10 Ways to Improve Your Boudoir Photography NOW!
10 Ways to Improve Your Boudoir Photography Now!
This is a must read if you are a boudoir photographer. It’s full of useful tips and a steal at only $10.00!
Click the link above to get your copy now.
Couples Boudoir Photography
Boudoir photography has branched out in several different directions over the past few years. Couples contacting boudoir photographers and requesting sexy photos together has becoming quite common. When a couple is deeply in love they often want to capture that love in images. These are usually fun and flirty but some clients may want to do a bit of role-play with things like blind folds and hand cuffs, perhaps some nudity. How far it goes depends on how comfortable the photographer is with your request. You should be forthright and tell them what you are looking for. Most photographers are very open minded. It’s important to find a photographer that is a good fit for you.
I recently saw some amazing photos of a woman with breast cancer, and her husband. The woman was nude and her husband was lovingly caressing her. She wanted the photographs so she could always remember what her body was like before she became ill. These black and white images were powerful and moving. I’ll never forget them; you could see the sorrow in her eyes and the love in his. I’ll try to find images like these to share with all of you at a later date.
Glamour Shots, Sexy Photos, Nude Photography, Intimate Photos, Pin-up… Oh, What To Call It?
The new term is Boudoir.
Many women don’t know what the word boudoir means in terms of photography. In the eighty’s it was called Glamour shots, which was a franchise that popped up in many malls around the country. Lots of women in their 40’s and 50’s still search for that term on the Internet when they are thinking of having photos taken. Others search the words sexy or intimate photos. They know what they want but they are not sure what it is called. We photographers are working hard to get the term Boudoir photography recognized by the general public. It is starting to catch on. I have seen a dramatic increase in woman looking for boudoir photographers in the past year. It’s why I started The Boudoir Photography Network. I hope that The boudoir Photography Networks blog with its photos and videos, will inspire you and give you ideas you can use for your own boudoir or Pin-up photography session. We hope the behind the scenes videos will answer some of your questions on what it is like to experience a boudoir shoot.
At my studio here in Maryland things are very relaxed, which helps ease some of the nervousness most girls feel. I never overbook the day, leaving lots of time in-between clients so they never feel rushed or pushed out the door. You can visit my website at www.robinowen.com I’ located in Southern Maryland and shoot women for Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia.
Fun Baby photos of Ryan
These were taken awhile back but I never got around to posting them. This is Ryan and he is cute as a button with that big grin of his. His mom owns Todays Bride in California Maryland. Definitely check out their shop if you are looking for wedding attire.
New website for The Boudoir Photography Network!!
The new website for The Boudoir photography Network has launched. Yeah!! It has been a long time coming and I’m so happy with the way it has turned out.
Now that I have a website that works smoothly, I can move on to expand the content. If you are a boudoir client looking to find out what this thing called boudoir is all about, you will find lots of helpful, informative articles and videos on the sites blog. If you are a boudoir photographer looking to gain more exposure on the Internet for your business, Submit an application to become one of our preferred photographers. Be aware that we do screen all photographers so not everyone is accepted. Also in the near future we will launch a private area on the BPN website just for photographers. The plan is to have Boudoir posing and lighting tips, products you may be interested in like elegant album designs, equipment reviews, seminars information and a photographers chat room. Email me if you would like to be listed in the monthly news letter. That way you can keep upto date with all the new projects.
High Key Studio Lighting Set Up
Many new photographers are trying to figure out
basic boudoir photography Lighting, so I thought I would write a post describing
how I lit the photo below. Lighting seems hard when you are first starting out but it
is fairly simple once you get the hang of it. I think we tend to make it harder than
it really is by over thinking it. You have to learn to see the light and have a few tools
to control it. There is no magic lighting formula to teach you . Every situation is
different and light is always changing. I used to want someone to just show me where
to put the studio light so I could start shooting beautiful photos. Sorry, but that is not how
it works.
In the photo of the girl below I used two lights.
Using two helps add dimension to the image. The light on the back of her head is called
a hair light. Hair lights are no big mystery. Think of your strobe as a big flashlight.
If you had a flashlight and you wanted to light up the back of her head, where would you
point it? That’s right, at the back of her head! Your studio strobe can do the same thing
but you have to add a grid to it so you can narrow the beam of light. That way it lights up only
what you point it at and not the surrounding area.
What is a grid? There are different kinds, some are for your studio strobes
and others are made to use on soft boxes. I’ll show you both. Grids that fit on your
studio lights come in different sizes. The size you use determines the width of
your beam of light.
The photo below shows you the different sizes they come in which are
10, 20, 30 and 40 degrees The second photo shows the grid inserted into the reflector that comes
with your strobe. I happen to
use Alien Bee studio lights.
