“I’m not a model, can you help me with my boudoir poses?”  I get this all the time in my emails, and the answer is a very confident YES. I’m always happy to help clients with poses, regardless of whether you are new to modelling or a seasoned professional. We’ll use a selection of my favourite boudoir poses as inspiration, but I’m always secretly working with your natural body movements and nuances in between poses to make the shoot unique to you.

There’s something so powerful in body language that when you do something naturally that looks incredible, I’ll shout ‘freeze!’ and we’ll shoot it. It will be the most fun game of Freeze Tag you’ve played since the days of the middle school playground! 

After all, shoots are all about having fun; we’ll put on some of your favourite music, have a little boogie – this is about empowering you to feel confident and sexy in front of camera so that you associate all those feelings with being happy. It’s really is going to be an experience to remember forever!

So what are my favourite boudoir poses? Below I’ve picked a few that I always come back to again and again, covering standing, seated, kneeling and lying down options for maximum variety.

Ps, whilst you’re here, maybe have a read about what to wear on a photoshoot too, so then you can picture what you’re going to wear along with your pose.

Standing Boudoir Poses

Standing poses can feel vulnerable to some clients; like, what are your arms meant to do?! Start by standing with your feet together and pop one knee in front of the other to carve out a classic pin-up silhouette! Once you’ve popped that knee, your hips will naturally fall a little helping to accentuate your waist and highlight your curves. Depending on your body type and personal preferences, you might find this works best for you facing directly towards the camera like Immodesty Blaize, or at a 45-degree angle like Penny Heartbleed.

Once you’ve got the legs sorted, all you need to do now is pick a couple of places to put your hands. Some suggestions are the back of your neck, playing with your fabulous new hairdo, on your waist, on your hip, tucket into your suspenders, stroking your collar bone or tracing your décolletage… there are a whole host of combinations.

And if you still don’t feel like you know what to do with your arms, we’ll bring out some props. Busy hands don’t have time to worry about what they’re doing!

Immodesty Blaize

Kneeling Boudoir Poses

Facing your knees out to one side (think more a 45-degree angle, not a 90-degree) kneel down with your bum on your heels. When you’re ready to take the photo, lift up a little so you’re not resting your bum on your feet. This will take some serious leg power, so make sure you’ve had a good stretch beforehand! Arching your back will accentuate your waist and hips.

With this lower half of your body taking care of itself, you can then refer back to the same hand placements as mentioned above.

Remember to come in and out of this pose as needed.

Blossom & Buttercups

Lying Down Sideways Poses

This one always surprises my clients, but believe me, this pose looks flattering on ALL figures, accentuating your legs, creating gorgeous curves across the entire body. A well-placed arm in front of you can create a fantastic hourglass silhouette whilst concealing a self-conscious tummy areas, although darling, you’re fabulous just as you are!

Miss Deadly Red

Lying On Your Back Boudoir Poses

Looking for something a touch more comfortable? Here we can do some classic boudoir above-headshots where we can play around with the décolletage, your hair and some softer facial expressions.

We can also get your legs into play – kicking your legs up in the air is one of the ultimate classic boudoir poses, but we’ll take breaks because holding them in that pose is quite a core workout.

Don’t forget to point those toes!

Didi Derriere

Lying On Your Front Boudoir Poses 

Perfect for those implied nudes! Lie down on your front at a 45-degree angle to the camera and cross your legs. Rolling your nearest hip away from the camera helps to create space under your hips as well as giving a great booty pop.

You can lean on your arms, hands and elbows as much or as little as you like, lifting up through the chest and shoulders to create plenty of space.

MisSa Blue

Et voila! If you hadn’t already found your reason to book a boudoir shoot, you now know loads of inside information about how to pose in front of the camera. Many clients have commented that after a boudoir shoot, they feel more comfortable in candid snaps as they know how they can position themselves or their ‘best’ angle. As a skilled photographer, I’ve enough tools in my posing kit to get the very best from you and I can’t wait to put you through your paces!