Two words: Devotion + Dedication. One is nothing without the other. In Yoga. In Love. In Life.
Here’s to practicing equal amounts of both!
These shots are from a recent trip to LA, and I love the pics so much, I’m blogging my favorites in two parts 🙂
Location: The Mondrian Hotel on Sunset, Los Angeles
Photography: Christa Meola
Make-up & Hair Stylist: Rachel Lund
Photo Assistant: David Glenn
No. 2 on the blog tomorrow!
x. Christa
My true love is shooting subjects as naked as possible, even if they have their clothes on. I want to uncover the bare essence of who you are and everything you are that makes you, you. As a fine art nude and boudoir photographer I shoot a lot of women and love the expressions of the female body. But I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: “I’m not interested in boobs and butt without some heart.”
Marie Forleo gave me a wonderful opportunity to shoot my favorite type of subject for her Rich Happy & Hot Adventure Mastermind group. If you didn’t catch the background story of this crazy marathon 22-woman shoot (of which I had 8 to 10 min’s shooting time with each girl), check it out in my first installment. It was a smashing success and total blast, and I am grateful to Marie and her amazing Mastermind women, who have personality in spades.
This is an incredible group of powerful women, who are sincere, giving, and love life…
smokin’ hot too…
strong, on the inside and out…
contemplative…
exuberant!…
silly…
genuinely happy…
honest, focused, forthright…
and elegant in spirit.
Location: The Huntley Hotel’s Presidential Suite, Santa Monica CA
Hair & Make-up: the girls’ own handiwork
Photo Assistants: Robin Hultgren, Hannah Skye, David Glenn
Ciao for now! and thank you for stopping by and saying hello 🙂
x. Christa
ps. Coming up on the blog: more plus-sized real-women awesomeness! dispatches from the streets of Firenze! and a bad ass yoga shoot 🙂
Many photographers just getting started in boudoir photography ask me “how do you approach photographing plus-sized women?” My answer couldn’t be simpler: I approach each subject the exact same way, whether petite or plus-sized, male or female, child or adult. First and foremost, I focus on bringing out my subject’s personality, her love of life, love of herself, whatever is distinctive and true about my subject and the sensuality of the moment. Second, flattering someone is all about what you choose to focus on. You can easily flatter (or unflatter) any size/shape woman with lighting, angles, wardrobe and lens choices as well as the spirit in which you capture her.
I’ll let you in on a secret though, if you’re not accustomed to shooting boudoir. You can ask any pro who’s photographed a ton of women – they will all tell you that plus-sized women LOVE their curves! and if a plus-sized woman is coming to you for a photo shoot, she is digging who she is and wants to celebrate herself and her body! Ps. it’s actually the skinny gals who are more critical of their bodies and will require more encouragement and positive feedback during the shoot.
Here’s a few favorite shots from a recent mini-shoot I did with Julie, a beautiful new mom and plus-sized woman who enjoys her body and can demonstrate what I feel is most important to keep in mind when coaching and photographing women:
Sensuality and sexiness comes from within!…
Location: The Mondrian Hotel on Sunset, Los Angeles
Photography: Christa Meola
Make-Up / Hair Stylist: Rachel Lund – the best MUA and a terrific girl to have on set 🙂
More curveliciousness on the blog soon!
