Create your online boudoir photography portfolio.
Boudoir photographs are picking up steam, and photographers specializing in them are in high demand. For anyone in this genre of photography, creating a portfolio is a must to showcase your work and build up a client base. When creating a portfolio, your top priority should be choosing photos that highlight your photography skills and unique style. Follow our easy steps on how to create a portfolio for boudoir photography.
How to create a boudoir photography portfolio.
1. Identify your target clients.
First and foremost, you need to identify who your ideal client is. While boudoir photography already has a narrowed-down client base, think about the style you want to focus on within this genre. You may decide you want to focus on a certain age range, create images that are more editorial, focus on body empowerment, or utilize body paint. There are also photographers specializing in niches like maternity boudoir photography.
Now it’s time to find which one fits your style and creative vision. Who do you want to have as clients? Who do you work with best? Whether your ideal client is an expectant mother, self-assured entrepreneur, romantic couple, or another demographic, identifying your clientele will help you create a portfolio that is most appealing to them.
2. Find your brand tone.
Every photographer has a unique style. And in your small industry, people who see your work can probably tell that it’s yours. The uniqueness that distinguishes you from other photographers is also known as your brand. Now it’s time to build it.
Make sure that your brand tone aligns with both who you are, and your target audience. If you want to work primarily with female business owners, for example, you likely want your tone to be inspiring, motivating, confident, and empowering – the very characteristics that define them. On the other hand, working with expectant mothers may call for a gentler but strong and more empathetic tone.
3. Use a website builder.
While you can design and order a beautiful, archival photo album with your best boudoir photos as a studio sample and sales tool, this tactic is best for clients who have already booked a session. Although social media profiles are a great place to engage with potential clients, they are not a long-term substitute for a professional portfolio website. What’s more, you have control over its presence, rather than being at the mercy of algorithms and rules about appropriate content.
You can create an online portfolio using a boudoir photography website builder. Most options in the market make easy-to-use platforms with all the tools photographers need to curate their portfolios. From templates to fonts and colors, ensure you find a website builder that aligns with your brand.
4. Choose your best images.
While it may be tempting to put every one of the boudoir photos you’ve taken in your portfolio, chances are, your potential clients will not have the time or interest to go through them all. They might also be looking at other photographers’ portfolios to weigh their options, so you don’t want to give them hundreds of photos to look at – that will only overwhelm them.
When it comes to boudoir photography portfolios, apply the principle of less is more. For the best viewing experience, you should stick to no more than 30 photos. And don’t choose them randomly! Go through your collection and look for those that showcase your unique style and align with your brand.
You also want to find photos where the best photography practices are observed: lighting, background, props, and other elements. Likely, your viewers want to see how you zero in on the client’s features and make them feel beautiful and empowered – find photos you’ve taken that reflect exactly that.
What to include in a boudoir portfolio.
Choosing images to include in your boudoir portfolio can be difficult, especially if you’ve taken a lot and adore each and every one of them. But when it comes to what you need to include in your portfolio, find images that showcase the following:
Photographic voice.
In line with your brand, your portfolio should be displaying your unique photography style. Use it as a platform to tell your story, showcase what you do best, and give the viewer an idea of what they can expect working from you.
To truly give them an idea of what you do best, select images that show a consistent editing style. Choose your best shots that highlight your greatest photography strength.
Consistency
In line with your brand, your portfolio should be displaying your unique photography style. Use it as a platform to tell your story, showcase what you do best, and give the viewer an idea of what they can expect working from you.
Variety of poses.
To showcase your unique style, you may also want to include different kinds of poses that you’ve asked your subjects to do. Make sure you have a good number of photos of each of the following: glamour shots, close-up shots, and full-body poses.
If you use props or set themes for your boudoir photoshoots, make sure to also include a variety of them in your portfolio. For example, you can add photos of clients in different looks or apparel, whether loungewear, sleepwear, or lingerie.
Photographer’s artistic vision.
For each boudoir photography session you’ve done, you probably had a vision in mind the moment you spoke to the client about the project. In that case, ensure you feature images that showcase those visions in your portfolio.
Highlight the subject and their features.
The main focus of every boudoir photo is your subject. Your job as a boudoir photographer is to showcase your client’s body and its beauty, along with their character and confidence. Boudoir photographs often reflect both sensuality and strength–determine the right vibe for your style and ideal clients and make sure it comes across clearly.
When your viewers see how you capture the beauty and authenticity of your subjects, they are more likely to choose you for their next boudoir photoshoot.
Links to the photographer’s social media account.
Your portfolio is only the beginning of your viewer’s journey to seeing your work and finding out what you can do. You want to supplement your portfolio with additional information that will help them continue their journey.
You can do this by adding a section with your social media pages, website, or any other platform where they can find more of your work and learn more about you.
Bio Page
Aside from showcasing your work, your online boudoir photography portfolio should also say a little bit more about you. Give the viewer information about who you are, what you do, what got you into boudoir photography, and other interesting details you want to share.
Contact Information
Of course, you need to provide your viewers with a way to reach out to you in case they want to avail of a boudoir photography session. Make sure your online portfolio has your contact information. You can either create a contact form or simply provide your phone number, email address, or any other means potential clients can reach you.
Why build your portfolio with Zenfolio?
Building your boudoir portfolio requires you to be intricate, thoughtful, and detail-oriented. But it’s a job that’s easier said than done. Your industry is all about aesthetics, and as a photographer, you need to be able to showcase your style and personality in your portfolio. If you want to showcase your work in the best light, consider building your boudoir portfolio with Zenfolio.
Marketing and selling tools.
Our platform allows you to create user-friendly websites and galleries that will showcase your work in the most appealing way – plus allow you to sell photographs should your viewers be interested.
Security and privacy.
Our platform is 100% secure. You can store your raw photos, display them on the platform, make edits, and manage your work without worrying about security or data breaches.
Easy to use.
Making your boudoir photography portfolio should not be complicated. So we created an easy-to-use platform that allows you to access everything you need in a couple of clicks — no coding experience needed!
Mobile-friendly.
Because most people use their mobile phones to browse the internet, we made sure that our platform is just as aesthetic and easy to use on mobile as it is on desktop.
Automated integrations.
We want to make the process as easy as possible for you. So we adopted automated integrations to allow you to work more seamlessly on our platform.
Customizable templates.
Zenfolio has a plethora of templates to help you get started, as well as all the tools you need to create a boudoir portfolio that aligns with your brand. In just a few minutes, you can create a portfolio with our platform that attracts new clients and helps you stand out in the industry.
You’re in good company.
Discover why thousands of photographers trust Zenfolio for their online portfolio needs. Read our glowing customer reviews and see for yourself why our user-friendly platform and exceptional customer support make us the top choice for photographers of all levels.
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