Intimate Photoshoot for a Curvy Woman

While I love working with professional models, the most rewarding type of photoshoot for me is when I work with a "curvy girl."  Larger ladies are not treated well by our culture, so they are very appreciative when they see photos that make them look as sexy as they feel.  Perhaps you read my earlier blog post:  Photographing Curvy Women.

This episode of An Adventurous Photographer in Portland, Oregon is a follow up to that earlier post.  You will see how I do a photoshoot with a particular curvy client.  Many of the images you see on this web site are of professional models, but this lovely lady is a friend of mine who just happens to be quite the exhibitionist. You can enjoy viewing her photos and she enjoys having you view them.  It's truly a win-win situation!

We started the shoot with some simple poses using a very large umbrella to camera left, a large brolly box to camera right and two hair lights in the back corners of the studio.  The camera is a 5D Mark III and the lens is a Canon EF 70-300  F/4-5.6 IS set at 130mm.  This is normally considered a consumer-grade lens, not a professional lens, but I wanted to show a friend that you can do nice work with any lens if you know its limitations.

I refrained from my usual Photoshop tricks and processed these photos only in Lightroom.  I adjusted the exposure, color and added some vignetting to highlight the model.

This first photo is the only one that is technically safe for work.  After this one they are NSFW!

Curvy Girl Erotic Photoshoot 3

One of my favorite costume options is a simple man's dress shirt.  It can be used with a tie or without.  If possible, I ask the client to bring one of her husband's shirts that he will recognize in the photos.  It certainly sends a strong message! 

Curvy Girl Erotic Photoshoot 1

Notice how a change in head position and facial expression dramatically changes the mood of the next photo!

Curvy Girl Erotic Photoshoot 2

Everyone loves a girl wearing glasses and nothing else!

Curvy Girl Erotic Photoshoot 4Curvy Girl with Glasses

The next photo shows a classic pose for curvy girls.  Normally I would have thinned the arms a bit and retouched under the eyes with Photoshop, but I left this one unmodified for you.  This shot is with the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 lens, generally considered to be a much sharper lens than the zoom lens used in the images above.

Curvy Girl Erotic Photoshoot 5

Hubby gets in on the fun and the Fifty Shades of Gray Effect kicks in.  By this point in the shoot, everyone is happy and playful.  Shot with the Sigma 50 on the 5D Mark III.

Curvy Girl Erotic Photoshoot 6

Were you able to tell which lenses were used?  I didn't think so.  I could not tell without going back and looking at the EXIF data.  The most important factor in a successful photoshoot of this type is the chemistry between the photographer and the clients.

A Beyond Boudoir Photoshoot in a Century Old Portland Home

NSFW

Several weeks ago, I put out the word that I wanted to do some photoshoots in private homes so that I could post some photos on my blog.  Since the images of my paying clients are protected by my strict privacy policy, that means I needed to work with models who already have their images all over the net and are OK with me posting them here on my blog.

I had not worked with Floofie in a long time, but she remembered me when she saw my casting call on Model Mayhem.  Floofie is more than just an internationally famous model.   As I found out, she has a lovely old home in Portland that was built in 1906.  She also has two adorable cats that like posing for adventurous boudoir photographers.

When I do a house call, I have two types of shots that I always try to set up.  The first is by a large window that lets in soft daylight.  Sometimes it's tricky to get the light at the right angle without have something distracting in the background.  Floofie's great old house actually had two large windows, one in the living room and one in the kitchen.  It was a very cloudy day and the South facing windows cast a lovely diffused light.  Sitting in front of a South facing window with your hot coffee is something that Portlanders do to survive the long, cloudy winters.

Canon 40mm "pancake" lens at f/2.8 on Canon 5D3 at ISO 400, window light

Floofie Reading Portland MagazineFloofie looking seductive with her coffee and a copy of Portland Magazine

Canon 40mm "pancake" lens at f/2.8 on Canon 5D3 at ISO 400, window light

Portland Magazine, Best Bars - Model: FloofiePortland Magazine, Best Bars - Model: Floofie and cat pose in the Winter light.

Sigma 50mm at f/2.2 on Canon 5D3 at ISO 400, 1/160, window light

Canon 40mm "pancake" at f/2.8 on Canon 5D3 at ISO 400, 1/100, window light

Floofie Poses in the Winter LightA typical Portland girl enjoys the Winter light along with her coffee.

