How to Do Glamour Photography?

As an aspiring photographer looking to break into glamour photography, I know there’s much to learn. Glamour photography is about capturing your subjects’ beauty, sensuality, and allure. It’s a challenging yet rewarding genre that requires skill, patience, and an artistic eye.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything I’ve learned about how to do glamour photography successfully. From what equipment you need to how to direct your models to tips for flattering lighting and editing your photos for maximum impact. Follow along for a comprehensive look at this highly sought-after photographic style!

Gear You’ll Need for Glamour Shoots

Having the right camera and lenses is vital for getting those flawless glamour images. Here’s a quick rundown of the photography gear I recommend:

• DSLR camera: A digital SLR camera that allows you to change lenses is ideal. Go for at least 20 megapixels. Popular models are the Canon 5D Mark IV or the Nikon D850.
• Portrait lens: An 85mm or 100mm prime portrait lens gives you that soft, dreamy “bokeh” effect in the background. They let you isolate your subject.
• Off-camera flash: This is huge for glamour! An off-camera flash like the Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT lets you control lighting and create drama.
• Reflectors and diffusers: Reflectors bounce light onto your subject’s face. Diffusers soften harsh sunlight outdoors.
• Tripod: Eliminate blur and camera shake with a sturdy tripod like the Manfrotto Element Traveller.
• Remote shutter release: Trigger your camera shutter without touching the body to prevent shaking.
• Backdrops: Seamless paper, fabric, and vinyl backdrops give you clean, solid colors. Go for black, white, and gray.
• Wardrobe options: Have your model bring lingerie, bathing suits, elegant dresses – anything feminine and sensual.

The right gear helps capture glamour images’ mood, emotion, and intimate feel. Invest in quality equipment for maximum creative control.

How to Direct Your Models

Glamour photography relies heavily on your direction and cues for your model. Her poses, expressions, and movements reveal the style and story you want to tell.

Here are my top tips for effectively directing glamour models during a shoot:

• Discuss ideas beforehand: Talk to your model about concepts, clothing, locations, and shots you want. Collaboration brings better results.
• Scout locations: Visit spots ahead of time to visualize shots, lighting, and poses. Notice exciting textures, colors, and backgrounds.
• Have mood boards: Show examples of poses, emotions, and lighting you want to emulate. Models learn by visuals.
• Praise and encourage: Lots of positive feedback helps models open up and feel comfortable in front of your lens.
• Demonstrate: Strike a pose yourself first or show photos of precisely what you want. Models can then recreate it.
• Use props: Add interest to shots with fans, sheer fabrics, flowers, jewelry, etc. Give models something to interact with.
• Adjust as you go: Let the shoot flow naturally, and tweak poses, angles, and lighting as you notice opportunities.

With clear direction, effective communication, and a confident, encouraging demeanor, you will get the most out of your glamour models and build a fantastic portfolio.

Master Flattering Lighting

One of the most important aspects of beautiful glamour photography is the lighting. It sets the entire mood and creates that signature polished, sensual style.

Here are my top lighting tips for stunning glamour shots:

• Soft light: Diffuse sunlight or bounce flash off a softbox or umbrella for flattering soft light on your model. Harsh light is unforgiving.
• Butterfly lighting: This classic glamour lighting has the key light high and centered in front of the model’s face. The result is symmetrical, shadowed cheekbones and nose.
• Loop lighting: Similar to butterfly but with the key light slightly off to one side of the face. This adds an edgy, dramatic loop shadow.
• Rim lighting: Position a light source behind the model to rim their silhouette in a glow and separate them from the background.
• Backlighting: Have a light source behind the model to illuminate their hair into a fiery halo. Use another light in front to expose their face.
• Catchlights: These small white reflections in the eyes bring photos to life! Position lights to create them.
• Highlights: Use back or side lights to accent shiny hair, lips, and curves for extra visual interest.

Pay attention to lighting angles, modifier choice, and highlights & shadows. This differentiates between flat, boring glamour images and magazine cover-worthy shots.

