Top 30 Sexy Boudoir Photography Poses
“Great day! thanks so much for making it special and fun!”
It’s amazing to think that we’ve been photographing the Art of Boudoir for 20 years ever since we were asked to create some ‘sexy’ pictures for a bride to gift to her groom on the day of the wedding. Back in those days, ‘Boudoir’ was largely unknown so very few photographers were offering this. Those that did offer a ‘sexy’ picture service tended to be old style glam (Remember ‘Page 3’?…. Ughhh). Not ‘sexy’ and most certainly not empowering. Over the years we’ve tried hard to improve our service year by year and now the Art of Boudoir is a very much more refined genre of photography.
Though technical skills are certainly as important as they are in any form of professional photography, this genre is less about the technical side and far more about the art of communication and capturing the moment. Boudoir Photography, Madison Bou style is about ensuring the subject (that’s you) is completely comfortable and at ease with being photographed. Lighting is important of course but it’s less about the studio and more about using available, ambient light to create a mood that works for the subject. It’s less about cheesy ‘camera faces’ and more about relaxed, natural faces. It’s about ‘through the keyhole’ glances and moments captured as if the photographer is the voyeur in the story. An entire industry has evolved with Boudoir Photography in mind and companies around the world have developed some amazing products designed to show off boudoir pictures in the most gorgeous way to display in your home. Boudoir has become so normalised and sought after these days that more and more studios are specialising specifically in this type of photography and we are proud to say, we were one of the first Boudoir specialists in the UK. Still the art is evolving and still we are inspired by this, more than any other form of photography.
This article is to shed light on one of the most often talked about areas of Boudoir and that’s ‘posing’
So many women tell us they need help because they ‘don’t know how to pose’.
It’s ok…. We do and we’ve been helping direct our clients to pose from their heads to their tippy toes for many years.
Jayne, your stylist, (and the beauty and brains behind this partnership) has been a professional dancer since being a teenager, working around the world, including Moulin Rouge in Paris and a dance teacher in tap, modern, street and ballet for 20 years. Between us, you’re in safe hands when it comes to perfect posing. To help you even more - Here is our Top 30 Poses that work for pretty much everybody based on 20 years of posing experience. You’ll notice some recurring themes such as compositional triangles, ‘if a limb is breakable then break it’, ‘ballet hands’ arched backs, stretching, exaggerating curves and pointing toes. These are almost unbreakable rules when posing for Boudoir and are evident in every picture we make…
Starting with the bed poses since ‘Boudoir’ is often associated with the bedroom. (Though our Boudoir shoots sometimes don’t use beds at all, sometimes we use the floor or sofas or whatever is at hand.) This first group of poses is what I call my ‘rotisserie chicken’ sequence (Jayne gets really mad at me for calling it that!) - Basically the client (Who’s very much, not a chicken at all) is rotated 180 degrees on the bed for a variety of poses. Starting with the pose above and then sequencing through variations 2 - 4.
pushing up from the knees to create an arch of the back.
roll sideways. Notice how elbows and knees are always bent. Triangles are a good compositional element in art and photography rather than straight, regimented limbs.
complete 90 degree rotation. This pose is enhanced by not only the little triangles created by the elbows and knees but the curvature of Jenny’s back by resting on her left elbow.
Rotating further allowing a view from above. Note again triangles from bent limbs. A posing rule with joints is, in general, if it can be ‘broken’, break it! Also toes, think ‘Ballet’ and make them ‘pointy’.
With all of these poses, we walk around and see if there are opportunities for additional shots from different angles. Good ‘bum shots’ are always a winner with our clients.
Full 180 degrees now completed to lying on the back. Again we soften the pose from flat and straight to curvy and bent for added va va voom. Parting the fingers and making sure they’re not straight makes them thinner and more elegant, gently crossing one thigh over the other , slims out the largest part of the legs and always looks great.
From Pose 7 we arch the back and lift up the chin being mindful to ensure that Chrissie’s eyes are looking straight at camera or ‘down her nose’ (almost closed)- This will stop frown lines from being created on the forehead. This pose can only be held for a few seconds and is difficult to achieve for many of our clients. … We’re often told that a Boudoir shoot can feel like a bit of a ‘work out’ but you know the saying…. ‘No pain, no gain’ :-)
A variation with hands now creating beautiful triangles above the head. Taken from a different angle to add variety to the collection of final images.
‘Rotisserie Chicken’ completed (sorry Jayne) - Sit up pose with more triangles. Problem tummies can easilly be softened with fabric or by changing the camera angle slightly
scrunching into a ball and changing the angles is another variation. This great with or without clothes since everything is covered.