The second type of shot I like to do when I make house calls is more or less classic boudoir photography.  In this case,  the bedroom was just fine for some photos of Floofie on the bed.  There was no natural lighting, so I used a single Alien Bee B400 monolight with a modifier that the Brits call a Brolly Box.  It looks like a typical reflective umbrella, but it has translucent fabric across the opening like a soft box.   To me, it works just like a soft box, except that it's super-easy to set up and it is very efficient.  I rarely need more than 1/4 power.  You might notice that the second photo is a bit softer than the first.  That is entirely due to a shift of a single slider in Lightroom.

Sigma 50mm on Canon 5D3 at f/2.5, ISO 50, single brolly box on alien bee 400

Floofie with Cat in BoudoirA boudoir portrait using a single brolly box. NSFW

Sigma 50mm on Canon 5D3 at f/2.5, ISO 50, single brolly box on alien bee 400

Floofie with Cat in BoudoirFloofie poses with cat in the boudoir. Illuminated with single brolly box

We did one more scene in the kitchen, where I used the brolly box as a fill light to balance the light outdoors.  The trick here is to make sure the light does not reflect back at the camera in the window.  It took me a few tries to get the light positioned correctly.  This shot is actually a reject, since you can see the hexagonal shape of the brolly box in the window.   Again, this is with a single Alien Bee on a light stand to camera right.

Canon 85/1.8 on Canon 5D3 at f/2.5, ISO 100, brolly box on Alien Bee 400

Floofie in the KitchenA brolly box photo showing the shape of the light in the window reflection.

The next photo shows the result of proper placement of the brolly box in relation to the camera.  To remove the reflection, the light was raised much higher.  If this photo were for a client, I would probably remove some background distractions, but I wanted to leave it as shot for this blog post.

Canon 85/1.8 on Canon 5D3 at f/2.5, ISO 100, brolly box on Alien Bee 400

Floofie in the KitchenFloofie poses in the kitchen. Illuminated with single brolly box. Nudity, NSFW

If you like the concept of a boudoir photographer who makes house calls, you might enjoy reading an earlier blog post:  Beyond Boudoir Photo Makes a House Call

If you would like to follow Floofie's blog, you can find it here.

Stay tuned for the next episode of Tales of an Adventurous Photographer in Portland Oregon! 

Beyond Boudoir Photo Makes a House Call

Getting out of the studio and shooting in a different environment is a treat for a boudoir photographer.   That's why I make house calls.  Each house or apartment has different lighting, furniture and backgrounds.  It adds to the challenge and uses skills that aren't needed in the studio.  I have also found that my clients are usually more comfortable in their own home than they are if they drive to my studio.  It doesn't take as long for them to warm up and enjoy the shoot.

Another advantage is that the home environment reflects the personality of the subject.  The way a person decorates their home says a lot about their personality and capturing a client's personality is my primary goal.

Due to my strict privacy policy, I can't share most of my house call photos, so I arranged to do a photoshoot in the home of a friend who is a model and is happy to share her images with you.  If you are a photographer and would like to contact her, she has a profile on Model Mayhem.

The first four photos you see below are a nice example of what you can do with simple daylight coming in the window on a cloudy Winter day.

Budoir in WinterPortland girl looking out a winter window

Portland girl by a Winter window with book and coffeeBeyond Boudoir Photo makes house calls!

Warning!  NSFW below this point!

The photos below are obviously in the bedroom and more of a traditional boudoir style.  These were illuminated with a single strobe and softbox.  When shooting boudoir poses in an actual bedroom, you really have to watch out for distracting objects in the background.  If the bedroom is small, it can limit the places where the photographer can stand.   Photographing a woman in her own bedroom may detract slightly from the technical perfection of the photos, but I think it more than makes up for that by creating images that seem more intimate and relaxed.

Portland girl on her own bedBeyond Boudoir Photo makes house calls. Women are often more comfortable posing in their own homes.

A Portland Boudoir PhotoshootSexy portland girl nude. A Portland boudoir photoshoot.

If you would like to have me do a house call for you, use the contact form to send me an email!

Photographing Couples From Distant States 

I do all sorts of photoshoots for people, from guys with their beloved motorcycle to couples who wish to record their erotic passion for each other.    It's the latter that provides the basis for this blog post.   Most of the shoots I do for couples are for folks who live in the area, but there is a definite trend toward couples traveling a long distance.  

