Yackers' Photography Tips and Tricks: The only lens you need for boudoir photography

There was a time when boudoir photography was considered very risqué, however times have changed and many people now want boudoir shots for their respective other halves and for themselves. Done right, boudoir photography is classy, sensual and tasteful. Done wrong, boudoir photography is tacky, sleazy and dirty. There is a fine line between classy and trashy and if you want to be a successful boudoir photographer you need to identify this line right away.

One of the most important pieces of photography equipment for boudoir photography is the lens, and this can make or break the shot. Use the right lens and you will end up with an awesome shot. Use the wrong lens and, all things being equal, the shot won’t work. This is all well and good, but what lens should you use for boudoir photography?

In my experience there is only one lens you should use for boudoir photography, and that is the 24mm – 70mm zoom lens.

The best lens of boudoir photography, without a shadow of a doubt is the 24mm – 70mm zoom lens, and this is my workhorse lens for boudoir shots. Boudoir photography involves full body shots, head and should shots and just head shots, and the focal lengths the 24mm – 70mm zoom lens covers will capture all of these types of shot.

Many boudoir photography models want to get the shoot done as quickly as possible (some people aren’t totally comfortable semi naked in front of the camera, some people feel the cold etc.) and having to keep stopping the shoot to change lenses takes time, during which models can get agitated. Using a zoom lens you can change the composition, the framing and the look quickly, efficiently and with minimum fuss.

I have heard the argument many times over (more than I care to think about) that prime lenses are sharper than zoom lenses and whilst this may be the case the image quality and overall sharpness of modern day zoom lenses is so close to that of prime lenses you won’t tell the difference without going pixel peeping on the computer. I have never had a client or model complain about the image quality of photos taken with my zoom lens, and until I do (which I don’t think is ever going to happen) I will continue to use a zoom lens for all my boudoir photography.

I should point out that I am referring to the image quality of the top end zoom lenses here (like the Canon L series lenses) and not the mid-priced zoom lenses. Whilst mid-priced zoom lenses are good the image quality and overall sharpness of these lenses is not in the same league as the top end zoom lenses or prime lenses.

The 24mm – 70mm zoom lens I use for boudoir photography is the Canon 24mm – 70mm f2.8L lens (full review here)

Focal Length – Full frame/APS-C:- 24mm - 70mm/ 38.4mm - 112mm / Aperture:- 2.8 - 22/ Min focus:- 15"/ Dimensions:- 3.48" x 4.45"/ Weight:- 28.4 oz/ Image stabilization:- No/ Price (approx.) $USD/£ GBP:- $1,750.00/£1,000.00

This lens is an exceptional lens in every way. Being an L series lens it is made from the best materials (meaning it is strong and durable) and using the best optics (for superior image quality). This lens is sharp but not so sharp it shows imperfections.

This lens isn’t cheap, but then you should see it an investment and one that will pay for itself after a few boudoir shoots. If you shoot a Canon camera this is a great lens for boudoir photography.

Quick video review of the Canon 24mm - 70mm f2l8L lens you may find useful:-

The Canon 24mm – 70mm f2.8L is an excellent lens for boudoir shots, however there are others that are also worth considering. Check out this post.

Lenses that should never be used for boudoir photography

If there’s one lens you should never (and I mean never) use for boudoir photography it is a macro lens. Macro lenses will pick up every spot, blemish, pimple, variation in skin tone and mark – i.e. they are too sharp and pick up too much detail. Boudoir photos are meant to be flattering, classy and sassy and a macro lens will not capture these types of photos.

Related reading

Below are other boudoir photography related posts, tutorials and articles you may find useful/interesting:-