x. Christa
Marie Forleo doesn’t mince words – her email to me a couple months back just read: I have a crazy fun idea… involves you. Let me know. I was already traveling, bound for Italy, and before I could even reply, she called me up and revealed her idea. But let me back up… if you don’t know Marie Forleo, you’ll want to check her out! As best-selling author, speaker, Nike Athlete, fitness personality, entrepreneur and all around AMAZING super woman, Marie is dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs through her Rich Happy & Hot brand. I got to know Marie better during her Rich Happy Hot Business School last fall, which was incredible! We felt an immediate kinship that can only come from being born and bred in Jersey – those are bonds that don’t break 🙂
Back to the scheming: Marie wanted to surprise her Adventure Mastermind ladies (all 22 of them) with a sexy and fun photo shoot during their retreat in LA. That’s right, she wanted it to be a surprise, meaning the girls would have NO IDEA what they were in for when they showed up at the Presidential Suite of the Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica. Now how could I turn down an exciting challenge like that? I’m always up for a spontaneous photo shoot, and I love demonstrating to women (myself included!) that the planets don’t need to be aligned to jump into something, and that trust goes a looooong way! To add to the excitement, I would be given a total of 4 hours of shooting time, so about 10 minutes per girl, give or take. I was so freakin’ excited and jumping up and down ready for the fun and to see how we would all pull it off…
Well I’ll tell you more about how it went down in the next installation, but suffice it to say, I had THE BEST team on the shoot with me – Robin Hultgren and Hannah Skye are both regular attendees at my photography workshops and now have become indespensible to me as assistants, confidantes and friends. Add to that my power house right hand man, David Glenn, and of course the shoot want smooth like butter. But most of all, I have to give credit to the 22 brilliant women of Marie’s Adventure Mastermind – these girls had the strength to be vulnerable, the sense of humor to take it all lightly, and the cojones to go for it! Each woman and her shoot were so different, but all were a total blast!
Here are some of my favorite photos of the first four of the Rich Happy Hot women, and they’re not called Rich Happy and Hot for nothing – wow! I’ll be blogging lots more of them in the coming weeks 🙂
Location: The Huntley Hotel’s Presidential Suite, Santa Monica CA
Hair & Make-up: the girls’ own handiwork
Photo Assistants: Robin Hultgren, Hannah Skye, David Glenn
We had a studio set-up in the master bath for when the sun went down… this one is one of my favorites – so raw, so honest…
More rich happy hotness on the way… I’ll break down the process for those interested in doing Boudoir Marathon shoots like this 🙂
x. Christa
“I could NEVER do a sexy photo shoot.”… aaaand that’s my cue! I LOVE photographing women who think a sexy shoot is sooo not them, or not what they could ever do, or that they don’t photograph well, or yeah yeah yeah 🙂 I get asked all the time if I only shoot models. Hell no! My clientele is mostly 40+ moms who have never dreamed of stepping in front of a pro’s camera before, especially not in the buff. Exactly the kind of woman like Mrs. C., a dear friend’s wife who I invited to do a shoot, and of course she said she “could never!” Oh, how I love a good challenge! My persistence in putting her on the scheduled worked, and to Mrs. C’s credit, she committed 110% to the experience and showed up with all she had.
Mrs. C has the greatest legs you’ve ever seen, a rockin’ backside, beautiful skin, a gorgeous smile and a playful spirit. We booked a hotel suite, had some wine and a total blast! My team and I enjoyed the shoot as much as Mrs. C did, and everyone went home that day giddy and with smiles on their faces. I think the resulting photographs are elegant, sexy and playful… and definitely showcase what every woman can do, if they just give themselves the opportunity.
When another woman posted on my Facebook page that she didn’t think she could do a sexy photo shoot because she’s shy about her body, Mrs. C didn’t hesitate and wrote the following comment in response…
You don’t know me, but my new friend, Christa just did the most amazing boudoir shoot with me as a surprise for my husband. I told her I didn’t think I could ever do something like this because it just wasn’t me. But the more I thought about it the more I wanted to challenge myself. Christa is not only amazing behind the camera but also so great and inspiring in front of it! We had such a fun time!! It was so much more than I ever expected. When I showed my husband my album from the shoot, he was absolutely floored! Of course he loves the naked ones the best 🙂 I kept saying to him “Can you believe I did this??”
I’m forever thankful to Christa for talking me into doing the shoot and giving me the confidence and safety to enjoy it. It was not only a fabulous gift for my husband (which he absolutely loves) but truly a gift for myself. I love having these photographs, and I look at myself in a whole new light. I see the things I love about my body instead of the things I don’t.