The couples often come from about two states away (or Canada) and have another reason to be visiting Portland.  They seem to live in smaller cities in conservative areas.  We may be looking at a case of "what happens in Portland, stays in Portland."  If you think about it, finding an erotica-friendly photographer you feel comfortable with in your small home town would be pretty close to impossible.  Flying to a distant city and working with someone who doesn't know you at all must seem pretty attractive by comparison.  By using search engines, it's easy to research photographers in any city you wish and pick one to trade some messages with.  A few emails, a phone call, and a PayPal transaction is all it takes.

 The Fifty Shades of Grey Effect 

The couples I'm seeing are well-off, professional types.  Usually, they are over 40, but in very good shape.  Understandably, they are especially concerned about the security of their private images and they appreciate my strict policies regarding privacy.  Most have recently read "Fifty Shades of Grey,"  which features many scenes in Portland.   Perhaps just a coincidence?

Sometimes the husband/boyfriend just wants to sit back and watch his lovely lady enjoy her photoshoot, but more often they want to get wild together.  Either way is fine with me, as long as they are having fun.  

Hotel Room Photoshoots

I recently did a shoot like this for a couple who was staying in a very expensive downtown hotel.  It's interesting how some couples from out of town want to come to my studio and some want me to come to their hotel.   It may just depend on how they arrived in Portland.  If they drove their car, it's easy for them to get to my place.  If they are using public transportation to get around, it's easier for me to come to them.

Hotel shoots are fun for me, as it gets me out of the studio and lets me explore my creativity.  No worries about bad weather!  Another aspect that is fun for me is the idea that nobody else in the hotel knows that I'm there to do a naughty photoshoot.

Did I watch too many James Bond movies in my youth?    I prefer to think that I'm helping to protect my client's privacy.   For this shoot, I dressed as a fashionable traveling businessman.  My lighting gear went into a wheeled suitcase instead of my usual photo equipment case.   I fit in perfectly and did not get a second glance from any of the hotel staff.

I met with the couple in the bar before going to their room.   It was a lovely room with elaborate wallpaper and pillows sufficient for a platoon of boudoir models.   I politely declined a glass of wine, as I need to keep a clear head while working.  A member of the hotel staff knocked on the door to ask if we needed anything, so I stepped back out of view for a moment.   Then it was time to set up my portable lighting equipment and begin creating sexy images.

My clients were great fun - mature professional folks like myself, so we immediately felt comfortable with each other. While we were shooting, the lady mentioned that she had read all the books of the Fifty Shades series, which led to some interesting photo ideas.

Before leaving, I gave them some ideas for fun places to visit in Portland.  They already had some great restaurants scoped out, so I recommended  Voodoo Doughnuts,  Lush and Escential Oils.   I'm sure they had a very memorable visit.    

I sent them one photo by email the next morning, then processed the rest over the next two days so the images were waiting when they got home.   They picked their favorites and let me know I could delete the files.   I felt quite honored when they sent me this nice review to share with you:

Our photo shoot was a gift of trust, but in the end it was much more. It was a playful connection of love for each other and our bodies--as is. There we were, in the raw, and BeyondBoudoirPhoto was private, professional and fun. We chose several sensual erotic photos that we did not even want photo-shopped because he did such a good job. I wish we had done this years ago. These photos are sacred treasures for us. Do not hesitate, just go for it! Using the art of photography is a healthy and beautiful way to express yourself. We are so happy we found BeyondBoudoirPhoto. We highly recommend this photographer. Who knew how hot we could look!  -Anonymous 

 Sorry, no images in this blog post.  Privacy comes first you know!

Photographing Curvy Women

NSFW  18+

Boudoir Photography comes with a built in contradiction.  The vast majority of photos that you see on photographer's websites are of thin, young, models.  But many of the potential clients who can afford to pay for a professional photoshoot are older and heavier.  Most have had children, some have old injuries, surgical scars and other signs of an active life.  

Many photographers, especially those who are just starting out, have trouble photographing large women.  Before I decide how to photograph a woman of size, I ask some questions and get to know her.   I think it's critical to talk to the client and find out what her goal is.  Some women are very comfortable with their bodies and don't want me to hide anything, but most appreciate it if I work my magic.

