Style Inspiration: Bold and Dramatic
How do you want your portraits to look and feel?
This is a question that I ask each of my boudoir clients as we begin planning their session. Some clients have a very clear sense of direction -- they’re drawn to portraits with a romantic and cozy energy, or they want portraits that emit a casual and relaxed energy. Other clients like the idea of a mix of styles, aren’t sure how to put words to their ideas, or want guidance in how best to reflect their current chapter of life in their portraits.
Over the course of photographing 100+ boudoir clients, I’ve noticed that there are four categories of styles my clients tend to be drawn to. In the upcoming months, I’ll explore each of these four common styles to use as an inspiration. You might find that one of these styles perfectly encompasses what you’re looking for, which is awesome -- that gives us a clear direction to head towards! With that in mind, it’s equally okay if you’re drawn to a mix of things or have a completely different idea. These explorations are here as a starting point for your inspiration, but I’ll always be delighted to explore an entirely new direction with you!
When I think about the ‘bold and dramatic’ style, I immediately think of confidence. This is a style that has a lot of depth -- depending on how you style it, this aesthetic can communicate strength, mystery, grit, self-assuredness, glamour, or inner power. This style can really be utilized to show off different facets of a client’s personality.
Energy and vibe
I find that some clients gravitate more towards the bold, sexy side of this aesthetic and want portraits that feel really celebratory of their bodies and curves. For these clients, I take pictures with powerful, dramatic posing, and include a lot of figure details to document their favorite features.
Other clients think of the ‘bold and dramatic’ style as really feeling confident. These clients often say that they don’t want pictures that feel too dramatic or sultry, but are really interested in having a confident, happy undertone to their pictures. For these clients, I take pictures that channel a more joyful, self-loving approach.
There’s also an element of glamour that some clients gravitate towards within the ‘bold and dramatic’ style -- these clients love the idea of powerful, sumptuous aesthetic, sort of relishing in their own confidence and their own bodies.
Inspiration for hair/makeup + outfits
This is an aesthetic that works well with going big! For hair, that can mean either something more glamorous and defined (like big, loose curls) or lots of volume (like a bedhead-inspired messy texture). For makeup, this aesthetic can play with stronger makeup choices -- think dramatic eyeliner, big eyelashes, smokey eyeshadow, shaded-in eyebrows, or a lipstick color that packs a punch.
Speaking of lips and eyebrows, feel free to bring in pictures of what your eyebrows and lips look like when you do your own makeup, or even bring in your own lipstick or eyebrow products if you like. The makeup and hair artists I work with are true experts and are ready to create your desired look using their array of makeup, but with extra-personal elements like brows and lips, I always think it’s helpful to have an example of what feels true to you.
When it comes to outfits, I’ve found that there are a couple approaches to interpreting the bold and dramatic style. The first approach is to pick outfits that feel simple, streamlined, and strong, such as a solid cotton bodysuit or a t-shirt with strappy underwear. Non-lingerie pieces (such as a leather jacket) can feel cool and effortless. Solid, bold colors are perfect for this. A great example of this is Elizabeth’s picture (above) in which she has a thong-style bodysuit that’s super strappy and sleek.
The second route I see people take with the bold and dramatic style is in a more glamorous, sumptuous route. This can be achieved by choosing fabulous lingerie that fits your body really well! Metallic details can play a part, as can sheer panels, lace, and mesh. Darker hues and jewel tones can feel high-contrast and fantastic. Really dramatic lingerie pieces also are amazing here -- think bustiers, fishnet tights, garters, and anything lace!
Ashley played with both of these approaches during her session. She wore a simple, effortless black cotton underwear set that felt simple and cool. She also wore a set of black lingerie with gold details that felt more glamorous and extravagant. These two outfits channeled a ‘bold and dramatic’ style in slightly different ways, bringing some great depth to her session.
One more thing: this is a fabulous style for showing off your favorite features. Choosing pieces with strong, straight lines will draw the eye directly in, while pieces with lace trim and curved lines will feel feminine and curvy. If you love the small of your back, a bodysuit with a super deep-V would look awesome. If you love your legs, wearing a thong bodysuit and having your picture taken from the side will really show them off. If you love your shoulders, an off-the-shoulder sweater or bra with delicate straps will highlight your collarbones.
Posing
When directing a ‘bold and dramatic’ styled boudoir session, I focus on helping my client channel body language that emanates confidence and feminine curves. I use postures with subtle back arching, extended postures, and high chin angles help clients stand tall and proud in their pictures. Choosing intentionally dramatic poses looks incredibly powerful in photos. There’s also often a subtle emphasis on figure details, postures that show someone looking at herself, eye contact with the camera, and calm, cool facial expressions.
Combining the ‘bold and dramatic’ style with other styles
If you have a ‘soft and romantic style,’ mixing it with a ‘bold and dramatic’ style can lead to pictures that feel sexy, self-loving, and glamorous. Mixing a ‘strong and empowered’ style with a ‘bold and dramatic’ style feels like confidence to the max -- super strong, tall postures and clean lines lead this combination to feel like you are ready to take over the world! Finally, a ‘bold and dramatic’ style mixed with a ‘relaxed and casual’ style makes for such a fun interplay of sunny and dark vibes, feeling effortlessly sexy while maintaining a really confident undertone.
For more inspiration…
Emma's session was a great example of a bold, dramatic style infused with a joyful energy!
Elizabeth’s session was a bold, dramatic style mixed with relaxed, confident vibes.
J's session shows a really strong, soft style with a bold, dramatic edge to it.
S's session was a great example of a romantic style and a bold, dramatic style intertwining!
Explore the other boudoir styles
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