Christa is truly amazing and gifted and I’m privileged to know her! If you have a chance to work with her, do it! It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done!!
Thank you Mrs. C! for putting your trust in me, for going waaay outside your comfort zone, for your warmth and sincerity, and most of all for spreading the word and letting other women know that they CAN!
xoxo,
Christa
I’m coming back to LA for a One-Day Boudoir Intensive on February 27th! I am taking a quick break from living la dolce vita in Italy for a few jobs I couldn’t resist in Los Angeles, so I thought I’d throw a workshop into the mix for the people who’ve been emailing me with requests (thank you!). This kick ass workshop will be held at a luxury hotel in Los Angeles and is limited to a very small group so you get plenty of one-on-one instruction and hands on learning. You will be on your feet shooting alongside me during model sessions, will get personal coaching while you shoot, and will be granted use of the images for your blog and portfolio. We will have a mix of pro models and real girl-next-door clients. Since I LOVE blending fine art nudes with fashion & boudoir portraiture, please expect partial nudity. The main focus of this boudoir workshop is to build a totally kick-ass smoking hot portfolio!
Here are a few favorite shots taken at the Last LA Boudoir Workshop… this was a demo of finding the best natural light as well as how to style a shoot…
Miss L is one of my favorite models to work with! She is incredible and has worked with many amazing photographers, including one of my favs Annie Liebovitz. I love what a chameleon L is – she looks very Blade Runner here no?
Yes, we have film shooters 🙂 Also, there is no paparazzi-style shooting at my workshops – only one person at a time is the lead director of a shoot – the other photographers can shoot from the periphery if they are so inclined, but do not interfere with the main shooter 🙂 I make sure of that!
A Very Sexy Boudoir Workshop!
with Christa Meola
Sunday February 27th 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
SOLD OUT!
A One-Day Boudoir Intensive
Focused on building a smoking hot portfolio,
standing out from the crowd, creating a high-end look,
and answering all your burning questions about going pro!
Topics covered:
Live Boudoir Shoots and Model Releases!
Live Boudoir shoots will be on location at a luxury hotel. Christa will do a demo, working with three different models. You will each get plenty of one-on-one time with the models and full model releases to use your images.
Side-by-Side Personal Coaching & Posing
Christa will be by your side, available for personal coaching, while you shoot. Learn on your feet how to relax a nervous client, bring out the best in each girl, create sensual moments, push yourself creatively, and find flattering “poses” for every body type.
Lighting & Equipment
What’s necessary and what’s not. Learn three different lighting set-ups: how to work with the challenge and beauty of natural light, working with studio strobes, and the ease of video lights. There will be a variety of Christa’s favorite lenses for you to borrow so you can see which ones you love the most!
Top 10 Boudoir Money Shots™
Christa will make sure you capture these all-time Bestsellers for your portfolio. These are the pics every client wants and will hire you for!
Sexy Post Production
A Workflow that’s easy, fast and effective. My Top Tips in Lightroom and Photoshop which create smoking images!
Creating a High-End Look
How to stand out from the crowd with a distinct look, and how to develop a high-end signature style on a budget.
Sets & Styling
How to style a set and a model to create pictures that look like they should be in a magazine. This is key!
Pricing & FAQ’s
Nailing your price list so you’re busy, happy and well-paid. Let’s get all your most frequently asked questions answered about permits, contracts, releases and other business practices.
A few Raves about Christa’s Workshops:
“Best money I’ve ever spent on my business. Period. I’d do the workshop again in a heartbeat.”
Erin N.
“The workshop was so AMAZING!!! I would recommend it to anyone starting out or looking for a fresh approach to their photos! It was worth every penny and I can’t believe how much I got out of it.
Heidi W.
“Best workshop I’ve ever taken!!!!!! I learned more about the art and business of portrait photography in two days than I did in four years of college (and it cost much less 🙂 sign up!”
