Are Afterglow Photos A Trend In Boudoir? -- How To Do Them Right!
Updated: May 13
If boudoir is anything, it's constantly evolving. Shot ideas appear out of seemingly nowhere... and grow to sudden popularity. Its so trendy! I can think of several boudoir trends over the past several years including: "Under the sheets" sets, "Legs Up" type poses, and more.
One of the most recent influential events on boudoir was undoubtedly the 50 Shades Of Grey era. Remember that? I can't tell you how many women came in for their sessions toting along riding crops, masks, and other props associated with the movie and its sequel(s) ...And why not! Suddenly, my clients were showing up with accessories galore and part way through the session, when they were starting to have a bit of fun, I'd get a somewhat uncertain, "Is is OK if we do some shots with my handcuffs?"
It almost was a social signal like, It's OK to let loose and have a bit of fun. --And women heard the message.
So, you want be the first on your block to sport the next trend in boudoir none of your squad has in their albums yet? Want to take your boudoir session a step further? Well, I have just the new trendy thing for you... the afterglow photo.
The first time I heard of afterglow photos was a few years ago. I was emailing with an escort about a session and she had asked if we could include some in her session. I had no idea what that meant and did a quick search on the Google machine-- and found nothing. I thought perhaps it was a movie or something, but I really didn't give it much thought.
On session day she brought it up again, so I had to ask and told her I hadn't heard of that before. "Well..." she started, and I soon got a quick education. So, what's an afterglow photo?
Ready to learn a bit more?
What Is An Afterglow Photo?
An afterglow photo is a photo taken at, during, or immediately after the process of climax. The idea is to capture that natural "glow" and mood of the moment. Sound a bit edgy? Sure. Are they fun to do? Yup! The truth is, when done properly they can really add drama to your boudoir album. I'm hear to tell you afterglow photos may be the new trend in boudoir! Now that I've been doing afterglow photos a few years, I'll give you the lowdown so you can be prepared to get your own. First off, there are two ways afterglow photos can be achieved: Simulated or real.
Fake It Till You Make It: The Simulated Method
Are you a good actor? You can put your acting skills to the test with this pose! There isn't just one right way to get this shot, but I've found the easiest (natural?) approach to get cute afterglow photos is to simply lay back on the bed with your head propped up on pillows (like you were just laying down to take a nap) and get started from there. An alternative method I do, as well, is to lay reverse on the bed where your feet are pointing toward the headboard while on your back with perhaps your head hanging over the edge of the bed just a bit.
This shot is focused more on your facial expressions than other parts of your body, so get comfortable, and well, think of how you may typically tilt your head or position your arms during that buildup or orgasm. Take a moment to start channeling your inner Meg Ryan. After you've taken a few moments to get into the right state of mind, it's time to start taking shots.
My tip here is to take a few test shots and review them with the photographer (on the camera back.) You'll be able to get a preview, and be honest about what you see. Make any small adjustments necessary and keep working at it. Make sure your hands are properly positioned, or make any minor changes to your posture, if needed. If you can convincingly display that look at the point of orgasm... you've got it! But beware! This takes more practice than you think.
Don't go too far! There is a fine line here between super sexy, and well, a bit over dramatic.
Once in a while you may run into a photographer who won't let you preview any photos with you. (This is probably a photographer you shouldn't be attempting this type of shot with... but that's another story.) Why some photographers do this... I don't know, but they are out there. If you are in a situation where you won't be able to see your shots till after your session is completed and you gain access to your proofing gallery, you're going to have to go on your best instinct. This makes things harder because of the lack of immediate feedback in the camera preview screen. If this turns out to be the case in your session, remember... you can still try this simulated method, and you can always discard the proofs if they don't look the way you look. Take what you've seen, and practice for next time!