Sitting down and opening Sarah’s legs here makes a much more sexy and suggestive pose with real power and we always make sure that poses like this are appropriate for each client. Some women would feel uncomfortable with a pose like this while others are completely comfortable. Again, look for ‘triangles’ and the ‘curve’ of the back to increase the drama in this pose.
This variation always works for every client, either with cross legs or uncrossed.
Traditional Boudoir posing often features legs up against a wall or bed-post or even in mid-air (like ‘cycling’ upside down if the client can do it that way) - Note once again the recurring theme of no straight limbs, little compositional triangles and softened, elegant fingers and bent wrists. The chin up stretch is the final touch which elongates the neck and creates a perfect jaw-line.
Another variation of the legs up against the wall pose with arms above the head this time and a completely different angle of view changing the picture entirely.
Another legs up variation with a totally different look.
Standing poses are often considered the most difficult in the art of Boudoir since these poses are extremely revealing in terms of any imperfections in posture. That said, we work hard to ensure our standing poses always include triangles and curves in all the right places and we often photograph clients from below the eyeline which makes them appear taller and more powerful.
Here we break the triangles rule with straightened legs. Now the triangle is from the parted legs and this increases Natasha’s stature. This an incredibly confident look and not easy to carry off convincingly. When it works though, it’s dynamite.
Sarah, on the left here, has crossed her legs and locked her knees creating different triangles that elongate her legs and give her a commanding sense of presence. Different pictures can be created easily by moving closer or changing simple things like elbows on the wall or leaning against the walland bending one knee across the other. 3 different pictures, very simply made.
I mentioned earlier that every woman loves a great ‘bum shot’ and here are 3 alternatives each subtly different with arm placement and angles. Note how thighs are magically slimmed by simply crossing them and ankles can be slimed by simply separating them. Raising the heels by wearing heels creates the illusion of elongating the legs and tightening the calves and bum so when heels are not worn we place our clients on tippy toes. (Ballet is a great artform to learn about posing for Boudoir)
These poses can be done is so many different ways on a chair, kneeling onto a bed or standing up against a railing for example and multiple shots can be created quickly from different angles and by rotating Su, here, towards the camera. Notice we still have bent elbows and knees to increase the drama of the pose.
Every Boudoir photoshoot will include some close up facial pictures and again we create some elegant triangles with the elbows.
Kneeling on the bed/floor, front and back. Simple and works for everybody type.
Leaning over a table, chair, railing taken from the front is fantastic to enhance cleavage and simultaneously hide areas we want more hidden. Mummy tummy, thighs etc. Notice we still have stunning curves and triangles and the eye contact just adds to the allure of this image though a different mood can also be created by simply looking away.
When we ask our clients to sit on a chair we often request them to imagine it’s their chair and they should really spread out on it. Multiple poses can be created quickly and effectively by simply hooking a leg over one arm or sitting sideways on the chair, cross legged as in this case or, for the more adventurous and athletic, lying upside down on the chair with legs up the chair back and the clients’ head nearer the floor. (Did we tell you that boudoir can often feel like a work out?)…. For an idea of what can be achieved, see POSE 30 below.
Different angle, relaxing on the chair, triangles, ‘broken limbs’, back arched, chin up, stretching out the jawline.
Leaning forward, legs parted is another more powerful sitting stance which showcases legs really well. Great from multiple angles, knees can be used to rest the elbows on and looks great for every body type.
One of the most often requested Poses in the Boudoir Posebook. We call it the ‘Kylie’ pose after and ad Kylie did in her heyday. (I’ve spent hours looking for it but cannot find it. I think it was a perfume ad. Still, regardless of the ‘facts’, the ‘Kylie pose it is!!) - Another truly versatile look and can be varied by photographing from different angles, arching the back, moving arms by the side or above/behind the head. It’s easy to light this as a silhouette or by popping flash behind the client’s right hip and pushing out light towards the camera to increase the dramatic effect. Certainly one of the most versatile poses in Boudoir and a winner everytime though not suitable for all body-types. This requires a little more flexibility than most. The arched back and placing more weight on the back of the head can be a challenge.
This, however, does work for all body-types and is always fun to do. Again bent limbs, curved back, pointy toes (if possible when boots aren’t too restricting) ballet hands and glorious energy.
POSE 30 certainly isn’t for the faint hearted. This falling out of bed look has become another one of our most requested poses for those in an adventurous state of mind. We also do variations such as the ‘falling out of a chaise longue’ look (demonstrated elegantly by Claire, here), the ‘falling out of a chair’ look (A chair such as the one in POSE 25) and even, the ‘falling down the stairs’ look. - After all this, you will need some recovery time to get ready to view all your pictures. (We schedule this about a week or two after your shoot)