Boudoir photography is a growing industry, and more people are taking up the art of seducing. But if you’re thinking that it’s all about having sex with someone and getting paid in cash, think again! There’s so much more to boudoir photography than that—and it can be rewarding in many ways, as well as fun and challenging.
Start by helping out at boudoir shoots.
If you have the time, it can be a great way to build your portfolio and get experience. You might even end up with some amazing clients who are willing to pay for your services!
There are many ways that you can offer your help at boudoir shoots. You could volunteer for free or for a small fee, which is what I did when I first started out. There are also paid opportunities where you’ll be expected to set up gear and assist with lighting and posing during shoots (this doesn’t always mean that much experience though).
Work as an assistant to a boudoir photographer.
If you’re interested in starting a boudoir photography business, it can be helpful to learn from someone who has been doing this for years.
- Work as an assistant to a boudoir photographer.
- Learn how to shoot a boudoir session, edit photos and market yourself online.
Book some boudoir photography sessions of your own.
- Be prepared to take a lot of photos. There’s no way around it—you’ll be taking about 150 to 200 shots for each boudoir session, so make sure your equipment is up to the task. If you don’t have what it takes already, go ahead and buy some new cameras and lenses for your studio!
- Have a plan for dealing with clients who are nervous or uncomfortable during their photo shoot (or even after).
- This could include making sure that they have time alone before coming into the studio so they can relax and get comfortable with what’s going on around them; giving them instructions on how things will work; having someone else in charge of making sure everyone gets all their shots taken without being rushed by someone else who wants in on the action; offering water bottles as well as snacks if needed (and maybe even champagne!).
- You can also use this time period as an opportunity to practice shooting boudoir photography on yourself so that when clients come over there will be nothing holding them back from enjoying themselves fully!
Build a portfolio of your best work.
Building a portfolio of your best work is important. You need a portfolio that showcases the best of your work and also shows the range of what you can do.
A good way to do this is by having a folder on your computer containing all of the images you have taken in the last year or so, sorted into folders based on type (portrait, wedding, etc.), subject matter (family pets), theme/concept (sports teams), etc.. The idea here is not only to have these images organized but also make sure they’re easy-to-find when looking through them later on.
Build a brand that stands out.
Branding is one of the most important aspects of any business. It’s a way to stand out from the crowd and tell people what you do, where you come from and who you are.
Brand building comes in many forms including:
- What is your logo? How does it look on a t-shirt or coffee mug? How do people react when they see your logo on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook or Twitter? Does everyone else have one too? Is there something unique about yours that makes it memorable (for example: if someone has never seen anything like your business before).
- What is the name of your website/blog/online presence such as Facebook page or domain name (e-mail address)? If there isn’t one yet then start thinking about how best would describe this online presence so others know exactly what kind of service / product / company etcetera just like Google knows what type of search results will appear when someone types “tutorials video editing software”.
- The quality of your work sets the standards for your brand as well. Nearly all of us know what a ‘Big Mac’ is supposed to taste like regardless of which store we buy it at. That is a big part of the brand Your photos with your lighting and shooting style and consistency will be the marker of your brand and what your clients will pay for.
Learn How to Use Off Camera Flash!
Lighting is one of the most important parts of any photo shoot. If you don’t know how to light, you’re going to be left with some pretty bad-looking photos that won’t sell well on social media or in print.
I know that it’s often popular to use “natural” lighting these days; but that is amateur level photography. Knowing how to use flash ensures you will be able to do your photoshoot in any environment, under any conditions. Flash will also help your images pop and bring out detail in what your clients are wearing. After all they usually wear things with a lot of detail. It’s great to see them.
Good lighting is what is going to help make sure you spend less time working after your photo-shoot. It will also be one of the things that will separate you from many other photographers in your area.
Give clients an experience they’ll want to recommend to others.
You will want to make sure that the style and content of your boudoir photography is something that your clients are comfortable with. If they are not, you may get few, if any clients at all. It’s important to be passionate about what you do, but it’s also good practice to keep things simple and straightforward so as not to overwhelm anyone. Remember: no one wants an awkward photo shoot!
Lastly, it is important for any business owner (especially those in this industry) who wants their work seen by others around them should have a good understanding on how exactly someone should look like when being photographed.
This can mean researching models before booking any appointments; to help build a portfolio of work and also for marketing materials. It also allows you to refine your shooting process and how quickly you can work with each client and what lighting works with your shooting area.
This will allow you to refine the photography experience your clients have and get when you get paying clients in front of your camera. After all, you’re asking people to spend (hopefully) thousands of dollars with you. Believe me when I say they’re paying as much for the experience as they are the images you take.
Boudoir photography can be rewarding in many ways, but it’s not for everyone.
Boudoir is a niche market. It’s not for everyone, and it can be challenging to find clients. You need to be comfortable with and open-minded about the idea of having nudity in front of the camera. If you’re looking for an easy way out of debt or just want some extra cash on the side, boudoir photography isn’t right for you!
Boudoir photography is a field that can be rewarding in many ways. You can help women feel more confident about their bodies, and you have the opportunity to create something beautiful that will last for years.
However, it’s not for everyone. If this kind of work doesn’t appeal to you at all then don’t worry about it!
There are plenty of other things out there waiting for people like yourself who just want to make some extra money on the side.
