The Blog

Join me every month while I dive into sessions, show examples of my work in more detail and give advice to other aspiring boudoir photographers on my blog. What can you hope to achieve reading this blog?

An inside look into creative sessions

Each month I try to experiment with at least one session, these are discounted sessions for clients who are happy to share images and if you'd like to be considered for a creative session please do subscribe for updates. These creative sessions usually create amazingly different photographs unlike most boudoir photographers in the UK and I am always striving for a uniqueness that aligns with my clients personality and individuality.

Blacklight Boudoir Photoshoot

Boudoir photography holds it's roots in the bedroom but has developed over time to include intimate images of women taken with a sensual edge. In fact, many of my clients booking for boudoir sessions don't opt to use a bed at all, incorporations of various sets create sensual atmospheres without the use of a bed.

This week I photographed an incredible blacklight boudoir session in my studio that I'm thrilled to be able to share with you today. UV lights are often used in nightclubs and parties to create fun ambient light that makes whites and yellows pop.

For this blog I thought it might be fun and helpful for other photographers to see how I created this effect with both a set list, a pull back and a props list with some pose and lighting examples.

Set List

First things first, black lights work best without other contaminating light sources so either opt for a studio space that doesn't have lots of sunlight, block light out or shoot at night. For this shoot I used my studio and blocked out light from my windows with black curtains.

I've seen examples where photographers have used blacklight and natural light for a much more subtle effect but I actually used additional ambient lights to create depth.

I then hung a large black velvet backdrop sheet and a selection of black and gold curtains in a corner to create a dark shooting space that had texture and detail.

Kit Bag

Camera:

Camera & Tripod for low shutter-speeds

Lighting:

- Continuous UV lights (I bought 2x 2ft ones and strapped them with zip ties to lighting stands

- Continuous Yellow/Orange LED lights

- Cheap LED spotlight

Modifiers:

- Scrim

Props:

- UV. body paint (it's actually more expensive than I was imagining, but worth it!)

- White underwear, nipple covers, clothing that glows

- If you are looking to drip UV paint you'll need to mix it up, I used tonic because tonic also glows under UV

- Black tarp/covers for the floor (this might get messy!)

Settings

I shot these at 1/60 and ISO 1600 and f.2 on my FujiT4 there is some additional light addition in Lightroom and photoshop to make things pop. I also personally prefer a more purple look rather than the hard blues that you get under the blacklight so there are also some colour adjustments.