What is your style?

Recently, we have had an increase in requests for two different style images. We have been getting a lot of requests for pin-up style images. These are a lot of fun to shoot, and best shot in a studio environment. This is due to most pin-ups needing some type of background removal or alteration to achieve that classic pin-up look. We have done several recently and the finished images looked great. There are some important factors to consider when deciding to do pin-ups. First, make up is critical. The pin-up look is completely different from the classic boudoir look. Hair and make up styling must be done to match. If you look at many of the pin-ups from the 40′s and 50′s, you will notice that the make up is done with deep, bright red lipstick, eye shadows that stand out, and often the hair is styled in a classical style. The second major factor for pin-ups is wardrobe. Wardrobe plays such a big part of any boudoir image and pin-up is no different. Again, the wardrobe selection will be different for pin-up than it will be for a more traditional boudoir. When you are deciding to go the pin-up route, also make a decision on what theme you might want to do. Do you want to be the pin-up housewife? How about a WWII era nose art style, the kind you see on the old airplanes? More of a Betty Page style? This will help you define what look you want as well as help us with props, locations, and lighting.

The other requested look that is regaining popularity is a film noir look. The look is classic black and white, typically with a smoking, high contrast look to it. This look is from the golden years of Hollywood and the images that come to mind with many of the original femme fatales. Much of this look is achieved with lighting and in the editing and retouching process when converting to black and white. Starting with good make up and wardrobe selection, this look can be stunning. In a recent client shoot, we transitioned from pin-up style to the film noir look and included both in her book. Both styles looked really good with her and we were able to give her several different images varying from pin-up, traditional boudoir and the film noir look all in the same book!

I would love to post some for you, however we do not publish our client’s photographs. The images we do post here were shot with the intention of being published. We have worked with everyone from the wife next door to celebrities and everyone’s privacy is respected.

When you think about your boudoir session, what images come to mind? Are they pin-ups? Are they like the film noir look? Perhaps they are more traditional boudoir images or even images like you see in lingerie catalogs. Whatever they are, get out and get them taken. I think you will find the experience of working with professionals in boudoir photography an incredibly exhilarating. Here is a comment from a recent client of ours:

Working with Bill and Lisa Potts was such a joy for my wedding boudoir! Being that it was my first time doing a boudoir, I was a bit nervous and apprehensive but they made the process so comfortable and fun. By the end of the shoot, I didn’t even want to stop! The boudoir book exceeded my expectations, and I was thoroughly excited to give it to my husband as a wedding gift. He was speechless and absolutely loves it! I would definitely recommend working with Bill…he communicates extraordinarily well and is very creative in his vision to capture unique pictures. I can’t wait to work with them again someday in the future!
Mrs. B
Tampa, FL

Go ahead. You are ready for yours. Make the call and get your very own boudoir session. I think you will find you enjoy the posing as much as he will enjoy seeing the results! Feel free to leave me a comment here.

www.boudoirconnection.com

That 70′s Shoot

Recently, I was contacted by Thunder Roads Magazine,  to work on a cover shoot for them. They have a 70′s themed bike that is going to be on the January 2011 cover and they wanted a model shot with a 70′s theme. I was able to locate a model, Aerin, who would be perfect for the shoot. Now our problem was finding 70′s attire to get the look. I contacted Three Muses Inspired Clothing in Jacksonville, FL. I told them abou tthe shoot and sent them information on Aerin. Candy, of Three Muses, replied and had the perfect outfit, boots and all.

Working with Aerin was a lot of fun and we got some really good images to give the magazine. The one they selected can not be published here yet, but it is perfect for that 70′s look. If you are looking for that special outfit, whether for a photo shoot, special evening out, or just some really fun outfits, give Three Muses a call or click above on their website. I was really impressed. If you are considering doing your own boudoir photography session , the perfect outfits make for incredible images. Wardrobe planning for your shoot shold be something you spend considerable time on.  Here is one more sneak peak from our shoot. What do you think? Do you like them?

Shooting with Brittany

Working with Brittany was a lot of fun. She has allowed us to blog about a few of her images and the shoot. We shot at multiple locations and got several different looks. First, was the old Victorian era home. As you can imagine, all of the old flooring, high ceilings, extensive wood work and the fireplace create a very photo-friendly location to shoot! Starting in an empty room with just a chair as a prop, we created several interesting images. This image was one of my favorites from this room. I like how the hardwood reflects, how the depth of the room provided for a darker mood to the shoot.

