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This guide will walk you through the best lenses for boudoir photography on the market today.
Given its intimate nature and setting and the fact that it generally uses natural light, boudoir photography requires lenses with specific features.
In this article, we’ll look at what those features are and which lenses possess them.
Something for you to note: Canon lenses are the default in this guide, but we have provided links to lenses for other brands.
What Are the Best Lenses for Boudoir Photography in 2024?
24-70mm f/2.8 (Best All-Around Boudoir Photography Lens)
Pros
Versatile focal range
Wide aperture
Great optical quality
Good in tight spaces
While many prefer primes, using a 24-70mm f/2.8 lens gives you several advantages.
Firstly, it’s simply an extremely versatile focal range to have in one lens.
It allows you to create a wide variety of compositions, from wider shots capturing the room’s ambiance to tighter portraits emphasizing intimacy.
Plus, its constant f/2.8 aperture ensures consistent exposure across the zoom range and provides excellent low-light performance – ideal for the subdued lighting typical of boudoir settings.
That wide aperture also creates beautiful background blur and subject isolation when shooting at longer focal lengths.
If you’re a boudoir photographer shooting with one camera body, this lens is also a must.
In my experience, the model doesn’t care that the prime lens is sharper, or that it’s better at blurring out the background. They do care that you’re messing around with lens swaps while they stand around waiting.
Changing lenses takes both of you out of the creative flow of the moment, which can be hard to get back in this kind of shoot.
The lens we’re highlighting here, the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8, is not as technically superior as the Tamron or the Sony, but it has a beautiful rendering. (The Tamron is quite clinical).
For native lenses, see (most of) the links below.
And, anyone using an APS-C system will need to use a 16-50mm to get the same focal range.
Nikon FX [Amazon | B&H] | Nikon Z [Amazon | B&H] | Nikon DX [Amazon | B&H] | Canon EF [Amazon | B&H] | Canon APS-C [Amazon | B&H] | Canon RF [Amazon | B&H] | Sony FE [Amazon | B&H] | Sony E [Amazon | B&H] | Fujifilm [Amazon | B&H] | Micro Four-Thirds [Amazon | B&H]
35mm f/1.8 (Best Low-Light Prime for Boudoir Photography In Small Spaces)
Credit: Kay Warner
Pros
Natural perspective
Excellent low-light performance
Great image quality
Good in tight spaces
When it comes to primes, whether you shoot with a 35mm or a 50mm comes down to personal preference.
But, the 35mm will give you more wiggle room in confined spaces. Plus it gives you that human-eye perspective, which is a joy to shoot with – leading to more natural, flattering compositions with very few distortions.
Its wide maximum aperture of f/1.8 produces exceptional low-light performance and, of course, is also great for separating your subject from their background, and/or getting creative with shallow depth of field.
Photographers using APS-C cameras should use 24mm lenses to get the same perspective as a full-frame 25mm.
For lenses for (most) other brands, see the links below.
Nikon FX [Amazon | B&H] | Nikon Z [Amazon | B&H] | Nikon DX [Amazon | B&H] | Canon EF [Amazon | B&H] | Canon APS-C [Amazon | B&H] | Canon RF [Amazon | B&H] | Sony FE [Amazon | B&H] | Sony APS-C [Amazon | B&H] | Fujifilm [Amazon | B&H] | Micro Four-Thirds [Amazon | B&H]
50mm f/1.8 (Best All-Purpose Low-Light Prime)
Pros
Versatile
Lightweight and compact
Great image quality
Good for capturing details
Great low-light performance
Cons
Might be a little tight in smaller spaces
A 50mm f/1.8 lens is an excellent all-round choice.
With its wide maximum aperture of f/1.8, these lenses excel in the low-light conditions boudoir shoots often happen in.
They generally have excellent optical quality, and provide you with crisp, vibrant images even in dimly lit rooms.
50mms are normally lightweight and compact, so, easy to handle and maneuver.
It’s also a great focal length for intimate portraits and shots that focus more on details than the overall scene, and a good focal length to create a comfortable distance between you and your subject.
APS-C shooter would need a 35mm lens to replicate this full-frame focal length.
For other lens possibilities, see below.
Nikon FX [Amazon | B&H] | Nikon Z [Amazon | B&H] | Nikon DX [Amazon | B&H] | Canon EF [Amazon | B&H] | Canon APS-C [Amazon | B&H] | Canon RF [Amazon | B&H] | Sony FE [Amazon | B&H] | Sony APS-C [Amazon | B&H] | Fujifilm [Amazon | B&H] | Micro Four-Thirds [Amazon | B&H]
85mm f/1.8 (Best Low-Light Prime for Boudoir Portraits)
Pros
Fast lens
Very sharp images
Great build and design
Excellent in low light
Cons
Can’t use this in small spaces
The 85mm f/1.8 is a classic portrait lens.
It’s long enough to enable you to compress your images (while still keeping you close enough to your subject to be able to communicate with them), giving your backgrounds a dreamy quality while highlighting your subject.
