These days, many of my shoots are set in really interesting locations around London – things like disused warehouses, fancy hotel suites, or curated private residences. I like lots of natural light, rich textures, moody interiors, anything that lifts a shoot to a more editorial place. However, this studio boudoir photography session in London with Amy is proof that you don’t NEED that to create something solid.
A showstopper location is a fun bonus, not a requirement. A simple studio is fine. We also don’t need a fancy set build out, or really cool props, or expensive wardrobe. We don’t even need natural light (although this will always stress me out a bit lol!).
All we really have to have is you, and a decent studio with some lights if at all possible.
This is Amy, who is funny and beautiful and seemingly up for all my crazy ideas (thank you Amy!). Our first shoot was a last minute thing we threw together. It was mainly just for me to try out a new makeup artist, so the location was… a budget airport hotel room. So glam. I should blog that shoot though; it turned out really nice.
And listen, I am the first one to admit I’ve become a bit of a location snob. I wish we could only hire the best for everyone. I think you all DESERVE the best. But it’s not realistic. To be honest, a sprawling location is often too much of a good thing anyway. We don’t have time to use half of it, and it can feel really rushed trying to squeeze everything in.
Why Studio Boudoir Works
As part of my snobbery rehabilitation program, I’m making more of an effort to shoot in studios. It still feels like a challenge. I learned photography on location (well, a farmer’s field and random small town brick walls), and then I massively favoured natural light for about a decade, so the studio will maybe never feel quite like home. Basically, the weather never scares me, but a six light setup does.
I also have some lingering studio PTSD. It’s a funny story; I booked my first studio time before I had ANY IDEA what I was doing. Like literally any idea, I am not exaggerating. I got talked into sharing a booking with another amateur photographer and thought “well what’s the worst that could happen?”. Turns out I didn’t know what sync speed was, so I spent the first 10 min randomly changing settings to try to get the big black rectangle to go away LOL HOW EMBARRASSING FOR ME. Don’t worry, I did the shoot for free. I ended up reshooting anyway (outside) because you can imagine how the rest of that hour went.
Anyway, I am much better now lol! For this shoot, we were after a clean, modern aesthetic. Simple, but beautiful, with good lighting and cool poses.
I find a studio strips everything back and keeps the focus firmly on the subject. It’s a bit more intimidating to start (nowhere to hide), but it can be really powerful. If you’re after a strong silhouette, crisp focus, dramatic light that is guaranteed and repeatable, or a wide variety of looks and styles, you absolutely cannot beat a studio.
The Setup
We used an infinity cove, which is basically a big white rounded corner. They build out a special area where the floor blends seamlessly into the walls, and there’s a curved wall with no lines. It gives a really clean look with nothing to catch the eye. It’s a setup you see in high-fashion editorials, magazine covers, lots of lookbooks and catalog shoots, music videos, etc.
My normal M.O. on location is natural light with a studio light for fill. If it’s too dark for that, I tend to use my flash as a main light, plus whatever natural light, ambient light, or table lamps we have around. But in a studio, you get to/have to build the whole lighting situation from scratch.
For Amy’s session, I was very strict with myself about having no natural light. I literally pulled every single black out curtain. It is entirely against my nature to do so, but I’m glad I did it.
We used two studio flashes with reflectors in a variety of configurations, a few polyboards to bounce and shape the light, and towards the end of the session, a third light on a boom arm at 90 degrees with a giant octabox. The last one is a setup I’ve been wanting to try for a while, and it did give us a really cool look. I felt it was kind of one note though, which was surprising because photographers seem to love it so much.
One of the nice things about studio setups is that you can completely change the mood of an image just by moving a light. One position is soft and flattering, the next is dramatic and so sharp. Even with the same wardrobe, same background, etc. you can get a totally different feel.
Wardrobe Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated
Wardrobe was super simple for this shoot. We did just two looks: first, a classic black bodysuit. You can find these everywhere now, and they photograph like a dream. Bodysuits are one of my most frequent suggestions because you have so many options, from fully sleeved to sleeveless, low cut to halter, sheer or lace or leather or whatever.
For the second look, we did something a little more dramatic with a corset and simple knickers, elbow-length gloves, stockings, and a (faux) diamond choker necklace. This is a good lesson in how simple accessories can completely change a look.
Also – how expensive is her corset? Is it custom made? Are her heels designer? Are the diamonds real? You can’t really tell, and this is a point I always try to make during pre-shoot consultations. The only real measure is how things fit, and how they photograph. By all means, buy the Louboutins if you fancy them, but please don’t feel like you HAVE to.
The Black and White Edit
I’m normally quite partial to colour, but this shoot was planned as a mostly black and white finish. Studio lighting lends itself to this well because the light is so controlled. I knew I wanted to do some strongly backlit setups too, and the conditions for those are really hard to find out in the wild.
Is a Studio Shoot Right for You?
It might be! There are pros and cons, so it often depends on your specific preferences and our goals for the shoot.
Some things are hands down way easier with a studio. The weather for example – it’s a total non-issue. Studios are also very easy to schedule, available last minute at all hours, and there’s a decent one in every part of town. They allow for control, and for a blank canvas.
What they almost never give you is the instant wow factor. It’s just a hired photo studio, you know? It’s designed to be a blank canvas, so you’re very unlikely to walk in and feel inspired the way you would with an amazing period location, cat lounging on a velvet cushion, sunlight streaming in, candles lit, etc. In a studio, you have to make all the magic yourself; it’s totally possible, but it takes a little more trust for the uninitiated. I think it’s much more important to walk in with a plan and a mood board.
Studio boudoir sessions are available with a £525 session fee, which includes your pre-shoot consultation and full shoot planning, wardrobe guidance, professional hair and makeup, full posing coaching, and your private image reveal. Get in touch to find out more or to book your session.
