![\"\"](\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/lighting\/boudoir\/bd-photo_01-900.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The one type of photo session where I work the most at getting my lighting just right, is with a boudoir session.\u00a0These intimate photo sessions can be quite a challenge since you have to get a variety of looks in a short time. \u00a0For this you have to not only concentrate on posing and angles, but also concentrate on the lighting. \u00a0On top of that, you have to make sure your model or client is comfortable and relaxed at all times. The session has to be fun and really show her off at her best.<\/p>\n
I bring a variety of lighting equipment to these shoots – speedlights<\/strong> to be used on camera, But I keep the equipment portable and compact and easy to set up .. which means that I mostly use available light<\/strong> where I can. \u00a0 By closely looking at the direction of the various light sources in a room, I can position my subject in relation to the light (eg, a window), or simply move the light source if it is a bedside table lamp.<\/p>\n With the light levels fairly low indoors, this necessitates fast optics and high-ISO capable cameras. \u00a0The style that I prefer is sensual and romantic. \u00a0Sexy without being overly sexual. \u00a0With boudoir photography, I feel that a ‘hint’ works better than being more direct. \u00a0But styles and tastes vary of course.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/30 @ f2.8 @ 1600 ISO Looking again at this image – it is a typical example of where I used the soft light coming through the window as the main light source. \u00a0I didn’t add any light to this. \u00a0The window light was soft, and it was the dominant light source from this viewpoint. \u00a0Easy to use. \u00a0Now I could concentrate on directing the flow of her movement.<\/p>\n The image above was shot ‘with’ the direction of light, giving even light on her. \u00a0It is also good to break it up a bit and shoot ‘against’ a light source, or at an angle to a main light source …<\/p>\n In this case I positioned her so that the bedside table lamp gave a beautiful rim lighting on her. \u00a0Her reflection is lit up directly, but from my point of view, I get a more dramatic light.<\/p>\n 1\/250 @ f2 @ 1600 ISO Before specifically directing her, I loosely positioned her so that I can figure out the direction and quality of light falling on her. \u00a0The background is of huge importance as well. \u00a0Only when I am sure there is something there to work with, do I guide my model or client, and then start shooting a few frames.<\/p>\n It helps immensely to show her on my camera’s preview what we’re getting. \u00a0This reinforcement is a huge boost to everyone’s confidence in the shoot.<\/p>\n Another image where I shot against the main source of light. \u00a0I specifically wanted those highlights in the background to blow out like that, and positioned her for that.<\/p>\n 1\/160 @ f1.6 @ 1600 ISO Choice of lenses<\/strong> obviously also have an influence on the final look of the images. \u00a0The change in perspective<\/strong> forced by a different focal length, helps breaks things up again. \u00a0The change in depth-of-field<\/strong> between using a fast prime lens and using a zoom, also helps create variety in the images.<\/p>\n Two images from a recent boudoir photo session, where I changed to different lenses for parts of the session. \u00a0A 50mm f1.4 optic and a 105mm f2.8 macro lens. \u00a0Again, both where taken with just the available light from the window in the hotel room.<\/p>\n 1\/100 @ f3 @ 1250 ISO .<\/span><\/p>\n 1\/160 @ f1.6 @ 1250 ISO<\/span> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n I do use on-camera bounce flash during these sessions, but I \u00a0concentrate on using the existing lighting in the room. \u00a0Part of the problem in using bounce flash, is that it can open up the scene too much<\/a>. \u00a0You quite often lose the interesting lighting patterns and the interesting way that the available light falls onto your subject.<\/p>\n But it can work, if that’s the effect that you want …<\/p>\n 1\/100 @ f3.5 @ 1250 ISO With that image above, my settings were such that the ambient light in the room registered. \u00a0I could’ve used a much lower ISO and smaller aperture, but that would’ve given a different effect than I wanted.<\/p>\n With this next image, I had her stand in a doorway. \u00a0This kept the rest of the room from ‘opening up’ with the bounce flash. \u00a0But I then had to carefully position her against the background to create some separation. \u00a0I also wanted some interesting defocused elements in the background.<\/p>\n 1\/250 @ f3.2 @ 1250 ISO<\/span> .<\/span><\/p>\n Video lights<\/a> are\u00a0one of my favourite piece of lighting equipment at a boudoir photo session. Here I used the Lowell iD-light<\/strong>.<\/p>\n 1\/60 @ f3.5 @ 1250 ISO <\/p>\n The video light gives a concentrated light, which can be quite dramatic if used carefully. \u00a0The key is to look at the way the light falls on your subject’s face, and how the shadow of your subject’s nose falls. \u00a0It is best if you avoid the shadow of your subject’s nose falling over their mouth or across their cheek. \u00a0With this in mind, I always instruct my assistant to follow my subject’s movement with the video light .. and to carefully look at how the nose’s shadow appears.<\/p>\n To counter-balance that effect of the video light, I often add bounced flash to the equation. \u00a0But I dial down the flash exposure compensation so that the flash merely helps to lift the contrast of the scene. \u00a0And it is also essential that I gel my flash for Tungsten in a case like this.<\/p>\n 1\/250 @ f2.5 @ 1600 ISO But then, just to mix it up, here I used \u00a0video light and ambient light. \u00a0I diffused the video light with a coffee filter to give a softer light. With the video light diffused like that, and mixed with the daylight filtering through the curtains, it gave a nice warm mix to the scene. \u00a0And it works.