One problem I run into, and I have heard the same from others, is getting a variety of images during shoots. Because I don’t shoot boudoir as often as I would like, it's harder for my mind to get into the headspace where I see different shots like a professional would be able to. So to help correct this problem, I have recently started focusing on these 6 types of shots.
Environmental Shot
Full Body Shot
Partial Body Shot
Portrait
Detail Shot
Silhouette
Environmental Shot
Your model and her surroundings, that is the essence of an environmental shot. When you take a photo of a subject and the area around her you can achieve a greater understanding of the context and overall story. For example, she could be sitting on a couch enjoying a drink, lounging on a bed reading a book, or walking to an outdoor shower.
Full Body Shot
As a staple in the boudoir genre, the full body shot is one you definitely need to plan for during your shoot. This can be done standing or lying down on a piece of furniture or the floor. Just remember to highlight the whole body of the mode here. It is important to note that the whole subject should be in focus, a shot where part of the body is blurred is not considered to be a full body shot.
Partial Body Shot
The partial body shot focuses on a specific area of the body without being particular to details. The classic booty shot would fall into this category; as would shots that focus on other areas such as the bust, the back, or the legs.
Portrait
You can’t have a good boudoir session, in my opinion, without getting at least one decent portrait. The portrait is all about the face and highlighting it to the best of your ability. Personally, I like a genuine smile in my portraits, especially one brought on by laughter as it helps to bring out a subject's inner beauty and a bit of their personality.
Detail Shot
Capturing the small features is what creates a detail shot. Detail shots are an awesome way to add variety to your shoots that often get overlooked. The most common example of this shows off a woman’s engagement/wedding ring or part of the outfit she is wearing. Lingerie usually has many good details you can use for this purpose.
Silhouette
The silhouette is nothing more than an outline of your subject against a brighter background, yet this simple shot has the ability to make an amazing photo. The silhouette also allows for a great sense of anonymity and mystery. If your model is a bit shy or apprehensive about certain shots a silhouette may give her the confidence to do other poses she might not have been comfortable with otherwise.
Final Thoughts
How is this information useful? If you can keep these 6 types of shots in mind during your shoot you will have a better chance to see an image staring you in the face. Such as a detail shot you would have missed had you not thought to yourself, “Are there any detail shots I can get right now?”
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