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| Photographer Credit : Akelis Studios Photography Model Credit : Black Lizzie |
Tonight will be a lesson in working with a fabulous curvy figure for bridal and classic boudoir!
I am not a size four. Actually, since becoming
pregnant with my son, I have gained weight and topped out at an
uncomfortable size 16 shortly before giving birth. I am back down to a
slightly more tolerable weight and becoming comfortable with the
permanent changes around my stomach and hips. This leads me to some
insecurities in my clothing choice and understanding when talking with
boudoir clients about heir own bodies.
Most of all, make sure you choose bold colors. Lingerie colors are a fantastic way to complement a
figure or hide something you want to avoid. Blues and purples dial up
the most amazing view because they draw focus and accentuate the eyes of the subject in their own way.
And finally, I suggest that the most beautiful thing you can wear is your confidence. I rarely take implied nude or true nudes when shooting. The fact that not all clients are confident being so exposed is something that makes very good sense. Respecting their wishes means finding a ton of fun poses and ways to express seduction and beauty without ever having to remove a single stitch of silk or lace. But for those brave enough to bare it all... remember that coy and confident women each have a charm all their own.
Beyond what you wear, how you pose can be the best line of defense against having nothing you like out of a boudoir session. Each photographer will have their own unique shooting and editing style, but some will even have a few tricks up their sleeve when it comes to posing for your shape. My model for this set of examples has a wonderful pear-shape and uses it to her advantage.
One hint I do have for everyone nervous about people seeing "too much" is to remember that when a photographer lines up, you have the right to ask if everything is covered properly. It seems basic, but taking just a moment to ask can make sure you like the look and reduce their work in post production. This goes for busty women worried about a little too much hanging out when they tilt forward AND for the girls worried about anything unsightly peeking out from under a skirt.
If your photographer "shoots from
above" they can complement wider pear and hourglass shapes with the
right tilt. This leads to the eye naturally flowing from the face to the cleavage, but can also put fun angles to use. I refer here to the image above with our model in the sapphire selection; take a good look at how her legs and hands are placed. If you bring the palm placement closer to the knee and shrug the shoulders up and forward, this pinches the chest to add cleavage. If you bring the camera down and to one side, this becomes a great pose to complement an apple shape by focusing on eyes and lips over a coy shoulder shrug. As it is currently posed, there is something inviting yet almost masculine about it, giving a fierce tone and showing off the bold choice of wrist accent.
Suggestion number two is one I keep as a pose for every client because of how it relaxes the face and neck. I am talking here about the pose to the left, with legs up straight against a wall or crossed and knees bent on the bed, hanging the hair and top of head off of the bed or pose platform. We naturally focus here on eyes, but by standing upright the photographer can play up curvy hips and stems. I have this pose in several forms, but chose to change it here to show off shoes which match the eyes and add a touch of the "something blue" for our wedding theme. Remember to narrow your profile by bringing arms in and bending elbows and wrists slightly. Keep lips in a soft pout and give the camera eye contact to keep your viewer interested.
Finally, I refer here to the image at the very top. Face it, a perfect way to make any album lovely is to keep it simple. I could zoom in here and crop down to a headshot without the beauty of the model being lost. She is not nude here, but the lack of lingerie is implied (hence the term)by the positioning of a prop. This pose can also be done without the implied nude element if shapely details of clothing design are used.
Beyond what you wear, how you pose can be the best line of defense against having nothing you like out of a boudoir session. Each photographer will have their own unique shooting and editing style, but some will even have a few tricks up their sleeve when it comes to posing for your shape. My model for this set of examples has a wonderful pear-shape and uses it to her advantage.
One hint I do have for everyone nervous about people seeing "too much" is to remember that when a photographer lines up, you have the right to ask if everything is covered properly. It seems basic, but taking just a moment to ask can make sure you like the look and reduce their work in post production. This goes for busty women worried about a little too much hanging out when they tilt forward AND for the girls worried about anything unsightly peeking out from under a skirt.
If your photographer "shoots from
above" they can complement wider pear and hourglass shapes with the
right tilt. This leads to the eye naturally flowing from the face to the cleavage, but can also put fun angles to use. I refer here to the image above with our model in the sapphire selection; take a good look at how her legs and hands are placed. If you bring the palm placement closer to the knee and shrug the shoulders up and forward, this pinches the chest to add cleavage. If you bring the camera down and to one side, this becomes a great pose to complement an apple shape by focusing on eyes and lips over a coy shoulder shrug. As it is currently posed, there is something inviting yet almost masculine about it, giving a fierce tone and showing off the bold choice of wrist accent.Suggestion number two is one I keep as a pose for every client because of how it relaxes the face and neck. I am talking here about the pose to the left, with legs up straight against a wall or crossed and knees bent on the bed, hanging the hair and top of head off of the bed or pose platform. We naturally focus here on eyes, but by standing upright the photographer can play up curvy hips and stems. I have this pose in several forms, but chose to change it here to show off shoes which match the eyes and add a touch of the "something blue" for our wedding theme. Remember to narrow your profile by bringing arms in and bending elbows and wrists slightly. Keep lips in a soft pout and give the camera eye contact to keep your viewer interested.
Finally, I refer here to the image at the very top. Face it, a perfect way to make any album lovely is to keep it simple. I could zoom in here and crop down to a headshot without the beauty of the model being lost. She is not nude here, but the lack of lingerie is implied (hence the term)by the positioning of a prop. This pose can also be done without the implied nude element if shapely details of clothing design are used.