After doing this type of shot for a few years there's one thing I've learned. It's a lot tougher than you think to fake it! Some of the funniest times I've had are laughing along with my clients while reviewing their afterglow photos. This really is a fun shot to do. It is, however, a bit harder to pull off with a genuine look than most women think. There are a lot of women who say "I can do that, no problem," and when they view the results, well, it's not quite what they want.
Keeping It Real.
The second way to get this shot done is, well, a bit more real. For those who want to capture the real essence of their afterglow-- there's no better way to do it... than to do it! The best way to get this done is with a vibrator.
Currently, vibes are a popular prop and find their way into quite a few boudoir sessions. There are lot of cute and downright sexy shots we do using a vibrator-- and women seem to love these. Vibrator shots, themselves, are one of the trendy things going on in boudoir in their own right. For clients who planned on including some vibe shots-- if the mood strikes it can also be put to use to get those great afterglow photos.
Obviously, there needs to be a bit of a level of trust and comfort between you and the photographer for this to be a successful shot. When clients ask me about doing afterglow shots, I typically give them the same guidelines as if they were asking about doing nude or topless shots: If they feel comfortable with themselves and with the session it will be a success. If they are going to have that "deer caught in the headlights" look-- which is not a good look in photos-- generally, this type of shot won't turn out quite the way you intend.
Here's a secret: I've found, though, that the easiest path to great afterglow photos, though, is a pair of vibrating undies. If you are serious about your afterglow photos, pick up a good pair of vibrating undies! The great part about the vibrating undies is that they leave your arms free to get a bit more involved in the posing.
It seems there are lot of variations of panty vibes available. Some styles come with a pair of custom designed undies that have a little pouch built into the gusset. This type of panty vibe typically includes a little bullet vibe which simply slips into sewn-in pouch in the panties, and you're good to go. The other style of panty vibe is simply just the vibrator that is designed to stay in place using any underwear that you may already own. Often, these types of panty vibes are anatomically designed with a shape that helps them stay in place.
The brand I've always had on hand is Secrets, but I've also used CalExotics Lock-N-Play, which is the "use-with-any-type-of-undie" style. The things I've learned about panty vibes, though, is they can be pretty hit-or-miss in terms of quality and efficacy. Like any other purchase, if you're searching for the cheapest possible option available at your favorite online retailer-- you'll get what you pay for.
Once you've got your fav style of vibrating undies all figured out, jump in the sheets and get things started on a low to medium speed and let things build gradually. My preference is to do these laying prone on the back with your head propped up on pillow, but I have done it on hand and knees (doggy-style) with the woman looking forward with great results, as well.
Once you get going... it typically only take a few minutes, and if the photographer is on the ball, the results are going to be a lot more genuine (naturally. 😀)
Are Afterglow Photos For You?
Afterglow photos are really fun to do, but of course they're not for everyone. If you are uncomfortable about the entire idea, the results won't be super successful. For those, however, who are up for the thrill of something a bit more erotic on their profiles, an expertly done afterglow photo may just be the shot you for-- there's just no substitute for the "real" thing.
Sound like something you'd be interested in trying out? First thing I'd do is bring up the topic with your photographer and get some feedback. (You can even point them to this article for reference.) The simple truth is for most boudoir photographers, this is something that is probably not out of the ordinary.
Another consideration is the context. If you are doing an elegant bridal boudoir album full of white lace and veils, this type of photo may seem a bit out of place.
Remember: A boudoir session is a bit about having fun. Rolling around in your underwear isn't exactly serious business, so if there is ever a time and a place for afterglow shots... this is it.
From my experience, woman are all unique, so are their results. Not everyone is so dramatic during an orgasm, but the fun of it is you may not know until you try. If you happen to be one of the natural "sultry-look" orgasmers... cheers! These photos can be extremely alluring and can be well worth the effort in terms of results.
Whether you choose to "fake" it, or "make" it, afterglow shots can certainly add a bit sexy to your boudoir session. I've had clients who have loved the shots so much... they became wall canvases. Now that's a photo with a little secret behind it!
Good luck, and happy "afterglowing!"