Are you ready for some boudoir portrait photography on a rooftop? Come on everyone, you gotta get out of your comfort zone a little and do something different with your boudoir photography and boudoir posing. To me, these are more environmental portraits that your clients will love. Different is what sells. In this photography tutorial, I show you how to work with the light, both hard and soft backlit and a reflector, to create truly stunning portraits.
Equipment Used:
Camera: Canon EOS R5
Lens: Canon RF50 f1.2
Light: Natural Light
Team:
Photographer: Sal Cincotta
Model: Violet Deardorff
Hair & Makeup: Brandi Patton, Refine Beauty
What’s up, everyone? My name is Sal Cincotta and today we are doing environmental boudoir portraits.
All right, so when it comes to boudoir portraits, I am so tired of seeing the same pictures, the same scene, same set. Somebody’s in a bed, somebody’s laying over a couch, somebody’s laying down the stairs with their ass up in the sky. That is not what we like doing for our clients. So for me, I’m more of a boudoir style environmentalist. Is that even a … I feel like I just made that up, but we’re going with it. I’m an environmentalist, guys. I believe in saving the boudoir environment. But on a serious note, what I like to do is take environmental, bigger pictures. Of course we’re going to get some tighter ones, but I love showing off the environment. That’s what we’re going to do today.
We have access to this incredible rooftop. I’m going to work with one lens today, Canon RF 50 mm F1.2. We’ve got this great sunset, so we’re going to get some soft light, we’re going to backlight it. We’ve got a reflector. It’s really easy to work with, but I’m going to challenge you boudoir photographers to get out there and do something different. So, let’s get to it.
Settings: f/1.2 @ 1/200, ISO 50
Settings: f/1.2 @ 1/200, ISO 50
Settings: f/1.2 @ 1/200, ISO 50
Settings: f/1.2 @ 1/200, ISO 50
All right, so I’m going to get up in here. I’m getting this gorgeous warm light. Overexposing just about a quarter of a stop here just to kind of emphasize that warm tone, and then I’m using a warm reflector.
So now I’ve gotten that full mid shot, if you will. Now I’m going to come back here and just really showcase the environment.
Settings: f/1.2 @ 1/200, ISO 50
Settings: f/1.2 @ 1/200, ISO 50
Settings: f/1.2 @ 1/200, ISO 50
Settings: f/1.2 @ 1/200, ISO 50
Now, I know what you’re thinking, like, “Hey Sal, Violet, super skinny, slender. My clients aren’t built that way.” It doesn’t matter. You can still take your client and put them in a different environment where we can do some really cool things with them and showcase different elements and textures. I just think it makes for a better portrait. That’s my opinion. I think you’re seeing the results. These are beautiful, beautiful pictures that are being backlit.
Now we’re going to work with some harder light, a little more texture to really drive the point home. I’m really working with this light here.
Settings: f/1.2 @ 1/200, ISO 50
Settings: f/1.2 @ 1/200, ISO 50
Settings: f/1.2 @ 1/200, ISO 50
Settings: f/1.2 @ 1/200, ISO 50
I’m getting this beautiful sliver of light. I’m just working with the shadows that are here. Just doing really cool stuff.
Settings: f/1.2 @ 1/200, ISO 50
Settings: f/1.2 @ 1/200, ISO 50
So that’s one outfit. One of the things I like to do is have multiple outfits in a location just to give your client as many looks as possible. So I hope you’re digging what we’re getting here. Again, very environmental, outdoors, working with the lights and the elements. It is chilly as we’re filming this and so I’ve got a hoodie on, but Violet is a trooper there, and so of course your clients will have to be in for it. But I’m telling you, I’ve got clients all the time who are like, “I want to do something different,” and when you start showing them this kind of work in your portfolio, that is the key. Put it in your portfolio so you can show your clients. Maybe you are working with a model, maybe you are working with some of your clients that are a little more adventurous, but if you have it in your portfolio, I promise you this will stand out from other photographers’ work when it comes to boudoir work, and ultimately you’ll make more money. Let’s get her into the second outfit.
Settings: f/1.2 @ 1/200, ISO 50
Settings: f/1.2 @ 1/200, ISO 50
Settings: f/1.2 @ 1/200, ISO 50
Settings: f/1.2 @ 1/200, ISO 50
Settings: f/1.2 @ 1/200, ISO 50
All right. Everybody, hoped you loved this video. We had a great time with Violet as always. Like, comment, subscribe. Let us know which one was your favorite image, and we will see you in the next video. Peace.
Settings: f/1.2 @ 1/200, ISO 50
Settings: f/1.2 @ 1/200, ISO 50
Settings: f/1.2 @ 1/200, ISO 50
Settings: f/1.2 @ 1/200, ISO 50
Settings: f/1.2 @ 1/200, ISO 50
Settings: f/1.2 @ 1/200, ISO 50
Settings: f/1.2 @ 1/200, ISO 50
Settings: f/1.2 @ 1/200, ISO 50
Settings: f/1.2 @ 1/200, ISO 50
Settings: f/1.2 @ 1/200, ISO 50
Settings: f/1.2 @ 1/200, ISO 50