Shani B.
“Totally inspiring and empowering. Thank you for being so open with everything that has made you a success and passing that on to us!”
Robin H.
“You are effing awesome. I learned so much watching you interact with your subjects and how you gave them really good direction. Also, learning the way you handle your pricing was gold to me. The whole workshop was a knockout.”
Francesco B.
“I have taken a few workshops and this one by far was my favorite. You have juiced up my creative level and showed me how to apply my style to my work and so much more! I feel like when I got to a photo shoot now, I have an action plan, instead of clicking away. Thank you!”
Tammy C.
“I highly recommend this workshop! Unlike other workshops I’ve taken, Christa actually gives you time to DO what she’s teaching – and I loved her attitude throughout the weekend. She truly wants to help other photographers shoot better and be more successful as business people. It wasn’t a “look at how fabulous I am” workshop, it was a “look how fabulous YOU can be” workshop!! Thanks Christa!!!”
Christine H.
“THANK YOU SO MUCH!! I HAD AN AMAZING TIME! I got so much out of the workshop but I think the best thing was confidence, and the fact someone really cared enough to show other artists how to get paid for what they do! You have changed the way I look at myself, by showing how I too can be successful. Thanks Again!”
Shannon J.
“You and your workshop were awesome. I really loved learning the psychology behind what you shoot, show, sell, etc. You gave every attendee individual attention, and your personality, enthusiasm and energy kept us all going and inspired. I had a blast.”
Marc J.
Workshop Fee: $900
SOLD OUT!
To Register: call 310.909.8957 or email christa (at) christameola.com.
****UPDATED TO ADD: this workshop sold out quickly.
Please check the updated schedule at the top of this page for current availability in upcoming workshops!
Looking forward to shooting with you! and if you’d like to see other pics shot at this workshop, take a peek at these “Me-Oooow!” pics.
xoxo, Christa
ps. Space is extremely limited, so register now! If you’re new to my blog, feel free to look around – you’ll find plenty of my boudoir photos, fine art nudes, and tips for photographers.
Taking it to the streets! Boudoir does not have to be about lingerie in a bedroom setting… It can be fashion, fantasy, portraiture, and perfume ads! Recently, I did a shooting workshop at PartnerCon in New Orleans for other pro photographers about how to capture my Boudoir Money shots™, work with challenges, and shoot it up in the streets. I wanted to incorporate the mood, energy, and sexiness of the city…
A wonderful photographer I love and admire, Joe Buissink, says that “Photographers are a bag of tricks!” and I totally agree! I had to pull a ton out of my bag on this shoot. Here’s the story:
Our model that day was from a local agency, and let’s just say she had stayed up all night beforehand and was not exactly happy, poor thing. Lesson 1 – always bring props! I am always on the hunt for sexy props or wardrobe for shoots. I found this amazing hat on Magazine Street in NOLA a few days before the shoot and I fell in love! Had to have it. Lesson 2 – work your butt off to use what’s honestly going on with your model and incorporate that into the story. Normally, I do very joyful pictures – but I’m not going to force that, so I let her be where she was and just gave her a prop and setting that reflected that. That’s my hat, the model’s coat, and another photographer’s boots… and set up at a nearby cafe. Lesson 3 – Everything’s sexier with bokeh in the background! Shoot at a very wide open aperture, zoom in tight, blur out lights in the background (look for chandeliers, Christmas lights, candles etc.) and compose it so it’s visually interesting.
