If you’re not currently offering outdoor boudoir shoots, you really are missing out on many benefits. Here are 4 reasons you should take your boudoir shoot outdoors:
Reason 1 – It’s free!
No need to pay for hotel rooms, or own a studio space. Instead shoot at a beach or a local park. It is completely free! I recommend it for all boudoir photographers, even those with a studio. But it is definitely a great option if you don’t have a boudoir studio yet.
Note: Council parks are free to use, however be careful of outdoor locations that are not government owned, such as outdoor spaces owned by private corporations which may require special permission and even payment to do a professional/commercial shoot there. If unsure do some research prior to shooting there, or else you may be told to leave halfway through the shoot!
Reason 2 – Clients will love it
Most boudoir photographers only offer indoor shoots in a bedroom setting, so what better way to stand out from other boudoir photographers than offering both?
Clients also love the variety of being offered both indoor and outdoor photos. You might do an indoor shoot for your first shoot with the client, and then use an outdoor location for the next time they come to you, to offer something completely different.
Alternatively you may offer both indoor and outdoor at the same shoot. For example if shooting at a hotel room, take boudoir photos in the room and on the balcony, then swimsuit photos near the hotel swimming pool. Or if shooting boudoir at your studio or at a client’s home, also capture some images in the backyard or near the pool. Due to the privacy of this option, it is a great chance for the client to wear boudoir outfits while outside.
If lucky enough to be at a beachfront hotel, offer to shoot boudoir at the room first, followed by swimsuit shots at the beach. I don’t recommend shooting the opposite way around! Time the beach shots closer to the end of the day for the best light on the beach and to allow them to get covered in sand and messy at the end of the shoot!
Reason 3 – Unique backgrounds and dreamy bokeh
Want each shoot to look different to the last? Shoot outdoors. Unlike a studio environment, where the photos can look similar. Even if you are using the same poses, the shots will look different due to the variety of background options.
When shooting indoors we are always limited by space, therefore we don’t often get to capture that dreamy bokeh that is possible when shooting with a longer lens and with our clients further from the background. One of the best parts of shooting outdoors is the ability to capture that dreamy bokeh.
Reason 4 – Improve photography skills
Venturing outdoors and capturing photos beyond the bedroom enables you to become a better photographer. Staying in the same studio environment, while shooting at the same time of day means we rarely challenge ourselves photographically. Shooting outdoors means dealing with different lighting challenges. It also opens up your creativity as you explore new locations and decide on pleasing compositions. This is part of being a well-rounded photographer.
Those are my 4 reasons for taking your boudoir shoot outdoors. Do you have outdoor areas closeby that you can utilise?
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