Post-Processing and Retouching Tips

After a successful glamour shoot, you still have work to do! Here are my go-to editing tips for getting that perfect, polished look:

• Cull your photos: Go through all your shots and eliminate any unusable or unflattering ones.
• Correct tone and color: Adjust brightness, contrast, saturation, and white balance to make the image pop.
• Smooth skin: Use the liquify tool and healing brush sparingly to even out the skin. Please don’t overdo it.
• Enhance eyes and lips: Eyes should be bright and catch your attention. Boost the lips.
• Slim and refine: Subtle slimming of the waist, arms, or thighs can improve the overall look.
• Add mood: Try split-toning (like orange highlights and teal shadows) for a rich, moody atmosphere.
• Sharpen details: Use sharpening and clarity tools for crisper edges on eyes, jewelry, and other information.
• Vignette: Darken the edges to draw the viewer’s eye towards your subject at the center.
• Reduce noise: Eliminate distracting noise and grain for a cleaner, more professional image.

Refine your photos with impacted and keep the enhancements looking natural. Don’t let editing diminish the authentic beauty of your model.

5 Key Types of Glamour Shoots

There are many creative ways to photograph glamour. Here are 5 of the most popular glamour photography styles you can explore:

1. Lingerie

Photos of models in lacy lingerie or sheer robes are classic. Try blowing sheer curtains in a breeze and using a fan for movement. Backlighting and low lighting amp up the sensuality. Details like straps and lace look striking in black and white.

2. Implied Nude

Nude photos with the model’s most private areas concealed by poses or clever cropping provide allure while remaining tasteful. Think sheets wrapped around their body or lying face down on a bed.

3. Boudoir

This is lingerie photography for everyday women rather than professional models. It celebrates feminine beauty and sexuality. It is often done at home in a bedroom and has a natural, intimate vibe.

4. High Fashion

Inject glamour into fashion photography with poses, lighting, and clothing that evoke mystery and sensuality. Use couture gowns, elegant furs, bold red lipstick, and intense model stares.

5. Beauty Portraits

Close-up beauty shots highlighted with glossy makeup, dramatic eyes, loose hair, and bare skin exude glamour too. Simple black or white backgrounds keep the emphasis on their face.

Storytelling is vital for impactful glamour images. Plan concepts and moods around one of these popular styles to help your photos shine.

Getting Your Glamour Photography Business Off the Ground

If you want to turn your passion for glamour photography into a thriving business, there are some critical steps to take:

• Build a portfolio: Photograph models for free or discounted rates to build an impressive portfolio showing your skills.
• Create marketing materials: Design a logo, website, and business cards to establish your brand. Share work on social media.
• Find clients: Reach out to aspiring models, actors, performers, or everyday women interested in glamour shoots.
• Rent studio space: Look for photography studios to rent by the hour for consistent lighting and room to work.
• Charge competitive rates: Research other glamour photographers’ pricing to determine fair rates. Consider Package deals.
• Deliver exceptional service: Be reliable, patient, and enthusiastic. Deliver finished photos quickly. Clients will refer you to others.
• Specialize: Focus on a niche like lingerie, implied nudes, or high fashion to attract specific clients.

 

FAQs

What makes a good glamour model?

The best glamour models have confidence, are comfortable being photographed nude or scantily clad, and can portray alluring, coy, mysterious, and sensual emotions. Treat them professionally.

What’s the difference between boudoir and glamour photography?

Boudoir focuses on everyday women in lingerie or implied nude photos, often taken in a bedroom for their significant other. Glamour uses pro models for a more polished, overly sexualized look.

How much does a glamour photographer make?

It varies, but glamour photographers can charge $150-$300 per hour or $1,000-$5,000 per day, depending on experience. Extra for professional modeling talent. Retouched photos often sell for $50-$300 each.

Do you need a makeup artist for glamour photography?

Not required but highly recommended. A professional makeup artist will know how to contour faces, highlight cheekbones, and apply dramatic eyes and lips to suit the camera and lighting.

What editing programs are used for glamour photos?

Programs like Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom allow for skin smoothing, body and face sculpting, lighting adjustments, coloring, and artistic effects to take glamour photos to the next level.

In Conclusion

Glamour photography reveals beauty, sensuality, and allure through masterful lighting, flattering poses, tasteful implied nudity, and creative editing. Learn  Light Dark Background Photography With the right technical skills, artistic vision, wardrobe, and models, you can learn how to take magazine-worthy glamour shots. Just remember to maximize the mood and emotion in your images through direction and lighting. With practice editing for a flawless yet natural look, you can deliver beautiful, empowering photographs any glamour model will adore.