Use these simple “tricks” and ta-dah you’ve got some shots that are beautiful and compelling. And honest.
and work your angles to enhance attitude…
Lesson 4 – seek out and intentionally incorporate any details available in your environment to help tell a story. Sometimes it’s something obvious, and sometimes all you need is sunshine and a smile. And believe me, we had to work hard for that smile 🙂
Here, the lines of the balcony lattice work off her curves and the bustier bodice… which makes this shot kind of cheeky 😉 hee hee
Lesson 5 – We also focused on how to create movement in your pictures – sometimes all you need is a fan or the simple act of joyful running – both are super sexy. I made her keep repeating this run towards the camera until she finally just laughed despite herself. Ah, repetition of an action is probably the trick we use most often 🙂
This one might be my favorite. The story here is all about the city!… the energy/color/mood of New Orleans, and with this light it could be early morning or late evening sunset – you just can’t tell the difference – and THAT my friends, is sooooo New Orleans.
Thanks to everyone who joined me at PartnerCon on my shoot and at my talk… it was such a thrill to finally meet all of you and geek out together 🙂
Two announcements:
“Exposed: Redefining Boudoir” my NEW Boudoir book is now available!!
You can now purchase the book online right here.
You can also take a SNEAK PEEK inside the book.
There are two seats available for my Last Boudoir Workshop in LA. Email me to book your spot christa (at) christameola.com.
Stay tuned for the Top 10 Boudoir FAQ’s. I bet your Q is on that list!…
xoxo,
Christa
I’m so excited to announce this last Los Angeles Workshop, a One-Day Boudoir Intensive on December 4th! I’m so grateful for all of the wonderful photographers who have been visiting my blog, sharing their thoughts and questions via the comments, and emailing me with their success stories! There has been a huge surge in requests recently for my one-on-one mentor days and another LA workshop! So I am adding this one-day workshop focused on your top needs. The workshop will be held at a luxury hotel in LA and is limited to a very small group so you get plenty of one-on-one instruction and hands on learning. The best part is that you will be on your feet shooting alongside me during model sessions, will get personal coaching while you shoot, and will be granted use of the images for your blog and portfolio. The main focus of this last workshop is to build a complete and kick-ass portfolio, so let’s do it together!
The Last Los Angeles Workshop!
with Christa Meola
Saturday December 4th 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
A One-Day Boudoir Intensive
Focused on building a smoking hot portfolio,
answering all your burning questions about going pro,
and empowering you to get started!
If you’re new to Christa’s blog, you can see Christa’s Boudoir pics here and read her tips for photographers.
and scroll down for more info…
Topics covered:
Live Boudoir Shoots
Live Boudoir shoots will be on location at a luxury hotel. Christa will do a demo, working with three different models. You will each get plenty of one-on-one time with the models and full model releases to use your images.
Side-by-Side Personal Coaching
Christa will be by your side, available for personal coaching, while you shoot. Learn on your feet how to relax a nervous client, bring out the best in each girl, create sensual moments, push yourself creatively, and raise the bar for your photography.
Lighting & Equipment
What’s necessary and what’s not. How to work with the challenge and beauty of natural light, working with studio strobes, and my new favorite lighting set-up!
Top 10 Boudoir Money Shots™
Christa will make sure you capture these all-time Bestsellers for your portfolio. These are the pics every client wants and will hire you for!
Sexy Post Production
A Workflow that’s easy, fast and effective. My Top Tips in Lightroom and Photoshop which create smoking images!
Sets & Styling
How to style a set and a model to create pictures that look like they should be in a magazine. This is key!
Pricing & FAQ’s
Nailing your price list so you’re busy, happy and well-paid. Let’s get all your most frequently asked questions answered about permits, contracts, releases and other business practices.
A few Raves about Christa’s Workshops:
“Best money I’ve ever spent on my business. Period. I’d do the workshop again in a heartbeat.”
Erin N.
“The workshop was so AMAZING!!! I would recommend it to anyone starting out or looking for a fresh approach to their photos! It was worth every penny and I can’t believe how much I got out of it.
Heidi W.
“Best workshop I’ve ever taken!!!!!! I learned more about the art and business of portrait photography in two days than I did in four years of college (and it cost much less 🙂 sign up!”
Shani B.
“Totally inspiring and empowering. Thank you for being so open with everything that has made you a success and passing that on to us!”
Robin H.
