circularly arranged lightbulbs, as a light source. For example in this photo session with Jessica Joy - composition: working towards the final image.
A number Read more inside...
Themes & context in Boudoir Photography - on the streets of NYC
The model in this striking image is my friend, Jessica, a boudoir photographer. Her pose is intentionally this strong and assertive. The concept here is part of an on-going project she had planned for a long while now. She had asked me to collaborate with her in taking the photos. The main idea behind the project (and these are my words and interpretation of what we had discussed) - women are objectified in society, but there is a disconnect in how people respond (or don't) to provocative posters and images of Read more inside...
recap: Boudoir photography workshop - Albany, NY (2015)
Teaming up with Genine Gullickson, one of the best boudoir photographers I know, we co-presented an all-day workshop in Feminine Portraiture and Boudoir Photography. The workshop was held in Genine's studio in Schenectady, NY on May 31st.
We had two lovely modes, and two stylists who took care of make-up and hair styling. We had a fun group of 7 photographers who attended this workshop. Genine's place - Clique Studio - is a loft-styled studio offering a variety of backgrounds and settings. (This immediately made the images Read more inside...
Posing women in boudoir portraits is both an art form and a learned skill. Women are by nature sensitive about perceived body flaws. Expert posing aimed at highlighting her favorite features (and downplaying others) can make or break her experience and love of her photos—and ultimately your sale.
Petra Herrmann, an exceptional boudoir photographer, based in Kansas City, has the guest spot here with a few of her top-selling poses with some quick posing tips you can try out during your next boudoir Read more inside...