Moving to the parlor room – (I wish homes still had parlors, don’t you?) The older couch just looked too good to pass up. Brittany jumped right in and we were able to get some great images on the couch. We have a few different angles, but this one just turned out so good. we have added a dark vignette to the image for effect.  

On another day, we shot outdoors. First in a horse barn. When shooting outside, I still like to use my lighting so that we can create the exact image we want, without unwanted shadows. The wood in the barn just looks great as a background.  The image does not show it, but I bet it was close to 100 degrees and 100% humidity that day! The finished images were worth it! These certainly would look great in her book.

With the horses in the background, we shot Brittany in a full Native American head dress that belonged to her family. With the sun behind her, we lit her from the front and captured several beautiful images, including this one.  The sun was beginning to set, but was still  relatively high in the sky. It was highlighting the feathers perfectly! Setting our lighting up to remove the harsh shadows and fill in with light, we were able to grab an attention-getting shot.

We had a great time shooting with Brittany and the images turned out great. We are very happy that she has allowed us to use several of the images both on our website and on the blog.

Selecting your Boudoir photographer.

I have been part of a few conversations in the past few weeks about selecting a boudoir photographer. There are many considerations for our clients, include the gender of the photographer.

Obviously, I am a male. My assistant in my boudoir shoots is my wife of more than 25 years. Within the boudoir genre, many of the outfits, poses and resulting images are intended to be sexy, flirty, and even sensual.  You must be comfortable with your photographer! If you are nervous or apprehensive your images will show it. It is normal to begin the session with some anxiety. There are very few people who are comfortable in front of a camera, let alone posing for boudoir style images. Normally, the fears and the nervousness will go away relatively quickly. You will relax as the shoot progresses.

So would you be more comfortable with a male or a female photographer? How about a husband and wife team such as us? This oft asked question usually results in a majority of women responding that they really did not care. They care about the finished product. Who can deliver the type of images they want and need? I would never try to equate being a medical doctor with being a photographer; however you might want to think of the anxiety part in a similar way. Professional photographers, especially those who specialize in boudoir and even in fashion, are just that – professionals. We are there to make sure you get stunning images. This may sound a little cold, but when we are looking through the lens, we see a picture, an image; we really are not looking at “you”. We see your pose, your eyes. We are looking at the background around you; is there something distracting there. How are the shadows? Is there hair in your face that is unwanted? We are experts posing, making sure your expressions are right for the image. In the case of my wife and me, we work as a team. As I am behind the camera, she can help fix those distractions behind you, perhaps get that piece of hair out of your eye so you do not have to move your pose. You could probably ask any professional female photographer and her response would be very similar. Yes, we are there while you are dressed in lingerie, but we are there because we can create the kind of images you want. Nothing more, nothing less.

For us, we like to create fun, relaxed environments in which you can pose and emote naturally. A setting in which you can really get into posing just like you had thought about and imagined you would. When the finished pictures are printed, made into books or a calendar you will be proud to give them as a gift. The most often heard comment after the session and after a day or two to reflect on it is how empowered the women feel having posed. How the process of posing and bringing out that part of you that so often gets lost in today’s world just sparked some kind of inner renaissance.

Here are some tips for selecting a photographer:

1. First, I would narrow the selection down based on 1 thing. How do their images look?
2. What is your budget? Can you afford the ones you really like?
3. Get references. I must admit, this can be a little tricky. Many of our clients want to forever remain anonymous. We honor that. However, all photographers do have some clients willing to provide references. Ask around. I bet you all ready know somebody who has posed for boudoir portraits and you didn’t even know it!
4. Set up a phone interview. You might be able to tell right off the bat whether or not you will “click” with the photographer.
5. Finally, if the gender is an important part of our decision, make the decision. Yes, I am telling you that if you would not be comfortable with me taking your pictures, do not hire me. If you would only be able to work with a female photographer, please hire one, a good one.

 

So did I really just tell you not to hire me? I guess I did. I want all ladies who pose for boudoir images to just be ecstatic with the finished product. If there is no way you could be comfortable with a male photographer your images will suffer. And that will leave a bad taste in your mouth about boudoir. In our business, word or mouth is the most effective form of advertising. If your images do not turn out well, you will talk about it. I would rather you give another photographer praise about your experience with her, than tell people how uncomfortable you were and that you hated the shoot.

If you have any questions about the boudoir experience or want to comment on this article, feel free to address them below or send me an email.