How to Choose the Best Locations for Your Boudoir Photography Sessions

As you choose a location for your boudoir photography shoots, you'll need to keep in mind a few things.

For example, you'll obviously need a spot that gives you and your subject security and privacy. This is especially true if you are an artistic nude photographer. You'll want to make sure your location is free of people who may come in at the "wrong" time. You'll also want a spot that is free of distractions for you and your subject. And, especially if your client will be in various states of undress outdoors, free from the eyes of law enforcement.

As you search, keep in mind the visual aesthetic that you're going for. This will vary among the people who hire you for boudoir photography. One client may want her photos to appear as if they were taken in an actual boudoir, while, if you're an artistic nude photographer, your subject may wish to find a secluded spot outdoors for a more exciting setting. If you head outdoors, check the sightlines of your location for billboards, trash bins, even telephone poles, or other items that can detract from the photographs.

In fact, outdoor locations can really enliven a photo shoot and add to your shot's composition when you're an artistic nude photographer. Setting your subject in a clearing in the forest certainly isn't your typical boudoir photography shoot but can prove to be a unique and compelling location.

You also may wish to explore using a suite in a high-end hotel for your work. These often offer you and your subjects a rich environment and provide a romantic context for intimate portraits.

A well equipped photo studio often gives you the most versatile environment for your boudoir photography work. You can stage a shot as simply or elegantly as you wish, given the right props. For example, you may wish to furnish your studio with a four-poster bed, a grand piano, hardwood floors, an antique claw-footed tub and vanity and other props that will provide you with virtually unlimited staging and backgrounds.

Naturally, the ultimate choice of location remains with your client. Some subjects will want the most romantic of settings and props. Others will want just a chemise or robe while sitting on a chair or chaise. You'll want to speak with your potential boudoir photography clients at length to see what their preferences are and in what settings they will feel most comfortable, for the more relaxed your clients are, the better shots you will take. Both you and your subjects will be all the happier with the results of your work.