This week for my Happy Hump Day pic I want to share with everyone a picture of a painting I gave Jake for his birthday a couple of years ago. I am definitely a creative person, and I love coming up with ideas for original, personal, and sometimes sexy gifts for my boyfriend. For this project, I contacted one of my artist friends Brett and asked him if he would paint a pin up style painting to give to Jake, and he was happy to oblige. Brett painted a picture based on a pinup style mock photo that we took, that way I didn’t have to pose forever while he painted and it was less of a burden on him because he could paint when he had time and inspiration. When I gave Jake the finished product, he absolutely loved it and said it was the best gift he’d ever received because it was so personal (not to mention extremely well done because Brett is a very talented artist.)
This Christmas/Holiday Season, I recommend thinking of a personal and sexy gift for your spouse/parter/lover. If you want to follow my lead and go for a painting, I would first think about all of your friends, and if any of them are artistically inclined, ask one of them first. Not only would you probably feel more comfortable sharing your sexy ideas and photos with someone you know, you are also supporting local art. You don’t necessarily have to pay them (depending on how well you know them) and sometimes a trade can be just as fun. In this case, I paid for all of the supplies (canvas, paints, brushes, etc.) and bought Brett a bottle of liquor in return because I knew that is something he would like. If you don’t have any friends who are artistically inclined, you could seek out other artists in your community, although I would definitely recommend checking reviews, calling references, meeting in public and bringing a friend with you if you are meeting with a stranger.
Another great option for a sexy fun holiday gift is taking a boudoir picture and framing it or making a collage. One year for Valentine’s Day, I had a girlfriend take some pictures of me in a bra and panties holding up a piece of paper that had “I Love Jake” written on it with lipstick prints. I printed out a couple of different poses and put them in a multi-image frame, and he loved that gift as well. It may seem kind of cliché or not super original, put honestly what gift idea is actually totally new, and the fact that it is a photo of you arranged specifically for your lover for this special occasion still makes it personal and thought out. If you want to go all out, there are photographers that offer boudoir photo sessions (again, I would check references and bring a friend), but taking your own photos can be an easy, cheap option.
I am currently taking a beginner’s Digital SLR Photography class, and I would like to share some helpful tips for taking your own sexy photos. First of all, have a trusted friend work the camera. It is very hard to take a good photo of yourself by holding it a foot away or using the timer button. Make sure it is someone you feel you can be yourself and relax around and someone who will listen to your feedback and follow your instructions. Offer to buy him or her dinner or something else in exchange for helping you. Set up a date in a private space to take the pictures when you have ample time and feel comfortable. Try to schedule a time when you will be in a good mood and will not be stressed out (for example not when you have an upcoming deadline, test, or when you’re on your period.) Make yourself feel sexy in whatever way you like, if that means doing up your makeup/hair/nails, do it ahead of time. Wear something that makes you feel sexy, whether its normal clothes, lingerie, or nothing. You can take a sexy photo wearing normal clothes with the right posing, attitude, and expressions. If you love lingerie, wear it. If you love being naked, go for it. (On a side note, do remember to think about possible consequences of taking a naked photo if you may not be with this person forever.) Pull ideas from whatever inspires you; magazines and books are usually helpful for finding ideas and poses.
Now for some technical photography advice. The most important ingredient for good photos is good lighting. Generally the best lighting for photos is outdoor lighting around dusk or dawn, and if you have a good private outdoor spot to use, that is your best option, but usually shooting boudoir photos outside is not ideal for most people. Instead, use outdoor lighting inside. The most flattering light is side light, which means that light is hitting the subject (you) from the side. This type of lighting shows off shape and texture, and provides the photo with a highlight, mid tone, and shadow. A great way to utilize natural, outdoor lighting and side light is by taking photos next to an open or partially open window. Take pictures during the evening when lighting it best, and stand perpendicular to the window, so that light is hitting your body from the side. Play with the different intensities of this side lighting by moving either closer or further from the window.
Most cameras (both point and shoot and SLR) have a portrait mode symbolized by a face on the dial control. This is usually the best setting for taking flattering boudoir photos. Some cameras do it better than others, but what portrait mode is supposed to do is keep the main subject in the photos clear and in focus while slightly blurring the background. Not all point and shoot cameras do this well, but it’s definitely worth a try. If this doesn’t work well, set it to Auto or play with other settings until you find what works.
Another thing to think about is the main focal point of the photo, you. You can use props if you like, but don’t go overboard because too many items in the photo may distract the viewer. Also make sure there isn’t a lot of clutter in the background or anywhere in the image. Do whatever poses feel natural, but try to keep moving (slowly) so that you get a lot of different angles. Try repositioning your hands, looking in different directions, and changing your expressions. Have whoever is behind the camera give you feedback, and also stop and take a look at what you’ve done so far to see if you need to change your pose or lighting. Take a lot of photos to make sure you get that perfect image.
Most importantly, be yourself and relax; if you are having fun it will usually show in your images. Try not to focus on the finished product too much and instead just enjoy the process of posing and feeling your sexy side come out. If for some reason you don’t like any of the photos, try not to stress out, see it as a learning experience and try again another time.
After you get an image or images you like, think of how you want to present it. You can blow it up and frame it or make small wallet prints for him or her to carry around. If there are a few you like you could make a collage. You can also use the photo to make tree ornaments, key chains, puzzles, and other miscellaneous items at photo print shops. You could set the image as a screensaver. You could make a book full of images. The possibilities are endless if you use your creativity.
I hope this blog helps you take some sexy images for a fun holiday gift this year or for any special occassion. If you have any questions or need photographer recommendations in the Austin area, feel free to leave a question or comment.
–Penny