Not everyone is up for the challenge of a boudoir photography outside the studio! And I do not blame them, getting down to your undies while shoo-wing off our Minnesota misquotes is just not for everyone.
Even photographers who are accustomed to shooting in their studios find boudoir outdoors to be a bit unruly. But today I will be unveiling how we pulled off these ethereal and moody portraits with just the light of the sun.
Those who find Mother Nature’s artwork to be unmatched, no studio can recreate the awesomeness of being outside for your photoshoot.
This Summer I wanted to highlight two photoshoots that ventured out into the wild: Felicia’s Water Lily shoot and Sarah’s “RIP to my 20’s” photoshoot
Sarah celebrated the beginning of a new decade with a Rest In Peace to my 20’s Shoot. She wanted boudoir photography outside the studio with a gothic, mourning, witchy vibes and I think we delivered!
For the budding photographer who wishes to photograph in the boudoir style outdoors I have a few recommendations. First place your subject in an evenly lit area. See the first image in this set? I did not position my subject in ‘even lighting’. You can tell because her face is much more shadowy and softer than her chest. To avoid the harsh sun seek shade!
Don’t be afraid to break this rule as I did below…sometimes it works! If you’re just starting out however big trees that provide shade will be your friend.
Start your shoot in the early morning or afternoon to avoid direct sunlight. In the following images, we photographed at golden and blue hour to achieve extra soft light.
Felicia and I worked together on an idea she had to be photographed submerged in the water with lily pads floating around her.
My favorite photo settings for boudoir photography would be f/1.4 – f/5.6
Shutter speed doesn’t matter much to me, I just set it above 1/100 to avoid camera shake
I set my ISO camera setting to anything between ISO 64 – 2,000. With my Nikon Z7 I could go even higher with the ISO but I don’t often find myself in situations where that’s necessary.
In terms of camera settings and set-up, everyone always wants to know about the gear. The lenses I use are strictly prime lenses. I have 3 of them which are often known to be the trifecta of portrait photography: 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm. If you have lenses near this focal length i.e. 55 instead of 50 stick with what you have! Don’t trade in your lenses just to get exactly the one others recommend. You’ll find your preference over time.
I often find myself wanting to work with water, (for example my Rain on Me Set) I think it comes back to my appreciation for bringing our bodies close to nature. Anyone who suggests shooting in a lake, pond, or river will always get a ‘yes’ from me!
As I am writing this, Summer is coming to a close, the time is fast approaching when we won’t be able to run around outside barefooted or splashing around in a lake. In Minnesota our time for these secluded outdoor boudoir shoots is limited. If the idea has piqued your interest, be sure to plan ahead and reach out now. Summer is always busy for us photographers, and although my books may not be open yet for Summer, I keep a running list of who wants to be photographed in which season.
Time for your greatest adventure
Nothing is stronger than the love you cultivate for yourself. Once you start putting YOU first no one can stop you. Take the first step by reaching out.
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