Posing Guide: 5 Best Boudoir Photo Shoot Poses

Whether you are taking a few selfies, just booked a boudoir photo shoot, or getting together with friends to snap some steamy shots — finding the best poses for your body can take some practice. As a professional boudoir photographer with over a decade of experience, I am here to help! 

This blog post will explore the best photo shoot poses for your upcoming boudoir session, with variations for different body types. So whether you are plus size or petite, this posing guide has tips and tricks to help you unleash your self-love posing power and look incredible in your photos. 

Boudoir Poses For Every Body Type

You’re probably wondering if this guide is right for you. The truth is, there is no guarantee that any ‘one pose’ will work for everyone. Lighting, angle, and other details can make a huge difference to how each pose ultimately looks.

My job as a professional boudoir photographer is to guide you through the different variations of each of these poses. So you can find the perfect position for you and your unique body. 

Boudoir Pose #1: The Top Down Floor Sit

This boudoir photo shoot pose requires you to sit on the floor with a couch, bed, or chair behind you for you to rest your head on. For the right camera angle, I recommend shooting from the side or above as shown in the sample images provided.

Variations For Different Body Types: Lean your elbows against the bed/chair and lift your butt from the ground. Meanwhile, use your legs and arms for support (as shown in the picture below).  

Another way is to sit on your butt with one or both legs up in a triangle shape (shown in picture above). To create extra curve in the chest, bring one arm across your body right under the chest, hugging yourself. Otherwise, place your hand on your thigh or by your side. Your other hand can be used freely to play with your hair, rub your neck or chest, or pull on your clothes — if you have any on!

Boudoir Pose #2: Laying On The Bed

This pose is one of the most popular poses most boudoir photographers use. But it’s important to remember — this pose looks different on everyone. Make sure to play with different camera angles and variations to make this pose look right for you. 

I recommend starting with a high camera angle to show off your beautiful face. This camera angle usually comes from the head down rather than directly above. This will help give you a sexy and defined jawline. The hangup with this pose is making sure your chin comes up more than you would expect. We don’t want your face hidden from the camera so raise your chin as much as possible. You may need to hang your head off the bed a bit if your neck is stiff. 

Variations For Different Body Types: One variation of this post is laying your legs together to one side instead or straight up. This can change how your stomach and hips are accentuated. Try both to see which looks better for you. 

Another variation is placing your hands across the chest (just like we did in the variations above). Or, you can lay your arms flat on the bed above your head as shown in the photo below. These variations can affect how your arms and chest are accentuated. I encourage you to play with both to see which style feels right for you. 

Boudoir Pose #3: Over The Shoulder Booty Shot

This boudoir pose is my personal favourite! It allows you to showcase your booty and face at the same time. First, you start by turning your body to face away from the camera. Then you twist at the torso so your butt remains towards the camera but now your face is also turned toward the camera. This pose is great for anyone worried about their stomach. 

Variations For Different Body Types: Instead of standing on both legs, you can kneel on the leg closest to the camera (like you see in the photo above). Or, you can sit on your hip and lift your butt towards the camera (as seen in the photo below).

Another variation is taking your hand closest to the camera and placing it on your waist or thigh. You can even put it in your hair if that looks good. Your other hand can be used for stability if needed, on the waist, across the chest, or rubbing the side of your neck. 

Boudoir Pose #4: The Kneel

The Kneel is another classic pose used by most boudoir photographers. The base of this pose requires kneeling on the ground with your knees separated as much as you comfortably can. The camera angles recommended for this pose are from the side or above. 

Variations For Different Body Types: Some people get a GREAT booty shot with this pose photographed from the back. So play around with which side you want to show off. You can also try different variations of kneeling with or without sitting your butt down. (As shown in the example photos) 

Boudoir Pose #5: The Front Lay

This pose is great for accentuating your chest and thighs while still giving your gorgeous face the spotlight. It’s also a great shot for tucking the tummy.

The base of this pose is to lay on your stomach, lean on your elbows, and lift one thigh up towards the camera. A front camera angle is usually best as shown in these examples, but I encourage you to try different angles and see what works best for you.

Variations For Different Body Types: Your one arm may be limited due to elbow support but you can lean your head on your hand (shown above), or leave it down by your side close to the body (shown below). Another fun variation is having your other hand grip the bed sheets, pull on a strap, nibble the finger, or play with your hair. Try them all and see which ones you love! 

Did You Love These Sexy Pose Ideas?

There are so many ways to take great photos and we barely scratched the surface today. I hope this guide helps you feel comfortable with the idea of posing and encourages you to try new things. Feel free to come up with your own variations, too. What works for one person might not work for the next. 

If you enjoyed this blog post, make sure to join my online community or sign up for my newsletter below so you can get a copy of my Selfie Posing Guide — coming soon!

If you are interested in booking a boudoir photo shoot or have questions about posing, please reach out. I am a full-time boudoir photographer in Edmonton, Alberta and am here to help anyone looking to embark on the journey of self-love and expression.