How to take your own boudoir photos

Given that this is Valentine's Day, have you ever considered taking sexy, boudoir photographs? It's really easy to do. This gift idea is perfect for ladies who want to give their men something special this year. Here are some easy tips to take smoldering boudoir photographs on your own.

Basic gear

You're going to need a few things first. Obviously you'll need a camera. Your camera needs to have a self-timer function or a remote control. A tripod is also helpful, but not necessary. You will need something stable to set the camera on. A dresser would work fine. You will also need some digital image editing software. There is a great free program called Paint.NET that will allow you to edit your pictures, without having to spend additional money for image software.

Setting the stage by creating the set

Decide on where you want to take your photographs. The bedroom is obviously a perfect choice...but maybe you're bedroom is more Plain Jane than romantic. No worries! With a few simple items from your home, you can turn your bedroom into a picture perfect backdrop! Take a look at Figure A to see a boring bedroom awaiting a simple transformation.

To transform this room, I simply took all the jar candles I had around the house, and placed them on either side of the bed. A soft watt desk lamp lit the room from the back. Don't worry if the pictures seem like they might turn out too dark, we'll deal with that later. I had some scrap sheer fabric from my curtains that I draped over the sconces above the bed. This really made the bed seem soft. I set jar candles on either nightstand, and covered the visible nightstand with an old tablecloth. See this transformation below in Figure B.

With the room transformed, you can begin a few test shots. It's up to you what you want to wear, how you want to pose...etc. Take a few test pictures to make sure you're in the right spot, and test out a few poses. Obviously once you're comfortable, you can begin taking photographs.

Also, remember: don't use the flash. The candles and soft lighting are there to make the picture as flattering as possible. Don't ruin it by using the flash. The pictures may look dark, but don't get flustered. Things look different on that tiny camera screen than they do once uploaded onto a decent-sized screen. Plus, you can just lighten them using your editing software.

Make sure to take a lot of pictures. Otherwise, if you only take one of each pose, you might upload them and be disappointed with how they turned out. Take at least five pictures of each pose. You'll surely get one you like. With digital photography, we're no longer paying for developing, so it's always a good idea to take way more pictures than you think you'll need.

More props

So what do you do if you don't want to use your bed as a prop? Do you have an old bed sheet? If you want to take a standing picture or sit on the ground, just take an old bed sheet and pin it to the wall. It doesn't need to be perfect, in fact, having some ripples and bunching will give your picture some depth, as you can see in Figure C. Hang the sheet about halfway up the wall and let the bottom roll out. This way if the shot is low to the ground, you won't see the wood trim or carpet.

If you want your backdrop to have more depth and texture, grab a few rubber bands. Gather a small "ponytail" on the backside of the sheet and secure it with a rubber band. This will give the fabric a "puckered" look, like the one in Figure D. Add as few or as many as you like to achieve some texture.

Simply repeat the same steps as you would have for the bedroom set. Use soft lighting with candles, as shown in Figure E, and add some throw pillows into the scene. Don't over do it. You want the focus of the picture to be you, not your pillows.

You'll need the camera to be a little lower to the ground for this one. It looks better if the camera is up higher and tilted down. This can be tricky if you don't have a tripod, so you may want to consider purchasing one. They are relatively inexpensive. Remember to use your self-timer and nix on the flash. Take at least five shots of each pose.

Once you've completed taking your photos, load them up onto your computer and take a look. Here are some tips you can consider when editing the pictures:

• Use image-editing software to lighten the pictures. They may look too dark, but you can fix that with a click of your mouse!
• Use effects like "soften" or "blur." These effects will give a soft, romantic feel to your pictures, and you'll look fantastic!
• Try Black and White. Converting your pictures to black and white, or even sepia toned make them look nostalgic and very sexy!
• Use high quality paper. If you plan to print them out, get a glossy paper and set your printer on its highest quality setting. This will make the pictures look even more professional.

Finally, here's an advanced tip. If your camera as RAW mode, take the pictures in RAW mode. This captures all the data available to the camera, so if you want to lighten the image, there's more data to work with, and the picture will come out better.

Also, please remember to be careful when taking risqui pictures of yourself. I always say, "don't take a picture of yourself you wouldn't want your Grandmother to see." Though that may be a little extreme, it's sound advice nonetheless. Just be cautious if you send pictures like this to your loved one over email.

Also, keep in mind you do not have to be nude in these pictures. Boudoir photographs are meant to leave something to the imagination, and often do not expose any private areas. Do what you feel comfortable with, and remember to have fun! Finally, remember Boudoir photos aren't just for Valentine's day. You and your partner deserve to celebrate your love every day.