ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SWIMSUIT PHOTOGRAPHY 2021
Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
Table of contents
- Top 15 Swimsuit Photography Hints
- Maintain the model’s appearance as authentic as possible
- Select the Appropriate Shooting Time
- Choose an Appropriate Location
- Check Your Background
- Edit Your Photos
- Focus on the Eyes
- Watch the Horizon
- Make use of the sun to backlight your model
- Use the Water as a Reflector
- Always shoot in RAW format
- Choose Correct Camera and Lens
- Use a Tripod Against Blurry Photos
- Take Black and White Photos
- Use Accessories
- Prepare Models Poses Beforehand
During the bathing season, many girls show off their fit bodies in swimsuits and, of course, take some stunning photos. However, not all of the images look great, despite the fact that the pose they chose seemed ideal.
It’s all about the details! As it turned out, swimsuit photography can be a real challenge, and professional photographers have devised unique concepts and approaches to achieve flawless results.
Top 15 Swimsuit Photography Hints
When it comes to bikini photography, you have to keep track of a lot of variables and quickly adapt to them. Actually, you must come to terms with nature, which can be unpredictable. First and foremost, you must learn how to work with the wind and use it to your advantage.
Furthermore, harsh shadows cast by trees and other objects must be avoided. The task of manipulating the hues of the ocean and shy occupying the majority of the frame is no less important. If you’re intimidated by these challenges, keep reading this guide to learn how to become a true swimsuit photography pro.
Maintain the model’s appearance as authentic as possible
Everything in a photograph should be related in some way. This means that flashy makeup and a lot of jewelry will look out of place in a swimsuit photo. Your model should appear natural, which in this case means wet hair, shiny skin, and a lot of sand. This is an example of aesthetic photography in which a good sense of composition and a unique subject are combined.
It’s also a good idea to use an olive oil nourishing spray on your hair to give it a nice shine. Keep in mind that a regular oil will not have the same effect and will simply make your hair greasy.
Select the Appropriate Shooting Time
Many inexperienced portrait photographers have no idea what time of day is best for a photo session. Taking pictures when the sun is at its zenith is a bad idea. You’ll get a flat image with no messed-up shadows, contrast, or brightness.
It is preferable to adhere to the golden hour photography rules. If you want to shoot in the morning, start before 9 a.m.; if you want to organize swimwear photoshoots in the evening, choose a time between 5 and 6 p.m. (much depends on the season and the location).
Note: If you want to make some adjustments to the photo just let me know. I can do it for you at a very low cost. You can hire me to edit your photo.
Choose an Appropriate Location
When looking for a suitable photography location, choose one with a varied landscape because monotony appears boring in this case. Though the main subject of a photograph should be the model, it is always nice to have a scenic background.
Remember the concept of contrast. If you want a lot of greenery in a photo, you might end up with a boring result. In the scene, it is preferable to use contrasting colors.
If you’re photographing a lady in a swimsuit against a backdrop of the jungle, suggest she wear a red hat but don’t hold it too close to her body. Another good idea is to throw a colorful ball up and catch it, which will add some movement to the frame.
If you want to photograph a model posing against the sea, choose a time when a boat or yacht is sailing by.
Check Your Background
Swimsuit photography is usually done near the sea, and working with such a large space isn’t easy. The main issue is a slew of distractions that make the frame cluttered and unappealing. As a photographer, your job is to scan the scene and select a location where a model will not be obscured by the abundance of other elements (cars, people, etc.)
If you’ve taken a photo and noticed that the background is too cluttered, learn how to remove the background in Photoshop and correct this flaw during image post-processing.
Edit Your Photos
It is nearly impossible to take a flawless swimwear photo because there are so many nuances that you have no control over. That’s when image editing software comes in handy. A model expects to see the best version of herself in photographs, so you must do everything possible to meet her expectations.
Because editing bikini photos is a time-consuming and labor-intensive process, you may want to outsource the work to professionals. Our company has been in the industry for many years and understands how to make each photo spectacular.