“You are effing awesome. I learned so much watching you interact with your subjects and how you gave them really good direction. Also, learning the way you handle your pricing was gold to me. The whole workshop was a knockout.”
Francesco B.
“I have taken a few workshops and this one by far was my favorite. You have juiced up my creative level and showed me how to apply my style to my work and so much more! I feel like when I got to a photo shoot now, I have an action plan, instead of clicking away. Thank you!”
Tammy C.
“I highly recommend this workshop! Unlike other workshops I’ve taken, Christa actually gives you time to DO what she’s teaching – and I loved her attitude throughout the weekend. She truly wants to help other photographers shoot better and be more successful as business people. It wasn’t a “look at how fabulous I am” workshop, it was a “look how fabulous YOU can be” workshop!! Thanks Christa!!!”
Christine H.
“THANK YOU SO MUCH!! I HAD AN AMAZING TIME! I got so much out of the workshop but I think the best thing was confidence, and the fact someone really cared enough to show other artists how to get paid for what they do! You have changed the way I look at myself, by showing how I too can be successful. Thanks Again!”
Shannon J.
“You and your workshop were awesome. I really loved learning the psychology behind what you shoot, show, sell, etc. You gave every attendee individual attention, and your personality, enthusiasm and energy kept us all going and inspired. I had a blast.”
Marc J.
Workshop Fee: $900
To register, call 310.383.6494 or email christa (at) christameola.com.
Space is extremely limited, so register now, and I’m looking forward to meeting you!
To register, call 310.383.6494 or email christa (at) christameola.com.
xo, Christa
ps. If you’re new to my blog, feel free to look around a bit – you’ll find plenty of my boudoir pics and tips for photographers. Check it out and remember to leave a comment or question!
I wouldn’t call myself camera shy, but I have to confess to not having many pictures taken of myself. As a photographer, I’m more comfortable observing a subject than being observed. So for my birthday recently, I decided to walk the walk, be a woman not a photographer, break out of my comfort zone and go for it. It was a beautiful hot Monday, my 25th (that’s right) birthday, and my last day in my photography studio in LA before moving out and ending my lease. With my sights set for moving to Italy in December, I could think of no better time for my own boudoir birthday-suit photography session to celebrate!
The photographer… Michael Chylinski, a long-time dear friend and professional drummer, who usually shoots landscapes and basketball hoops! Hahaaa, he was more nervous for our shoot than I was! Despite not being used to shooting with strobes, he was game to shoot for me while I gave him a tiny bit of coaching 🙂
Here are a few of my favorite Rated-PG pics. This logo tank was a gift from a friend at the Grand Opening of my studio – seemed appropriate….
Kinda shy at first…
…but it didn’t take long til things heated up 🙂
Seriously, it was literally hot as hell in my studio, and yes that’s sweat on my face – I decided not to retouch it.
A behind-the-scenes shot reflected through the mirror in my studio – this cracks me up! I’m not in a flattering pose by any means, but I love the moment Michael captured of me getting undressed, plus I love that you can see my tiny studio set-up: one main light and small fan – it’s simple and it works. All pictures from this shoot were with this set-up.
In honor of my new book coming out, “Exposed: Redefining Boudoir”
And this is my absolute favorite. I’m having fun, Mike’s cracking up, we see my studio for the last time and it’s just a great moment I’ll always want to remember. Plus, I love Mike’s socks – hahaaa! Thanks Michael, for capturing my life authentically here. I won’t give you a hard time for taking your shirt off since it was sweltering that day. I had a total blast and I’m forever grateful for this shoot and your friendship.
Thanks also to my wonderful talented friend and make-up artist Shannon Jankula, who is such a pro at making women look and feel beautiful.
Quick announcement: PartnerCon just opened registration today for my shooting workshop in New Orleans on Thursday, Nov. 11th. Limited to only 15 participants… so hurry here to register. Also, they sold out the first 500 seats to PartnerCon (where I am one of the line-up of awesome speakers), but they just added more seats… so you can still register for that here.
