Taking Erotic Photos

Thanks to digital photography, anyone can be an erotic beauty!

The first trick to looking good in pics is CONFIDENCE.  Being naturally beautiful does not necessarily guarantee you’ll take a good photo.  The best subjects are poised, self-assured and at ease with themselves and their surroundings.

Get into the right mindset by giving yourself plenty of time to practice & experiment with different light & camera angles.  Start out in front of a mirror, and try out various poses and facial expressions to find the one(s) that work best.

When setting the stage, keep in mind the vibe you’d like to convey.  Do you want to seem young & coy? Sultry and mature? Are you going for hardcore sex or playful sensuality?

Put on some “mood music,” pour a glass of wine, spend some time browsing erotic photos online and picture yourself in them. If any poses/angles/settings particularly appeal to you, keep them in mind when creating your own shots.

To look confident, you need to FEEL confident.  Try fasting the day of your shoot — this tends to diminish puffiness and helps you feel thinner & better-looking.  Grooming is also very important.  Today’s cameras can pick up razor bumps, redness/splotchiness, stray hairs, varicose veins…  Hide your blemishes with makeup that blends with your natural skin tone (scrutinize test photos until you’re happy with the coverage).  Don’t forget to smooth your hair into a flattering style. Frizz or loose hairs often catch the light & appear sloppy in photos.

Now, time to pick a setting.  Your photos will work best if you have a theme or “story” in mind.  Who are you, in this picture? A girl next door? A sex goddess? A bashful librarian? Find a private, comfortable setting that supports your scenario.

Details make a big difference.  For example, a photo of a woman posing seductively against a wall can convey different moods depending on the type of wall:  weathered brick can look gritty or urban whereas flowered wallpaper suggests luxury & romance.  If you’re posing on a bed or piece of furniture, consider changing linens, pillows, slipcovers, etc. to fit the vibe that works for you.

Remove clutter!  Get anything even remotely unsexy out of the shot — heck, out of the room.  Family photos, boy band posters, garbage, unmade beds, pets, children, books/magazines, mail, electric cords, clocks…  Close curtains and closet doors.  Cover or move unused furniture out of the frame.  Shooting your photos in clean, minimalist surroundings ensures the focus stays where it should  — on you!

Take similar care when selecting your outfit.  You want something you feel comfortable in, something that naturally goes with the tone you wish to relate.  Sexy lingerie is a good choice, but a slightly-open robe can look just as hot, or a t-shirt and undies, short shorts & halter, sheer fabric with shadowy naughty bits, or try going nude, with your hands & legs strategically posed.  Take photos as you experiment, to find the right look.

Consider color, too. Your outfit should complement your setting — you don’t want to clash, nor do you want to fade into the background.  Patterns can overwhelm your features, and wearing one single tone can look bland or washed-out.  As a general rule, one solid color with one or two neutrals is most pleasing to the eye.  Avoid red, black and white, as digital cameras tend to have contrast issues with these colors.

Once you’ve got your outfit & setting, it’s time for soft, flattering lighting.  This means NO FLASH, which creates demon eyes, bleached-out skin, and harsh shadows that distort your natural symmetry.  Instead, gather some lamps around your setting and point them away from you, preferably towards a white wall so the light will bounce back & illuminate you gently.  If you’re stuck with lights shining directly on you, try covering them with white tissue paper to help diffuse the brightness.  Or, ideally, use natural light from windows, perhaps enhanced with lots of candles in front and behind you (the orange-y glow is especially flattering).

Now you’re ready to get busy!  If possible, have a supportive friend photograph you;  otherwise, use the timer setting on your camera along with a tripod (or a makeshift tripod like a stack of books).  To start out, think happy thoughts.  An unnatural, forced smile makes you look stiff & awkward.  Imagine something funny, or something that makes you happy and let those thoughts show in your face and your eyes.

Nothing speaks to viewers more than smiling eyes.  Imagine that the camera is a person you have a crush on, and you’ve just spotted them coming your way.  Your face will light up and, if you’re lucky, you might even blush. Your goal is to look inviting, and turned on.  Perhaps thoughtful & coy. Or bashful but horny.  Many expressions can be alluring, you just have to find the right way to project the sensual spirit inside of you.

On the other hand, *not* looking at the camera can also make an intimate shot.  Try taking photos in profile, or from above with shadows creating mystery.  A silhouette against an open window. Tousled hair hiding half your face. French-manicured hands coquettishly covering your eyes.  Big, doe eyes peeking over the collar of a cozy sweater.  A shot from behind, looking partially back over your shoulder.

Often, it’s good to give yourself something to do in a photo.  Hold a flower, sip from a pretty teacup, apply lipstick, paint your toenails, dry your hair with a towel, zip up a clingy dress.  Check out photos online or in magazines, keeping in mind that a lot of the hottest poses are actually quite uncomfortable — and likewise, sometimes the sexiest situations just don’t photograph that way.  Sure, you might feel super-hot reclining on the sofa, but there’s a good chance your body will appear to sag into the cushions, and make your bangin’ curves look lumpy.

Check your camera’s preview screen often, with an objective, critical eye.  Don’t sweat the bad shots, they’re a part of the process.  If you’re unhappy with your progress, don’t be afraid to try again in a different setting and/or with a different outfit.  And keep in mind you can always tweak your images in a photo editing program like Google’s Picasa, Adobe’s Photoshop/Elements, Mac’s iPhoto, PaintShopPro or GIMP.

Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll be on your way to shooting sexy captivating images in no time!