Hello Friend! Critsey here, owner and lead photographer of Couture Boudoir®. Photography has always been a passion of mine. Even before I started a career in this field, I have always been a “photographer” the girl with a camera at parties and family affairs. There was even a time when I photographed my friends for fashion portraits in junior high and high school. It was just a matter of perseverance, determination, and trial and error to turn it from “passion projects” to a full-time career.
Boudoir photography has always been my favorite genre of photography because it captures a woman and showcases unique details and characters that she may not even see in herself. That is why boudoir can be so empowering. Doing boudoir photoshoots encourages your subjects or models to confidently embrace and love their bodies and form.
I evolved into boudoir photography through weddings before boudoir was popular. I started with bridal boudoir. As one of my brides was getting ready, I took photos of her wearing her bridal lingerie. I shared one of the images on my blog and it grew from there. In the last few years, the boudoir genre has exploded. Not only are brides opting to have sexy portraits taken but women from all walks of life. I am most inspired by my clients themselves. I love photographing all different types of body shapes and sizes and being creative in telling their story with my camera. Eventually, I was able to come up with my own style.
Why I utilize mirrors and reflections in my Boudoir photo shoots
It’s sexy – it gives a seductive feel to a shot since there is a twofold illusion
Posing with ease – it makes it easier for your subjects to strike poses because they can see how they look in the mirror and can adjust their position accordingly. It also gives them an extra boost of confidence since they feel comfortable seeing themselves in the mirror
For creativity – you can come up with many different poses, scenarios, and vibes in one shoot or location alone. Eg. You can make her lie on the bed while reflecting just parts of her body on a mirror by the wall. You can also have her lie on the couch and reflect her body from the glass table. By adjusting posing, lighting, colors, and even lingerie it changes the overall character of the image. This gives you room to attempt to create different stories with this.
Another beauty of utilizing mirrors is that they reflect and spread light evenly. So when your subject is facing the mirror, it is best to place the light from the side facing towards the mirror and your subject at a slight angle. The light will bounce off from the reflective surface to your subject’s face.
It’s intriguing – Using a mirror can add a bit of a mystery to your shots. Imagine placing your subject next to a mirror and only reflecting her body – it makes you curious. Adding these portrayals to your images makes your viewers more curious about the stories within your photos.
For elegance – Creating a minimalist and chic style for your photographs.
Create balance – This can either be symmetrical or asymmetrical balance depending on the material you will use (Eg. A large wall mirror usually creates symmetrical balance; on the other hand, unusually shaped mirrors or circular mirrors create asymmetrical balance). Since you are using reflections to create intriguing boudoir photographs, you are creating a twofold image. Either way, it creates harmony for your photographs.
It makes it easier for subjects (especially those who aren’t professional models) to pose if they can see what they look like in the mirror – one of the many benefits of using reflection.
What you can look into in order to apply this style in your photographs
Mirrors and windows can be used to create interesting pieces of art of your subject. If the mirror is ornate or interesting the photographer may shoot directly into the mirror only capturing the mirror and subject. Double mirrors can also be used for an interesting perspective of the subject by placing them in line with both mirrors. This creates an infinity mirror. Any reflective surface (Glassdoor, windows, tables, television, etc.) can be used to capture your subject by placing them close to the surface and finding the best angle for your shot. You need to take lighting into consideration in order to achieve the best possible shot to capture sharp reflection. Windows may be used to capture your subject’s reflection or the reflection from outside showcasing the landscape.
Using flash or a constant light source to capture your subject and the reflective scene outside the window is also another creative way to use window reflections.
Sometimes I shoot from the inside of the room and capture both the cityscape and the reflection of the model bouncing on the window glass or vice versa.
When photographing your subject in the mirror use different focus points on your subject. Focus on the subject in the mirror and then focus your subject outside the mirror. You can also sometimes just focus on certain parts of the body and decide whether to focus the lens there or not. Focus points greatly impact the photograph due to either the softness or sharpness it brings.
The best creative approach for shooting with mirrors/glass and reflective surfaces is using different angles for a creative perspective. Don’t just shoot straight ahead. Shoot from the side, from below, from above, try multiple angles, and be as creative as possible until you get the image that makes your heart sing.
All of my photo shoots are on location – typically, in hotels or B&Bs. I prefer the look of being on location over being in a studio. It is easy to choose alternative styles like modern or traditional depending on the look I am going for. The benefit of this is that there’s usually always a full-length or extra-large mirror in these types of locations. Aside from that there is usually a large TV, glass separators for the bathroom, and large glass windows that I can always use. It’s just easier for me to conduct Boudoir photoshoots in hotel rooms because it has almost everything that I could possibly need for this style. Rooms are also usually properly lit, which every photographer can make use of.
Pose coaching is key
For boudoir – pose coaching is a big part of helping the client feel comfortable and look amazing for their photos. Instead of directing them to pose, I show them exactly what to do and in some cases, I will stand or pose opposite and tell them to mirror what I am doing. I also sometimes let my model pose in front of a mirror so they can see what their body looks like in different poses. Often, they come up with beautiful forms that I photograph while they test out different poses.
It is important for you to find your own style in this genre. That is why I create books like “Boudoir Photography- The Complete Guide To Shooting Intimate Portraits“, to inspire and hopefully encourage other photographers to try Boudoir Photography and help them grow in their craft.
There you have it! You can bring this new style to your next photo shoot. The next time you feel like you are running out of ideas, scout the entire room and see what you can make use of to create reflective images in order to bring a new sexy quality to your boudoir photographs.
About Critsey Rowe
Critsey Rowe of Couture Boudoir® works with clients to create beautiful boudoir images that make them feel more confident about themselves and like many portrait shooters, she likes to tell a story about people. And when it comes to boudoir portraits, each woman has their own unique and specific story.
Critsey is an experienced, internationally published, and leading expert in boudoir photography who has dedicated her career to helping women feel comfortable and beautiful. Her commitment to excellence and innovation has earned her a loyal following and solidified her reputation as one of the top boudoir photographers in the world.
She is the author of “Boudoir Photography- The Complete Guide To Shooting Intimate Portraits“. Critsey has taught boudoir workshops and seminars across the nation and abroad. She’s been featured in magazines, on television, and podcasts talking about her work. It goes without saying that she is a photographer who is well respected in the industry.
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Website: www.coutureboudoir
Email: Hello@coutureboudoir.com
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Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/critseyrowe
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