So, now you have the hair light shining on the back of her head. If it is too
bright turn the power down or move it farther away from your model. If it is
too dark turn up the power or move it closer. I check my exposure by taking a test
shot and looking at the back of my cameras LCD and checking the histogram to
determine if I’ve gotten the exposure correct. If I haven’t I adjust the camera
settings or my light settings, then take another test shot. I repeat this until I
get what I’m looking for.
Next I use a small soft box as my main light. I like my small 2′x2′ soft box with a grid for
boudoir photography. The first photo shows an octagon grid by its self. The second photo
shows the soft box without the grid and the third photo shows the grid attached to the soft
box by the Velcro on its sides. Never buy a soft box that won’t accept a grid. I made that
mistake once. The grids are easy to install and remove.
I usually placed my main light next to my left or right shoulder when I’m shooting
in this case it was my left shoulder. Again, to determine how bright I want my main
light I take a test shot. If the light is too dark I increase the power and if it is too
bright I decrease the power. It is that easy!
Boudoir Pose Ideas..
If you are just starting to shoot boudoir and you don’t own a lot of props or backdrops, you can still do wonders with nothing more than a few king size sheets. They come in a wide assortment of bright colors to chose from. The boudoir photos below were all shot in my Southern Maryland studio using large white sheets, an old white bedspread I had around the house and lots of window light. I ironed the sheets to remove most of the wrinkles but you could try wetting them and throwing them in the dryer with lots of fabric softener. You may still have to touch them up with a hot iron.
Why I’m not the cheapest wedding photographer in town and never will be.
I had a bride e-mail me recently saying she wish she would have used me to shoot her wedding. She didn’t like the direct, harsh, on camera flash used to light her reception photos, which were taken at Bowles farm, a reception venue here in St. Mary’s County. Two of the most popular places in St. Mary’s county for wedding receptions are also the darkest, Bowles farm and Hollywood fire house. I have the equipment and knowledge to handle most any lighting situation I run into and make it look good. I always use off camera lighting when I shoot in those two particular venues. That way I can avoid harsh on camera flash. I personally don’t know of any other photographer in our area that uses off camera lighting when necessary.
The bride was also disappointed that her photographer didn’t use photoshop the way I do. Most people don’t realize how much time I spend editing photos after the wedding. It’s one reason I will not drop my prices way down and compete with the lowest bidders. I put a lot of work into my photos and I take the extra time to make people look even more beautiful than they already do. 
Below are a few examples of images before and after photoshop.
I may be a bit more expensive but I think in the end, when you see your photos, you will feel it was well worth it to hire someone who takes a lot of pride in her work. Your photos are the one thing from your wedding day that will last for years and years. The food gets eaten the decorations end up in the trash but your photos live on forever and will be handed down from generation to generation.
Another Beautiful Wedding in Southern Maryland!
Amanda Laphew and Brendon Capoen were married on June 5th in Calvert County Maryland. Amanda was a Washington Redskins Cheer leader so you know she made a beautiful bride. The reception took place at the Colony South Hotel in Clinton Maryland. As far away from home as I was, I thought for sure I wouldn’t run into anyone I knew at this wedding but I was wrong. When I walked in the door there were Matt and Jason Long and my favorite DJ from Shubrooks Entertainment Marc. If you need a great DJ you should contact Marc. I’ve worked several weddings with him and he has always kept the weddings running smoothly and on time. He plays a great mix of music and is very professional. if you need someone to party with, then call Matt and Jason LOL. Amanda and Brendon, thanks for letting me be your photographer. I know you guys are anxious to see your photos so here are a few.
Are you a military wife? want sexy photos for your man?
Are you a military wife? Is your man deployed or soon to be deployed? Want to give him
something to remember you by and have him dying to get back home & into your arms again?
Then you may want to have some hot, sexy and fun boudoir photos taken. I’m running a summer time active duty military special. Only $199 for a 35 minute session and your choice of 6 images along with the low res watermarked files of those images on a DVD. Additional images are available for purchase.
Robin Owen Photography Southern Maryland wedding and boudoir photographer. Owner of the boudoir photographynetwork.com
These aren’t wedding or boudoir images but…
He is so adorable I just had to share them with you! We found him laying injured in our driveway, in the hot sun. My girls thought he was the cutest thing ever and took over nursing him back to health. Google is a great resource when you are trying to figure out what to feed a baby Opossum. They like puppy formula and mashed up cat food. After a few days we took him to the wildlife rescue center and let them take over his care. He had gotten quite attached to us and would hold onto our hand with his paws and tail when you would try to put him back in his box. I would have loved to have kept him as a pet but know he won’t stay cute and adorable for ever.