Perhaps she wants to show her large derriere, but not her stretch marks.  Her voluptuous bosom, but not her double chin.  Each client is unique and deserves to set her own priorities.  Of course this is challenging for the photographer, but that just makes it more fun.  One downside to photographing curvy women is that the percentage of "keepers" from the shoot will be a lot lower than a shoot with a thin model.  It's just the nature of this genre.  When you get a few great images, you appreciate them all the more for the challenge.

The most popular approach is to minimize her size and her "flaws" with the usual tricks:  makeup, age and size appropriate posing, cropping, draping, lighting, corsets, photoshopping, etc...

An example of an alternative approach is the late Leonard Nimoy's "The Full Body Project."  (Yes our own Mr. Spock was an avid photographer when he wan't saving the galaxy.)  He has some great photos, but I notice his subjects don't look very happy.  Nimoy makes no effort at all to flatter his subjects or get them to smile.  You can tell he is an artist trying to make a statement and not a photographer trying to please his clients!

I rarely meet women of size who are as comfortable in their skin as the ladies photographed by Mr. Nimoy.  I can do that style, but it feels strange.  I'm more comfortable making my clients look their best according to my own taste, but the client's wishes take precedence.

Here are some images where I have used various posing techniques to make larger ladies look their best.  The well-posed photos are on the right.  Normally, you would never see the photos on the left and frankly, it was rather difficult for me to post them here.  It goes against my artistic instincts!

Black and White Photography in Boudoir and Portraiture

NSFW, 18+

Clients often ask me if we can shoot some of their intimate photos in black and white.  It has been said that an erotic photo in black and white is automatically considered art, whereas the same photo in full color is more likely to be considered offensive by some viewers.

Most modern digital cameras have the option of saving images as black and white, but I don't know any photographer who does it that way.  We save all of our images in color, then use software on our computer to convert the color image to black and white.  So you don't have to decide in advance which one you want.  You can have either one or both and you can change your mind later!

Removing the color from a photo affects how our brain perceives the image and the way we feel about it.  It simplifies the image.

Eliminating color cues forces our brain to analyze the image based only on shapes and the degree of brightness.  We can't see that the model is blushing and we can't tell if she has olive skin or brown skin.   We can't see that the room behind her is decorated in pastel feminine colors or that she has orange/red lipstick.  But we can tell if she has feminine curves and a nice smile.  In fact, since other cues are removed, those things things really stand out to us.

This concept is used heavily in art nude photography.  The model is often posed on a black or featureless background, so her body is the only object you see.   It's all about shapes, curves and shadows, like this:

Here is an example of a photo in which conversion to black and white eliminates the distraction of bright green forest colors in the background.  Once again, this helps to focus our attention on the model and provides a more dramatic look.

Contrast and brighness:

When converting color images to black and white, there is often a button to click that appears to do the whole job automatically.  Unfortunately, the resulting image usually looks pretty boring and ordinary.  It's up to the photographer to manipulate the brightness and contrast to get the desired look.  In current software like Lightroom and Photoshop, a lot of this manipulation is done with "sliders" on the screen that you move right and left.  The changes are applied to the entire image.   The trick is knowing what each slider really does.  You might use up to a dozen different sliders to create a nice looking black and white image.   If that doesn't do the job, there are lots more options!

Modern software also allows the photographer to change the brightness of certain objects in the image.  This is especially useful in a black and white photo, since brightness is now the main visual cue.

Here is an example of a rather cluttered photo before and after adjustment.  I changed the tonal values to emphasize parts of the photo that I felt were most important.  Which one do you like better?

Tinting:

The most recognized form of tinting is called sepia tone.  In the old days of chemical darkrooms, the print was placed in a bath of rather poisonous chemicals to give it a pleasing brownish tone before it was washed and dried.  I sometimes like to use a sepia-like tone on photos that show a lot of skin, since it gives a warmer, more lifelike look.

Erotic model DakiniErotic model Dakini

Grain:

Most of us still remember old fashioned film photography.  Many famous black and white photos taken up until around 1980 were quite grainy, due to the grains of silver halide on the film.  We now associate this look with the great photographs of the past.   It's another way to change the emotions evoked by an image.

It is easy to add grain to a photo these days, just by moving a few sliders during post-processing.  I sometimes combine grain with a bit of a tint as well.  If I'm feeling really artistic, I'll allow some of the original color to come back into the photo in specific areas.  Notice the lips on the lovely model below - just a hint of the original color.

Thanks for letting me share my art with you!  If you are interested in a photoshoot for yourself or your partner, please use the contact page to drop me a note.