And, that wide aperture not only gives you great low-light performance, but also the ability to get creative with shallow depth of field.
The lens highlighted here, the Canon 85mm f/1.8 USM, is also known for its excellent colour rendering and the edge-to-edge sharpness of the images it produces.
Follow the links below for native lens options.
Its APS-C equivalent would be a 56mm lens.
Nikon FX [Amazon | B&H] | Nikon Z [Amazon | B&H] | Nikon Z DX [Amazon | B&H] | Canon EF [Amazon | B&H] | Canon APS-C [Amazon | B&H] | Canon RF [Amazon | B&H] | Sony FE [Amazon | B&H] | Sony APS-C [Amazon | B&H] | Fujifilm [Amazon | B&H] | Micro Four-Thirds [Amazon | B&H]
What Features Are Important in a Boudoir Photography Lens?
The perfect lens has a wide aperture, image stabilization for handheld shooting, and high-quality optics for sharpness and clarity.
In an ideal world, a focal length of between 50mm to 85mm would be best, as that range gives you a balance between nice image compression and a comfortable shooting distance between you and your subject.
However, boudoir shoots often take place in smaller spaces, so you’re normally going to need something wider. That makes 24-70mm zoom lenses an attractive option, as you can fit more into the frame, yet also get room for compression at the higher end of the range.
You wouldn’t want a longer portrait lens, though, for example, a 105mm. That will make things too cramped.
You’ll also want smooth, precise, and quiet autofocus (to not disturb your subject too much).
You also need to choose between zooms or primes.
Prime lenses are often faster, so they provide better low-light performance and more flattering subject isolation.
They also tend to have superior optical quality and are generally smaller and lighter, making them versatile and easy to handle.
On the other hand, zoom lenses provide flexibility in framing compositions without changing lenses.
This allows for adaptability and quick changes of perspective during a boudoir session and means you won’t have to break your creative flow and concentration to change lenses.
Of course, if you have two camera bodies, that won’t be an issue.
What Are the Best Lens Settings for Boudoir Photography?
Aperture
A wide aperture such as f/1.4 to f/2.8 is best.
With that, you can create a shallow depth of field that allows for creamy backgrounds that will highlight your subject. Plus, you get the optimum low-light performance.
Focal Length
Focal lengths between 50mm to 85mm are commonly used as they provide both a flattering perspective and compression while also giving you and your subject a comfortable shooting distance.
Of course, this is the ideal. In many boudoir situations, you might be in quite a confined space, so having a wider lens, especially a zoom lens like a 24-70mm will be the best option.
Shutter Speed
To avoid camera shake and motion blur, aim for a shutter speed of at least 1/125 or faster, especially when shooting handheld or capturing subtle movements.
The general rule of thumb is that your shutter speed should be double your focal length. So, if you’re shooting with a 50mm, that’s a shutter speed of 1/100. However, that’s the absolute minimum.
ISO
Keep your ISO as low as possible to minimize noise while ensuring proper exposure.
But, be prepared to increase your ISO when necessary to maintain image quality and allow for high enough shutter speeds.
White Balance
Set your white balance according to the lighting conditions to ensure accurate colour representation. This is especially important for skin tones.
You want to get as much right in-camera to make it easier once you get to the post-processing.
Also, make sure to shoot in RAW format for greater latitude in that post-processing.
Manual Focus vs Autofocus
Use autofocus with single-point focus or manual focus to ensure precise focus on your subject’s eyes or other key features.
During boudoir shoots you can move slowly, so take the time to nail your focus.
Image Stabilization
If your camera and/or lens has image stabilization, activate it to reduce the effects of camera shake.
Often you’ll be shooting handheld or in low light, so you’ll need all the help you can get.
Filters
If you want to create a flattering look, one that smooths any skin imperfections and adds a dreamy quality to your images, using a soft-focus or diffusion filter can be a good idea.
FAQs About Lenses for Boudoir Photography
Which lens is best for natural lighting in boudoir photography?
Any lens that has a wide aperture is best to use in natural lighting.
For the best image quality, your lens needs to be able to take in as much light as possible. This allows you to shoot handheld while keeping your ISO low.
Do I need a fast lens when using natural lighting in boudoir photography?
Yes, you do, for the reasons outlined above.
Which is better for boudoir photography – a prime lens or a zoom lens?
Primes are probably ideal, especially for those shooting on more than one camera body.
But, a zoom lens, as long as it has a consistently wide aperture, will give you more versatility.
What is the best Fujifilm lens for boudoir photography?
If you’re in a bigger space, the best lens is the Fujinon XF 56mm f/1.2 R lens (85mm equivalent), otherwise the Fujinon XF 35mm f/1.4 R (50mm equivalent).
What is the difference between boudoir and glamour photography?
The first is a celebration of intimacy and sensuality. Subjects are often photographed in lingerie (or implied nudity), and the focus is empowerment and/or self-love.
The second aims to create polished images that highlight the subject’s physical attractiveness and elegance. Glamour shots are typically used for editorial or commercial purposes.
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