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/250 @ f3.2 @ 1600 ISO .<\/span><\/p>\n The idea remains then that it is crucial to really consider the existing light<\/strong>. \u00a0Look at the direction of the light. \u00a0See how many light sources you have. \u00a0Then figure out whether you need to add additional light, and what kind of light you want to throw into the mix. \u00a0In the end it always comes back to the quality of light you have … and how you use it and supplement it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n lighting for boudoir photo sessions The one type of photo session where I work the most at getting my lighting just right, is with a boudoir session.\u00a0These intimate photo sessions can be quite a challenge since you have to get a variety of looks in a short time. \u00a0For this you have to not only Read more inside…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29773,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6,15,22,1],"tags":[91,95,92,94,93],"yst_prominent_words":[5217,5194,5411,5405,5395,5408,5400,5403,5410,5401,1509,5402,5407,5398,5412,5102,5391,5413,5414,5415],"class_list":{"0":"post-2118","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-boudoir-photography","8":"category-flash-photography","9":"category-lighting","10":"category-uncategorized","11":"tag-new-jersey-boudoir-photographer","12":"tag-new-jersey-boudoir-photography","13":"tag-new-york-boudoir-photographer","14":"tag-nj-boudoir-photographer","15":"tag-nj-boudoir-photography","16":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2118"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2118"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2118\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":42842,"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2118\/revisions\/42842"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29773"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2118"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2118"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2118"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=2118"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nand as a softbox setup<\/a><\/strong>. \u00a0I also favour \u00a0video lights<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\nNikon D3
\nlens:\u00a0Nikon 24-70mm f2.8G AF-S<\/a>\u00a0(Amazon) \u00a0\/ \u00a0Canon 24-70mm f\/2.8L II<\/a>\u00a0(Amazon)<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/lighting\/boudoir\/bd-photo_03-900.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\nNikon D3
\nlens:\u00a0Nikon AF-S Nikon 85mm f\/1.4G<\/a>\u00a0(Amazon) \u00a0\/ \u00a0Canon EF 85mm f\/1.2L II USM<\/a>\u00a0(Amazon)<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/lighting\/boudoir\/bd-photo_06.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\nNikon D3
\nlens:\u00a0Nikon AF-S Nikon 85mm f\/1.4G<\/a>\u00a0(Amazon) \u00a0\/ \u00a0Canon EF 85mm f\/1.2L II USM<\/a>\u00a0(Amazon)
\n<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/lighting\/boudoir\/bd-photo_78.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\nNikon D3
\nlens:\u00a0Nikon 105mm f\/2.8 IS macro<\/a>\u00a0(Amazon) \/\u00a0Canon 100mm f\/2.8 IS macro<\/a>\u00a0(Amazon)<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/lighting\/boudoir\/bd-photo_79.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n Nikon D3
\nlens:\u00a0Nikon 105mm f\/2.8 IS macro<\/a>\u00a0(Amazon) \/\u00a0Canon 100mm f\/2.8 IS macro<\/a>\u00a0(Amazon)<\/span><\/p>\n
\nBooks on Boudoir Photography<\/h2>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/books\/boudoir\/Christa-Meoloa_boudoir-photogaphy.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/books\/boudoir\/Susan-Eckert_boudoir-photogaphy.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/books\/boudoir\/Critsey-Rowe_boudoir-photogaphy.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/books\/boudoir\/Jen-Rozenbaum_boudoir-photogaphy.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n
\nBounce flash <\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/lighting\/boudoir\/bd-photo_29-900.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\nNikon D3
\nNikon 24-70mm f2.8G AF-S<\/a>\u00a0(Amazon) \u00a0\/ \u00a0Canon 24-70mm f\/2.8L II<\/a>\u00a0(Amazon)
\nNikon SB-910 Speedlight<\/a>\u00a0(Amazon) \u00a0\/ \u00a0Canon 600EX-RT Speedlite<\/a>\u00a0(Amazon)
\n<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/lighting\/boudoir\/bd-photo_07.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\nNikon D3<\/span>
Nikon 24-70mm f2.8G AF-S<\/a>\u00a0(Amazon) \u00a0\/ \u00a0<\/span>Canon 24-70mm f\/2.8L II<\/a>\u00a0(Amazon)<\/span>
Nikon SB-910 Speedlight<\/a>\u00a0(Amazon) \u00a0\/ \u00a0<\/span>Canon 600EX-RT Speedlite<\/a>\u00a0(Amazon)<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nVideo lights<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/lighting\/boudoir\/bd-photo_40-900.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\nNikon D3
\nlens:\u00a0Nikon 24-70mm f2.8G AF-S<\/a>\u00a0(Amazon) \u00a0\/ \u00a0Canon 24-70mm f\/2.8L II<\/a>\u00a0(Amazon)
\nLowel iD-Light<\/a>\u00a0(Amazon)<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/lighting\/boudoir\/bd-photo_20.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\nNikon D3
\nlens:\u00a0Nikon 24-70mm f2.8G AF-S<\/a>\u00a0(Amazon) \u00a0\/ \u00a0Canon 24-70mm f\/2.8L II<\/a>\u00a0(Amazon)
\nflash:\u00a0Nikon SB-910 Speedlight<\/a>\u00a0(Amazon) \u00a0\/ \u00a0Canon 600EX-RT Speedlite<\/a>\u00a0(Amazon)
\n<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/lighting\/boudoir\/bd-photo_05.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\nNikon D3
\nlens:\u00a0Nikon 24-70mm f2.8G AF-S<\/a>\u00a0(Amazon) \u00a0\/ \u00a0Canon 24-70mm f\/2.8L II<\/a>\u00a0(Amazon)
\nflash:\u00a0Nikon SB-910 Speedlight<\/a>\u00a0(Amazon) \u00a0\/ \u00a0Canon 600EX-RT Speedlite<\/a>\u00a0(Amazon)
\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"