Beginning with color correction and skin retouching, we polish every detail of a shot to make it look stunning. We always adhere to current standards and deliver real results.
Focus on the Eyes
Many people believe that the purpose of swimsuit model photography is to highlight body curves. However, the importance of the eyes should not be underestimated. To concentrate on the eyes, choose a spot focus in the settings (or auto eye focus if it is available) similar to boudoir photography.
You can keep the aperture as low as F4 without blurring the model or her clothes. In fact, some beauty photographers use cropping tricks to bring the eyes into focus by removing a portion of an image. You can do the same thing with your swimwear photos.
Watch the Horizon
Swimsuit photographers claim that one of the most difficult issues they face is a tilted horizon. Typically, this phenomenon appears as a result of a large open space you must fit into the frame.
A good rule of thumb is to place the horizon to the side, as centered horizons can cause an image to appear cut in half. Remember the rule of thirds in photography and don’t spend too much time in Photoshop trying to fix a sloping horizon. Simply put, divide your composition into 9 equal squares and locate the horizon along one horizontal axis.
Make use of the sun to backlight your model
Fortunately, there are numerous ways to incorporate sunlight into your photographs. I recommend positioning a model against the sun so that she is lit from behind.
The sand around the model will act as a natural reflector in this case, especially if she strikes a sitting pose. This is also a good idea if your model’s eyes are extremely sensitive to sunlight.
Use the Water as a Reflector
If you are concerned that shadows will ruin your swimwear photoshoot, take images near or in the water, which will act as a reflector, filling shadows with light. When there are waves behind a person, it is possible to capture truly captivating images.
However, keep in mind that reflection photography is a difficult genre to master, and you must choose angles carefully in order to present your model in the most flattering light.
Always shoot in RAW format
Photographers use either JPEG or RAW files to capture their images. The latter is an uncompressed photo file, with each camera manufacturer having its own RAW format. When you shoot in RAW, you get more information about your shot. This, of course, allows for more detailed work during photo editing.
You face numerous challenges while shooting water and sunlight. Some flaws necessitate meticulous image editing, which is only possible if your photos are saved in RAW format.
Choose Correct Camera and Lens
If you Googled “the best camera for swimsuit photography,” you’d probably get no definitive answer because such equipment doesn’t exist. In fact, you can use your regular portrait camera for this activity. I use a Sony A7RIII camera, which has a 42.4MP sensor, accurate auto eye focus, and produces lifelike colors.
You should also consider purchasing a lens with a long focal length. The Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 is a good choice. You can use it to capture wider environmental beach and ocean images at 24 or zoom in to 70 for a nice portrait shot.
Use a Tripod Against Blurry Photos
In a variety of situations, a high-quality tripod can be an invaluable ally. It can be used to take images with a long exposure and a slower shutter speed, for example.
A tripod is also useful for shooting in low-light situations, especially if you want to avoid blurry images. If you’re serious about sunset bikini photography, you’ll want to invest in a tripod. As a result, you can capture high- and low-tide as well as cloud drifting.
Take Black and White Photos
Colors aren’t always necessary, especially if you want to emphasize a specific mood. It is at this point that black and white photography takes center stage. Make your swimsuit photography atmospheric by taking this approach. Moreover, converting images to black-and-white can help you save photos taken on gloomy or rainy days.
Use Accessories
Accessories should not be overlooked. They can help reveal some beach photo ideas as well as enhance the composition.
You will get a dynamic photo if a model wears a light shirt over her swimsuit. A beach wrap can be used to conceal body parts. During swimwear photoshoots, you can use anything from an umbrella to a beach bag to a sun lounger.
Prepare Models Poses Beforehand
Swimsuit photography is different from other types of photography, and even professional models need time to adjust to their surroundings and find good poses. It’s likely that you’ll be working with regular people, who will have even more difficulty striking appropriate poses.
My advice is to consider various model poses, practice them, and then demonstrate them to models so that they understand what to do right away.
Note: If you want to make some adjustments to the photo just let me know. I can do it for you at a very low cost. You can hire me to edit your photo.
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