Boudoir photographers want to take a beautiful boudoir photo that stops the scroll of potential clients. I think we’re all trying to outdo our last most-impressive photo–every time we pick up our camera.
We’ve all seen the photos that other photographers have posted. You know, the ones that make you stop scrolling and just study the image in awe.
And as photographers, we’re all striving to create those photos. We want to be the photographer who makes other photographers and potential clients just stop in their tracks because of how beautiful an image is.
Over the years–and after investing a lot of money in education with some of the best photographers in the world–I feel like I’ve been able to create a few of these scroll-stopping boudoir images.
The thing is, there’s a lot that goes into creating an incredible image. I break down five tips to help you create your next scroll-stopping image with more intention.
Lighting is the most important element of your boudoir image.
The thing the BEST photographers have in common is that they know how to place their client in the best light and get the most flattering boudoir photo possible of that person.
This is 100% my preference, but to me, boudoir photography is about the woman.
If you have the woman’s face in the photo, it needs to be well-lit. Either light the face well–or crop her head out completely.
I don’t think there’s an in-between here. And I’m usually not this cut and dry about art, but this is definitely one of those things I’m taking a stance on.
I’ve seen so many beautiful photos where the woman’s face is just 100% in the shadows–but not intentionally. The rest of the photo is beautiful. If her face had just been lit well, the entire photo would have been gorgeous.
But because her face wasn’t lit, well, it didn’t hit that next level–to me, at least.
That being said, art is subjective. What I like, someone else may hate, and vice versa.
Besides her face, you also need to light her body well.
For boudoir photography, especially, shadows and light should be used to accentuate curves. Light the booty and the chest well so there’s definition. This will help both look fuller.
I seriously want to thank the Kardashians for making curves trendy. Remember when it was trendy to be skinny?!
Posing your client from head to toe is very important to create a phenomenal boudoir photo.
You have to pose your client–from head to toe. This includes telling her what to do with her face!
Unless your client is a full-time model, she is not going to know what to do whatsoever with her body or her face.
She’s trusting you–the professional boudoir photographer she hired–to tell her exactly what to do so she can have beautiful photos like the ones in your portfolio–Remember, this was the reason she chose you!
You have to help her so she CAN get those beautiful images she wants.
Remember–bend what bends, and S-Curves are sexy.
Instead of asking clients to spend hundreds of dollars on outfits, let them spend that money with you!
If they buy the $25 bodysuit from Amazon instead of the $200 option from Victoria’s Secret, they can spend that extra $175 with you.
Sure, Honey Burdette is pretty. And I would LOVE to photograph Agent Provocateur. There’s this one bodysuit they have that I drool over.
But is it WORTH the extra hundreds of dollars the women would spend on a pair of underwear?
I don’t think so, personally. I would rather they spend that extra money on images they will have for a lifetime, ya know?
Make sure she feels beautiful and confident.
You have to make sure she feels amazing to get those scroll-stopping photos. A nervous client isn’t going to result in those photos that just stop you dead in your tracks, ya know?
Encouraging feedback is so important to get her comfortable in front of your camera. Make her feel special and gorgeous and like she’s the most beautiful woman in the world.
But just as important, you want her to feel comfortable with YOU–really quickly. This is how you’ll get those incredible photos you’re striving for.
Subtle retouching, at minimum, is a must for scroll-stopping photos.
If you’re a photographer who “doesn’t retouch because you want your clients to love the body they are in, just the way it is…”
… first of all, I want you to know I love the body positivity and the confidence you want to give your clients.
That’s truly what boudoir photography is all about.
The thing is, the camera brings out every single flaw a woman has.
Sure, lighting can help, but it’s still going to show more flaws on camera than you would see in person.
And that’s exactly why retouching is non-negotiable. You HAVE to do it.
A beautifully retouched photo is one of those things that WILL stop the scroll.
If you only get one thing out of this episode, I want to make sure that you understand that light is what makes the photos.
You can have the most beautiful pose…
…with the most beautiful outfit…
…the client feels absolutely beautiful…
…and your retouching is flawless…
…but if the light isn’t good, well, then the entire photo is gonna be a flop–in my opinion, at least.
Light is the KEY to a scroll-stopping boudoir photo. Everything else is just an enhancement.
Download my FREE PDF to help you create a business that sells these scroll-stopping photos with ease!
Now that you have these five tips that will help you create scroll-stopping boudoir photos–it’s time to build a business that can more than support you and your family and your dreams.
A business that can change your life while you change the lives of the women in your area.
My free PDF will help you hit six figures in the next 12 months. It is the FIRST step to help you uplevel your business, and it’s called “Five Targets To Spot-Check In Your Boudoir Business So You Can Hit Six Figures With Ease. ”
Tracy Lynn is a boudoir photogapher for brides-to-be in the St. Louis area, and a mentor + coach for photographers looking to level up their businesses with better systems and processes.
