They say men are visual creatures, so if you want to get him all hot and bothered, sending sexy snaps is a pretty good bet. Before giving it a shot (heh), read this list of tips and tricks we’ve gleaned from professional photographers. Happy snapping!
They say men are visual creatures, so if you want to get him all hot and bothered, sending sexy snaps is a pretty good bet. Before giving it a shot (heh), read this list of tips and tricks we’ve gleaned from professional photographers. Happy snapping!
THE EXPERTS
Elvina Farkas, Anue Studios (www.anuestudios.com)
Carolyn Soemarjono, The Boudoir Photographer (www.theboudoirphotographer.com.sg)
1 You don’t have to show everything
The concept that less is more is very applicable when it comes to nudes. If you’re not comfortable with going full-frontal, just give him a little teaser instead. “Try on his shirt, with nothing but a pair of lacy black undies underneath and snap yourself rolling around on the bed,” suggests Carolyn.
You don’t have to include your whole body in the shot, either. “Consider shooting only a hint of a curve or a portion of your body you know your partner would love to see more of,” adds Carolyn.
“You’d be surprised at how many people tell me they adore their partner’s legs, back, neck, or butt.”
2 Know your body
Figure out what assets you want to flaunt. Try different poses, and practice in front of a mirror if you have to. Lie down, sit down, stand up, contort yourself into a pretzel… whatever works for you. After all, bodies come in all shapes and sizes, and what looks good for one girl might not work as well for you.
Elvina has the following advice: “If you have a rocking booty, turn your body slightly side-on. If you have killer curves, enhance them by wearing heels or standing slightly on your tiptoes. Those blessed with an ample or perky rack, a slightly higher angle is perfect for you.”
3 Set the mood (lighting)
Bright lights, or just using the ceiling light as your only light source, is a huge no-no. As a general rule, keep the lighting soft because a) it’s sexy and b) it’s super flattering for everyone because it doesn’t cast harsh shadows. Natural lighting is the best, so you should try standing next to your window.
But let’s be honest – you’re more likely to be in the mood to snap a sexy selfie at 11pm than 11am. So if sunlight isn’t an option, try throwing light on yourself with a bedside lamp or some candles. Still too bright and harsh? Throw a plain white tee or a scarf over the lamp. You can also play around with your light sources, such as having a backlight to accentuate your silhouette.
4 Clean up the background
Sure, he might be excited by a photo of you in bed with some Victoria’s Secret lingerie, but we reckon that excitement might die down real fast if he spots your chou chou in the corner. Doing a mirror shot? Make sure you wipe it first. And if you’re taking nudes in the bathroom, it’s not going to look so good if you can see toothbrushes, hair dryers, and dirty laundry just scattered about in the background. Which brings us to the next point…
5 Location, location, location
Don’t just confine yourself to the bedroom! Try the bathroom for some steamier nudes. “Try taking a shot through the glass of a hot, steamy shower (use the timer function!), or simply in a bathtub filled with bubbles,” says Carolyn. This lets you show off – but teasingly.
6 Invest in equipment
It might sound like overkill, but hey, you’ve got to think like an influencer and do whatever it takes to get the shot. A tripod would definitely be helpful for half or full body shots, but a selfie stick can work in a pinch as well. This will allow you to play with your angles and give you more options to choose from. While you’re at it, some lighting accessories for your phone can also come in handy.
7 Set the timer
“Use the timer function to be able to place the phone further away from you,” Carolyn advises. This will also give you some time to get your position right before the shutter clicks, making it especially useful for butt selfies.
8 Edit before sending
Just like you slap on a filter and adjust things like exposure, contrast, and saturation for your Instagram photos, you should also process your nudes first before sending. Both photographers suggest using a black and white filter, because it immediately makes a photo look more artistic, which is the effect you want to go for if you are keeping your nudes tasteful.
And if you’re too busy to filter your nudes, or are just plain cheeky, Elvina has this great suggestion: “For those who are on the run but want to send a little something special to your bae, try using Snapchat. A cheeky snap with some fun filters is a perfect midday pickup for you and your partner!”
9 Get creative
You don’t have to try too hard. Be playful. Have fun. Send him a snap as you’re getting undressed to get in the shower. Give him a little preview of some sexy lingerie underneath your work outfit preview of some sexy lingerie underneath your work outfit. Intentionally make the shot blurry or out of focus – the possibilities are endless.
10 Feel yourself
We mean figuratively. It doesn’t matter if you’re baring it all or throwing on some cute lingerie – the most important thing is you need to be feel comfortable with whatever you’re doing. Think Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, Emily Ratajkowski, or Chrissy Teigen with their body-flaunting Instas. Like Elvina says: “Be confident! If you’re going to do this, rock it and show ’em how damn fine your lady bits are!”
Privacy, please
Here are some best practices to guarantee your private pictures remain just that.
Crop your face out
“My number one tip for sexting images is to keep them anonymous by not showing your face clearly [or at all],” says Carolyn. “This is really the only way to avoid uncomfortable situations with family, friends or future employers.” It’s also a good idea to edit or blur out other identifiable details, like tattoos, piercings or distinct moles, and hide all location details.
Use private messaging apps
There are apps like Couple and Between that let you send photos to your partner privately and can be set to self-destruct after a while. However, remember they can always take a screenshot.
Remember to delete
After taking and sending those shots, go to your camera roll and delete them. It will also avoid embarrassment when you pull out your phone to show your relatives some holiday snaps, only for them scroll a little too far behind.
Only send them to someone you trust
Revenge porn is vile, but it happens. Just look at Rob and Chyna. In fact, the distribution of any materials deemed “obscene” is prohibited in Singapore. Any violation of this – whether it’s photographs or videos – can get you up to three months in jail, a fine, or both.
Images The Boudoir Photographer Text Sophie Hong.
