I want to shoot my own boudoir photos any tips or tricks?

I know someone who shot her own boudoir/lingerie shots and they turned out really nice.

BUT...unless you already have a DSLR camera/lenses, a hot shoe flash and diffuser, a tripod/ball head, and a shutter release cable/remote, you will have difficulties. (and $400 isn't even half of what the above would cost).

Remember...photography is roughly 70% photographer skill/experience, 20% lens quality, and 10% camera body. In other words, if you don't understand what you are doing, it will be very difficult to obtain professional results.

If you insist on doing it yourself, a tripod is almost a necessity as is good lighting.

Tell you what...In the spirit of the holiday seasons... if you are in (or near) Saint Louis, I'll do the shoot for you at a heavily reduced price.

EDIT: @ Garrett..."I guess technically this is pornography".... You Serious, Clark?

"Technically", pornography is something considered to be legally obscene, and therefore lingerie/boudoir would be about as pornographic as the Statue of David.

Also.. just like I do a couple of Senior photo shoots each year Pro Bono, I don't mind doing a session every now and then at a discount for someone who might not otherwise be able to afford it.

My main recommendation would be to find a room with a large open window with a net curtain or a thin white curtain that diffuses the light. Try and wait for an overcast day, so you have a nice soft light coming in the window. Place a bed or couch near the windows and set your camera at various angles around the bed on a tripod.

You might want to take a stuffed toy, or stuff a pillow inside some clothes, and lay it on the bed. Take a few shots and see how the light is landing - Make sure you are happy with the setup. If you can, set the camera to manual so that the settings are locked into the camera and won't go awry if it meters when you aren't in the shot.

If you have a close friend, get them to hold the camera. Boudoir is all about angles and if you go solo, you are going to have to take a test shot, check the back of the camera, move everything and take another photo - You will be going forever! However, if you can't get a friend involved, then set your camera to timed shutter release - 10 seconds is usual - hit the shutter and run!! Having practiced the shots previously with the stuffed toy, you should have some idea where to start shooting from.

Good luck!!

Check here a good photography course online:

http://photography-course.info/

You can be like the masses of humanity and buy a camera you can afford that has auto this and that for worry free picture taking. And learn through trial and error how to use something like aperture or shutter priority auto modes or even attempt to use the thing on full manual mode.

You seem to know already there is some thinking to using a camera and to take pictures. A good place to start is by reading the owners manual that comes with a camera. Read the information and look at the illustrations with part names and look at the real camera. Handle the camera and take pictures. Let me rephrase that. Take pictures to learn how to use the camera and maybe even to keep some. Don't start with important stuff you cannot photograph over again such as birthdays, a toddlers first steps. That puts picture taking out of the learning phase and puts the pressure and emphasis to taking pictures for real and to keep.

These first pictures are for you to learn how to use your camera. And you have learned how to use your camera when you can take pictures with it and can teach others how to use it. Honest. You can also go to a college in your area and take a beginning photography course. There you will be taught the basics even a pro must learn and do in their work. Camera handling and use, taking exposures with film and/or digital cameras, and maybe even some photo assignments to get some real time learning. In this learning do not take serious pictures you must keep as that detracts from the learning aspect of the class. Do so only if you have mastered the use of your camera before class is over.

It's like growing up in a way. And I am happy you know there is a way to learn how to use a camera and take pictures. It's like learning how to drive I suppose. Someone can teach you or you can get taught at a driving school. Both will get you a drivers liscense. One though will really teach you the fundamentals you can use for the rest of your driving career.

Haha, I am sure you would do the shoot at a "heavily reduced price."

There is a fine line between this and pornography. Well I guess technically this is pornography, as porn is defined as a medium intended to evoke sexual arousal.

Just give your husband nude shots, I am sure he will be happy with whatever.

Sounds like a lovely idea. If he's the father of the baby, you could do a few of the belly.. and have it from the baby as a present! (: