I have been asked this question about models and photographers a few times recently, so I thought it would be a good one for Wilkinson's Photo Safari.

The answer to how to shoot great erotic and sensual photos lies in the title of this post: Photographers are from Mars, Models are from Venus!

Every photographer has a different personal outlook on life, a different personality type and a different artistic aesthetic. That's why I think photography is so interesting, it's a way of getting into someone's head and seeing what -- and how -- they are seeing...

Anyone who has been to one of our Wilkinson Photo Safari Seminars on "Booty Photography", will know my mantra:

At least 50% of the secret to really fabulous boudoir and sensual photography has nothing at all to do with your finger on the shutter. It's about your relationship with the model, it's about getting the mood lighting of the room, getting the temperature right, the set figured out before you start, and the most important thing of all is getting the model in the right frame of mind. This is where the Mars/Venus thing kicks in.

Let's say, for the purposes of this article, that we are shooting a single female model. If she doesn't "feel" sexy, if she's not happy with her makeup, her outfit, her hair... You're not gonna get any shots that really work.

Don't ever do the "we'll fix it later in Photoshop" line – You may be able to fix aspects of the image later but you will never be able to fix the mood of your model. And that's what the whole success or failure of your photo shoot is hinged on.

If your model feels empowered, feminine, sexy, self assured, confident, naughty, catlike, safe and in a "sacred trust space" with the photographer, then all ya gotta do is light it properly, and have some fun.

Notice the use of the word "feel" here. Guys generally aren't all about this "feeling" thing. Go on, read the original Mars and Venus book again. It's VERY pertinent to booty photography.

“At least 50% of the secret to really fabulous boudoir and sensual photography is nothing at all to with your finger on the shutter.”

If you are shooting boudoir photography because it is the only way you'll ever get to see a naked chick... Well, all you're gonna get is an "I pity you" look down the lens from your models. I have come across this a few times with guy shooters who are not in the lifestyle. Those whose idea of a good night is to go hire a couple of strippers at a bachelor party and then pay them extra to do some naked pictures. Ya know what I mean, I'm sure. Hopefully, in the swinging lifestyle, those kind of guys have been weeded out.

The secret to boudoir photography's success lies in your personal style, your social confidence, your ability to tune into your model's mood, her feelings, her comfort level. Note that nothing in the previous sentence mentions actual photography.

When we teach a photography seminar, we actually spend at least half of our time talking about make up, the best kind of false eye lashes, foundation etc, how to find the most flattering colors for different outfits, how to get the mood right, how to deal with your models, how to pose them, etc... All this must be taken care of before we ever pick up a camera.

And the last tip, which will have all the female readers saying, "Well, DUH!", and which hopefully many of the guys may have noticed in passing, is this: Woman are creatures of the moon's cycle, right? Well, that crazy time halfway through her cycle, when a woman ovulates, is the PERFECT time for a horny monkey sex style crazed boudoir photo shoot.

Gentleman, mark your calendars please!

That reminds me, I better go check my iCal!!!

Best to all, Wilkinson

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