I have been photographing weddings for over 25 years now and if there's one thing I know - the key to a beautiful image and the key to a sellable image is one in the same - flattery. You have to know how to position your subject so the highlights and the shadows hit them in the right places. You have to understand the anatomy and shape of your client, to showcase their best features and hide the flaws. For a woman, whether it's bridal or boudoir - your aim should remain the same. Flatter her figure.

Over the last few years, I have started photographing more and more boudoir sessions which in reality, are not much different from my bridal sessions. A bride is merely a woman in a white dress and if you're posing them correctly in your bridal images, you can take that same mentality to work a boudoir session.  

In early January I held my 'Cantrell Couture Weddings' workshop in my studio here in Benicia and I had the opporutunity to photograph a beautiful woman by the name of Patty Herrera. Soon after the workshop ended, Patty booked me to photograph her wedding, engagement session and a boudoir package for her soon to be husband.

We had the boudoir session a couple days ago and I am so excited about these images. I have posted a couple of them here for you along with a couple from the wedding workshop to demonstrate that no matter what the occasion is, my aim is to flatter my client. As you can see from these sample images, whether it's boudoir or bridal, the poses are almost identical.

 By the way,  I will be teaching a two day Boudoir/ Fine Art Nude course with award winning photographer Scott Bourne, on June 12-13th in my amazing Benicia Studio.  For details go to:  http://www.aperturenatureworkshops.com/pics/boudoirworkshop.jpg

I've had a wonderful week of photographing babies and children, and my favorite type of session to do, is in the clients home. The secret to success?  Keep it simple.  Simple props, simple lighting (the kind that arrives naturally) and a great deal of patience.  You need more than a good camera to capture great images, and it is no accident.  Beautiful images come from understanding proper use of depth of field, the direction of light and manipulating it to your advantage.  In addition to the above, timing is everything.  Knowing when to press the shutter is critical in capturing the decisive moment. 

In the series of images above, I used just the existing light in the bathroom, and had my associate photographer, Michael Van Auken, hold a reflector just out of camera view to bounce the light back into Chelsea's face.  Notice that I am about 45 degrees to the right of the direction of light. That direction gives me definition, and dimensionality.  My fstop was 2.8@60th second and lense choice was the 70-200 2.8 L Canon lense.   One more thing,  On two of the images, I've left the tungston light setting on.  I enjoy the warmth.

Last week I had the opportunity of photographing the children of two of my favorite friends, Kostas and Kristy Mallios of Seattle.   I've been photographing these two girls since pretty much the day they were born.  It has been my experience that images captured in the privacy of the family home lends itself to a wonderful "homey" feel, with relaxed children, and images that are a bit more "real."  I used simple tools for capture:  The Canon EOS Mark IV,  the 135 2.0 lense,  the 70-200 2.8 and a few with the 28-70 2.8 lense.   My apperature is always around 2.8 or less depending upon the amount of information I wish to have in focus.  My first priority is to find the light, and then photograph with that light source in mind.  All of these images were shot using either window light or existing room lights.  The key to success:  Be aware of your surroundings, the direction of light, and let the kids dictate the flow.

Bambi Cantrell

Every once in a while a photo session comes along that just makes me giggle, this was one.. I started by taking a tour of the family home and settled upon Katie's bedroom for our session. I used window light as the main light, and posed my subject with the main light in mind.  From there, I started by telling her to jump on the bed for me.  This is always a great ice breaker,  (something mom wouldn't like teehee)  and as a result, got my subject to relax and "give it up for me and give real smiles."  At the end of the day, perfection is not only about great exposures, the correct fstop and such, but about expression.

Bambi Cantrell

I recently had the honor of teaching a one day workshop for the Detroit Professional Photographers Association.  During the program I had the honor of photographing a lovely young woman and here are a few images from that session.  I've done minor retouching eg, color correction, skin softening and removing blemishes.

It is a well known fact that color can be a powerful motivator of people, and I can honestly say It sure motivates me, certain colors make me feel happy.  With that in mind,  I look for colorful walls to enhance a bridal portrait, and create an image that will both motivate my subject and give my image that extra snap.  You will note that I've tried to take an image that fits the feel of the wall I'm shooting against.  Red walls make me feel playful, and flirty, blue ones, make me shoot a bit more mysteriously.  OK.. who am I kidding,  I just try to make an image that reflects a playful feel, and one that will give my subject pleasure.  At the end of the day it is about expression.  Expression over perfection.. that is my motto.  Additionally, I've used just an open window opposite the subject for illumination.  Enjoy!

Bambi Cantrell

Today's tip is about camera angles, or should I say the appropriate angle can make you a camera angel in the mind of the subject.  Sorry, a little photog humor.. ok it is after all Sunday.  :)  Last night I was sitting at dinner with my two friends Angela and Steve Post when Angela asks' for Steve to take our picture.  Without skipping a beat, Steve stands up and takes a very nice photo of Angela and I together.  What made it a nice photo?  Why the higher camera angle.  Yes, Steve made himself a camera angel with one click.  No fancy camera's,  expensive lights, but just a nice high camera angle on two mature women.

Bambi Cantrell

Posing the female form starts with the feet and legs, and even though the feet are not in full view, their position is still important.  Notice how the left leg is crossed over the right.  This forces the right hip out, giving shape to the waist.  In addition, position the arms away from the body to show the waistline.  All  of this is done with the light source in mind, and the face is then turned back towards the light.  Illumination is provided by a large window on the left and a reflector just out of camera view on the right.