Thanks all for visiting and don’t forget to leave a comment!
Lots of love and nudity,
Christa xoxo
Hot child in the city! Lounging about poolside in the sun, getting wet, getting hot, and sipping on a cool cocktail. This has been one of my favorite summers yet and it’s just beginning! I took these shots last weekend in Malibu CA as part of a full-day mentoring session for a new boudoir photographer who’s just getting into the business. A big Thank You! to our gorgeous, bold, sexy hostess/model – Miss M – a stay-at-home mom and real woman, who generously served us cocktails and the yummiest food in between shots. Can you believe this was a workday??
More nudes and boudoir on the blog coming up 😉 It’s been insanely busy in a great way and my summer is booked with lots of women who are jumping in and getting sexy on camera – stayed tuned!
xxx,
Christa
It wasn’t all play at PictageU… I actually did some hard work, teaching 5 separate shooting workshops… lol! Shooting boudoir with a gaggle of workshop enthusiasts is the most fun part, albeit exhausting. To recap and keep the momentum going, here are just a few pics that demonstrate some of the tips I covered in my portion of the shooting workshops.
We talked about how when you arrive on location how to first maximize the light in your shooting area (all of these shots are natural light only), move furniture around so it best suits your subject and the story you’re telling, clearing the set (and thus your frame) of any unwanted distractions, and when there’s stuff on the wall you can’t move… Make it work! and incorporate it into the shot…
I also demo’d how to capture one of my Money Shots™ “Landscape of the Body” making sure to really emphasize curves with “extreeeeeme” posture and kicking those hips up to create a nice little triangle of awesomeness between your girls hips and the sheets 🙂
We talked about shooting those sexy details. I really love her hands here. Seriously.
I also discussed a few of the simple essentials I love to bring on location: a black muslin to set up a studio anywhere, a fan to help create a feeling of sensuality and movement, and some fun props. These shots are taken in the same hotel room just a few feet from the bed, the black muslin (in this case, a hotel table cloth) covering some seriously bad hotel art, and is naturally lit from the balcony just about a foot to the model’s right.
I also talked about creating variety both on set and in post, how to create movement by slowing your shutter speed, and how to direct a model by giving her actions instead of “poses.” This is another Money Shot™ “The Hair Toss.”
Gotta love the fan!
One thing I stress to newer photographers is to be mindful of composition – are you centering everything? Try experimenting with negative space – it really helps direct the viewer’s eye, tell the story, and has such visual impact.
Once again, I had a total blast at PictageU. I loved meeting you all, geeking out, and shooting up some boudoir together 🙂 Here’s to more workshop fabulousness in the near future!
ps. Make sure to leave more of your Boudoir & Lighting questions in the comments below for an FAQ post in the near future…
Christa 🙂
Had a total blast at PictageU’s Boudoir & Lighting photography conference! The Pictage community team put together an incredible event so packed with inspiration and practical information… I was honored to be there and teach alongside such talented and brilliant fellow photographers. The conference was a huge success on many levels, and attendee after attendee said how much fun they were having and how much they were learning… one gal even said “I feel like I just got $2000 worth of content!”
The best part for me was meeting such awesome people… pro photographers are the coolest people (yes, I’m biased) and form a generous, passionate, fun-loving group! Thank you deeply to everyone in attendance for sharing your love and curiosity for boudoir photography… for being light-hearted and playful… for challenging yourself, me and all those around you. I am happy to say I walked away inspired, enlightened and with many new friends 🙂
Now that I just rolled back into town, I’m playing catch up with client orders and will be editing pics from the workshop sessions, to be posted soon!… In the meantime, I’d love to get some more questions from you all specifically on Boudoir and Lighting… So ask away in the comments section! and I’ll post the answers in an FAQ post early next week.
To all those editing their photos right now… keep it tight. A++ only!
Christa 🙂
