Boudoir lighting

[jstokes02]

I am starting to get into boudoir shooting but have no clue where to start with lighting. I think I would need something simple to start off with any suggestions?

[srwatters]

It's all about the mood you want to set to match the wardrobe, pose, and expression. Personally, I'm a big fan of huge softboxes with and without grids. I use a 3x4' rectangle or 5' and 7' octagons. If I want to go more retro styled in B&W, then a beauty or Mola dish (again with or without a grid) can make some wonderful images.

Have fun!

[jstokes02]

Originally Posted by srwatters

It's all about the mood you want to set to match the wardrobe, pose, and expression. Personally, I'm a big fan of huge softboxes with and without grids. I use a 3x4' rectangle or 5' and 7' octagons. If I want to go more retro styled in B&W, then a beauty or Mola dish (again with or without a grid) can make some wonderful images.

Have fun!

Would you happen to have a link to what you mentioned? I am really needing a light to highlight her. Using a speedlight stinks and natural light can be tricky. Thanks!

[srwatters]

I use some fairly high end studio strobes. If you're just getting started, you might consider renting. My 7' octobox (Westcott), strobe (Hensel), and stand (Matthews) add up to about $2k, but you can get started with much less. A single light, stand, and softbox could run as little as $500 from Alien Bee, but you'll also need a light meter and a few other goodies.

There are also a bunch of folks that are 'strobists' that could help you use your speedlight off camera also. My suggestions were based on what I have and use.

[jstokes02]

Originally Posted by srwatters

I use some fairly high end studio strobes. If you're just getting started, you might consider renting. My 7' octobox (Westcott), strobe (Hensel), and stand (Matthews) add up to about $2k, but you can get started with much less. A single light, stand, and softbox could run as little as $500 from Alien Bee, but you'll also need a light meter and a few other goodies.

There are also a bunch of folks that are 'strobists' that could help you use your speedlight off camera also. My suggestions were based on what I have and use.

Thanks! Hopefully someone else will jump in with "cheaper" options for a beginner, but appreciate your help and will check all that out :-)

[tukaniray]

I second the idea of renting before buying.

Because you would hate buying equipment that only suites you at first, but as you grow as a Photographer, you will wish you had those better lights.

And rental of lights is not expensive at all and the rental places have such a large variety that you could rent the Good Stuff for a good price.

If you are thinking about buying look into Kits or if separate you'll need a Key and a fill at least (fill could act as a rim light as well).

Good luck with you decision.

Rent, Save, then buy what you really want.

-Ray-

[PeteQ]

Well, you really don't need anything but a good eye. A lot of boudoir is being shot all natural light. Here's one example where you can see that much of the shooting is taking place with no auxiliary lighting. Link to YouTube


She does go on to use a video light later but again, you can do a lot with natural lighting. Here's another link to some great work and she shoots a lot of natural light: Honeybourne Intimates

And our own lscott does amazing work as well and I believe she is a minimalist when it comes to lighting.

One of the benefits of using natural light or "hot" lights is that you can really see where the light is falling. I saw the Boudoir Divas do a demo where they had two lights similar to these and they did amazing work. A couple of inexpensive floodlights, and some diffusion material or a reflector that can double as a diffuser can go a long way to getting started.

You don't need a lot of expensive gear to produce beautiful work. Taking the time to see the light is much more important.

[toverman]

I've never done boudoir, but posing/expression makes the difference between sensual and alluring vs. cheap and tawdry as much as the right lighting does.

[klynam]

Contact Captain Tom on here or check out his site - he and another person started doing this recently...

[Chartt]

Have you considered a dimmable video light? Not expensive, easy to use for a beginner and the light can be modified easily with home made accessories. like snoot, etc.

[CaptainTom]

Just did a shoot in the clients house using a lot of ambient light and one AB with a Brolly Box to balance. Can't post examples until the finals are presented to the client.
Just KISS and look at your preview often. Make each image better than the previous one.

Shot Boudoir in the studio today, but I think that goes beyond your current needs. I'll post some in Human Form when I get them finished. look at Texas Boudoir Portraits.

[Dobick]

Originally Posted by jstokes02

Would you happen to have a link to what you mentioned? I am really needing a light to highlight her. Using a speedlight stinks and natural light can be tricky. Thanks!

I think Mike and Cody of Tricoast would disagree about the speedlight.

You can do a lot with one or two of them and make some really dynamic images that bring a lot of attention to the subject.

Another very inexpensive option would be natural light with reflectors (a reflector can be anything from a white sheet, foam board, foam board with tin foil, to a mirror. Find a room with a single window, and depending on how much light you let through (and what you block off from hitting the subject directly) along with a single reflector, and you can pretty much craft any lighting that you want.

[txphotog]

Look in the workshop section of this forum- next time Tracy Hicks offers a workshop at his studio in Spring sign up and go. Youll learn alot about lighting and how to pose models. Ive been to most of them and certainly worth the time.