Wanting to do boudoir photography...

[DMPhotique]

I am kinda trying to just dive right in. I have a Canon Rebel XT (i know nowhere near really good but right now it's all I got). Right now I just have the 18-55mm and a 80-200mm. I am looking at getting a nifty fifty and the 420ex flash. Also have a mac book pro with apeture and cs4. I have never had professional training but am going to a RMSP weekend class next month and a studio lighting class too. Am I totally crazy to think I can do my first test shoot in early summer? I have been playing around with my camera since the beginning of the year and learn more and more everyday. Also thinking about getting "the boudoir divas big ass training guide". It's is crazy how much each day I spend looking up poses and different backgrounds,ect.
Any tips? Give me the good, the bad and the ugly. Am I totally dreamin here?:lol:.

[Big Mike]

Your camera is fine. Your lens isn't great but it will do.
The big thing will be knowing how to use light. It doesn't have to be a set of studio lights, it could be simple window light...the key is learning how to control the light that you have to work with.

[nrellas]

Photography is all light!! (I realize it sounds rediculous but people tend to forget that...)

You are doing a good thing by taking a studio lighting class, that will help you with the foundations you need to be comfotable with lights. The best thing you can do it hang around places like this, read books, www.lynda.com is great for learning photoshop....See if you can find a place that will let you rent lights and start messing around.

I agree with Big Mike, you need to understand light. I would buy yourself a reflector and start messing around with it, observing and understand how light works. From there "Hot Lights" are great to help you understand how to shape and work with artificial lighting.

I wouldnt worry so much about the particulars of boudoir photographer as much right now.
The biggest thing that starting photographers forget is that you need to practice. So shoot and shoot and shoot.

[DMPhotique]

Thanks so much for the responses. You are kinda giving me that little boost like "yea, I really can do this". Thanks :)

[analaroo]

Hi! I am a boudoir photographer in Orlando, and the posts about understanding light are dead on. Getting the 50mm lens will do wonders for the quality of your images (opposed to the other two you have). And let me tell you that in the beginning all I had was an XT! The main thing I disliked about shooting with it was the amount of noise at higher ISOs. But you can minimize that with decent noise-reduction software.

I would suggest grabbing a friend and doing some shoots near a big window to learn your light and posing. Do that a lot! Boudoir lends itself nicely to moodier, darker lighting.

I have The Boudoir Divas Badass Training Guide -- and it is excellent for a beginner. There is lots of useful info in it that would benefit you.

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask. :)

[DMPhotique]

Thanks Ana! My plan is to finish my classes I stated above then I have a few friends already on board to practice on.I made sure I picked girls that range from short to tall, curvy to lean so I can experiment.
I actually started looking into this, then went and had some photos done for my hubby for Valentines Day. After I was done it was just confirmed like "yes, this is it,I'm doing it!".
My lighting class is April 4th and I figured that would give my a good sense on which lights I need to purchase. Any other suggestions though. Do I def. need a softbox or hold off on that one?
Also should I spring and get the 50mm f/1.4 or wait and get the 50mm f/1.8 right now?

[TooManyHobbies]

Get a flashlight. The cheapest and best boudoir lighting. See... http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=7346597&postcount=13 and http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=647479

[analaroo]

I definitely use softboxes and umbrellas when I shoot, but you're right, wait until your lighting class to get a better sense of what you will need. And you don't need complicated lighting setups. As for the lenses, for now I would get the 1.8 and put the money you would have spent on the 1.4 into another lens, like the 85mm 1.8 or something. That way you have more lenses to choose from. I have several lenses, but the one that's on my camera 80% of the time is the 50mm 1.8 followed by the 85mm. Go figure!

[DMPhotique]

Thanks Ana..I ordered the 50mm 1.8 and I'll look into the 85mm...also just ordered the workshop in a book from Boudoir Divas. I CAN NOT WAIT to do my test shoot after my classes.
I'm not quite sure I understand the flashlight technique (remember I am new to all this :)
So what do you mean by "painting" on the light? Do you mean literally scan her body with the light or have little light on her from the flashlight and fix it in photoshop?

[TooManyHobbies]

Thanks Ana..I ordered the 50mm 1.8 and I'll look into the 85mm...also just ordered the workshop in a book from Boudoir Divas. I CAN NOT WAIT to do my test shoot after my classes.
I'm not quite sure I understand the flashlight technique (remember I am new to all this :)
So what do you mean by "painting" on the light? Do you mean literally scan her body with the light or have little light on her from the flashlight and fix it in photoshop?

I cup the flashlight in my hand with something to diffuse it. using my hand I keep the beam narrow to stop spill from hitting too much of the bedding. After I click the shutter I quickly wiggle the flashlight over the eyes and then the rest of the body spending more time on areas that are to be lighter like breasts and face. You only want to go over areas once if you can help it to keep it sharp, if she moves during the 15s it won't matter as much if you only hit an area for 1-3s of the 15s exposure. If you go over an area and she moves slightly and then you re-go over it there will be a double image and it won't be as sharp. I've gotten amazingly sharp images this way, and it also smooths out the skin nicely since the light is being wiggled and comes from several directions as you move it over it automatically adds fill while creating moody shadows. You can also highlight areas like the eyes to give that 1920's film look or do silloettes or body scapes.

With digital it's easy to experiment and see the results. Try it on an object if you don't have a mode just to see how it works. It takes a little practice, but then it's easy to get good results.

The rest of the technique is listed in the links above.

[710 Studio]

When I decided to pursue photography in a serious manner, I had a Canon Rebel XS (film body) and a 35-70mm kit lens. I called some people I knew and asked if they could pose for some portraits (which they gladly accepted). They were really pleased with the results.

The moral of the story is, it ain't the equipment, it's how you use it! :) Like somebody mentioned, above - it's all light. The trick is figuring out how to shape the light and shadows in a way that makes for a pleasing shot. In glamour (including boudoir), lights and shadows are usually more dramatic than in simple portraiture. With the research you are pouring into it, however, I think "jumping right in" is a great way to go!

Classes are great, but nothing teaches you like actual experience! Research then jump in! I'm sure the results will be great to begin with, but will get better with time!

Best of luck!