Should We have our erotic photoshoot in the photo studio or in a hotel room?

Updated: March 22, 2023

That is the question I am frequently asked by out-of-town couples who are seeking an erotic couple's photoshoot.

In order to decide which is best, I often have to exchange a few emails with potential clients.  So to save time I've created this blog post to help you decide for yourself.  You can still ask me questions, of course!

Before we start, let me remind those who live in the Portland region that I do make house calls.  If you have a nice bedroom at your place and a few hours of privacy, that may be your best option.   Now, on to the main question.

My studio offers certain advantages, so let's discuss that first.  

The studio allows us to control the light and the background which allows us greater freedom to create certain classic artistic looks that affect the feel of the photos.   For example, we can use strong lighting and a white backdrop to create what is called a "high key" image, like this one:

I like using the high key technique for models with dark skin or dark hair.  Pale models tend to look a bit lost, so I will often pose them against a black backdrop like this:

There are many lighting options in the studio, such as backlighting to highlight the smoke in this photo:

Some people don't like photos posed in front of fabric backdrops.  They'd rather see the model (or themselves) in a real room, so the photo seems more real to them.  In that case, I don't put up a fabric backdrop at all.  The end of my studio often has interesting objects which are rendered slightly out of focus to help give a sense of depth and reality.

My studio has another window in addition to the one you see above.  This one faces South, which gives us a number of fun options with natural sunlight.  If the day is sunny, the blinds can be adjusted to give interesting striped shadows like this:

I can also pose my subject very close to the window to take advantage of the soft natural daylight.  This works best on cloudy days.

I could go on forever about this, but I think it's time to point out the most important thing the studio lacks -  a bed!  That may not be a big problem for a solo shoot, but for couples who want to get intimate, it's a serious limitation.

That's why I've gotten very good at shooting in vacation rental homes and hotel rooms.  This hotel shot was lit with two Godox AD200 portable strobe units using soft light diffusers called "shoot through" umbrellas.

I have had very good results shooting in larger vacation rental homes.  Avoid the little apartments and single rooms, you want a full size house.  Here are a few examples: 

I really can't create these exact looks in my studio, because the settings are unique.

In the last couple of years, I've upgraded my portable lighting system to the point that I can essentially duplicate my sophisticated studio lighting effects in any indoor location.  I also like to shoot during the day to take advantage of flattering window light, if there is any.

So the choice is yours!  It depends on what activities you wish to do in front of the camera and what kind of look you want.  My experience suggests that in general, solo shoots work a little better in the studio and intimate couple's shoots are best done in an upscale Airbnb home or their own home.

Whatever you choose, I will make sure you get great photos to give to your lover or to create archival evidence of your passion for each other.  Use the contact form or email me at:  [email protected]  to schedule your own private photoshoot.