Pond covered in green scum? Not for much longer

There are two main reasons that some photographers hesitate to give indoor boudoir photography a try, one being the misconception that complicated (and expensive) lighting equipment is required.

There’s also the fact that those new to this genre rarely have access to experienced models, and this means it’s up to the photographer to give the subject some help—especially when it comes to striking an attractive pose—especially if the model is a spouse, significant other, or a willing friend who is new to the game.

Today’s two-minute primer from Patrick’s Boudoir Photography Secrets allays these two concerns by demonstrating how to capture sensuous photos by window light with a comfortable keeling pose for new models of all body types. Today’s video is episode #10 in Patrick’s ongoing series that he created to help newbies experiment with this unique form of portraiture using simple gear and straightforward techniques.

Patrick describes todays lesson like this: “We’ll show you how to perfectly highlight your model’s legs and bum with an incredibly sensual pose next to the bed that suits almost any body type and delivers gorgeous results.” You’ll also pick up some helpful advice for gently directing a subject and making her feel comfortable while participating in the process as an equal partner.

And forget about flash or other forms of supplemental illumination, because the only light you’ll need is what’s streaming through a large window into the room where you shoot. Patrick also discusses the best camera settings to use for this style of boudoir photography, and how to save processing time with the presets in his app to quickly and effectively edit the photographs you capture.

Composition is also an important component of the process, and Patrick illustrates how slight adjustments in body posture can accentuate a subject’s favorite physical attributes in a way that conveys an enticing look that makes her feel proud.

By spending a couple minutes watching this lesson we think you’ll reconsider your hesitation and become far more comfortable when it comes to trying your hand at boudoir photography.

Be sure to visits Patrick’s instructional YouTube channel, where you’ll find an abundance of other lessons on this fun genre. And if you missed the previous tutorial we featured with Patrick, you can find it here.

Sunrise photography presents several challenges, the first of which is getting up early enough to arrive on location before the sun peaks above the horizon. You also need to understand how to deal with rapidly changing light, key camera settings and  techniques, along with the proper gear to use for optimum results.

This tutorial from landscape photographer Jim Schubert explains all this and more by revealing how he captures spectacular early morning images every time. He discusses the importance of scouting a location in advance, how to employ neutral density (ND) filters to balance exposure, and the specific camera setting he recommends.

Thoughtful composition is also part of the equation, and Shubert discusses the power of strong foreground elements, leading lines, and the impact of including human subjects within the frame. And there’s a link beneath the video for downloading his free cheat sheet that includes these valuable tips and more.

Schubert’s behind-the-scenes video takes place at Battery Lane on Jamestown in Rhode Island during a beautiful sunrise with mostly clear skies. By scouting the spot earlier he was prepared to capture the perfect moment because he already determined his camera position and the attention-grabbing elements he wanted to include .

It’s impossible to nail down camera settings in advance because there no way to predict the exact weather and lighting conditions until the day of your shoot. To that end Shubert explains the camera settings he employs for different situations.

Captivating sunset photos often require that you take a different approach to composition than what you do later in the day, and Schubert has some great suggestions for getting the job done, He provides real-world examples of including yourself or someone else in the shot to heighten interest.

As he says, this human touch creates a sense of connection by depicting subjects interacting with nature. And even though your preparation included choosing a primary vantage point, Shubert illustrates how moving around within this general area and experimenting with camera angles will often result in an unexpectedly great photo.

Be sure to download Shubert’s helpful cheat sheet when the video concludes, then take a look at his popular YouTube channel where you’ll more landscape shooting ideas and post-processing techniques.

We also suggest watching the tutorial we featured with another accomplished pro who demonstrates how to unlock the power of Exposure Bracketing to make landscape photographs with perfect tonal balance. This technique is particularly important when the dynamic range of a scene exceeds the capability of your camera.

As a wedding photographer, it can be easy to justify a large number of lenses for different purposes throughout the day (35mm/50mm primes for getting ready, 70-200mm for the ceremony, 105mm macro for shots of the rings, 85mm for portraits, and so on). In reality, most weddings can be documented well with significantly less gear. But how much less?  I recently had someone ask me: “For someone looking to get into wedding photography, is there a single lens that you would recommend that would be good enough to start with and be able to shoot a full wedding with?”