DIY photoshoots on a Budget: A Recipe for Self Portrait Photoshoots for Sex Workers

DIY photoshoots on a Budget:

A Recipe for Self Portrait Photoshoots for Sex Workers

Written by Lauren AKA Silk Lab Photography

In a world driven by visuals, where every scroll, click, and tap leads to an endless stream of images, the power of a single photograph is undeniable. This is especially true when you're in the realm of sex work. Think about it – you want to grab a potential client's attention with just one pic that makes them stop, read your profile, and maybe even shoot you a message. That one image is your chance to make them curious enough to take the plunge, learn more, and more importantly - make a booking!

Whether you're just starting out or it’s just time to update your photos to something more recent, you've probably realised that getting a pro photoshoot can rack up quite the bill.

Don't get me wrong, professional photoshoots defintiely have their perks – they’re great quality, they make clients feel like they can trust you, and they give your brand an air of “legitimacy” and overall have a great return on investment. Plus, you can get a bunch of outfits and poses done in no time. But sometimes, it can be bit like the chicken-and-egg situationyou need photos to bring in that income, but you need funds available already to book a shoot. That’s where a DIY selfportrait session comes in handy.

With a bit of creativity, a sprinkle of confidence, and the right techniques, you can craft captivating self-portraits that exude both sensuality and personality. I'm a firm believer that you only need three killer photos to start your online profile (you can add more pics overtime if needed). And guess what? You don't need to be a pro photographer to get them.

In this article, I'm diving into a bunch of tips and tricks to help you snap your own self-portraits using just your phone camera. If you're ready to get your new profile up without breaking the bank, read on for my budget friendly DIY Self-Portrait Recipe.

Essential Ingredients for a Photoshoot

A location you love with lots of natural light

At least 1 outfit you love and feel confident in Hair Styling

Makeup (Optional - if you blur your face you can skip this if you like!)

A Smartphone to take the snaps

Some spare time to actually do the shoot! Free Editing Apps

Method

Pre Shoot - Step 1: Choose a location

Locations can really make or break a shoot. I find that something that has an abundance of natural light works best. Here’s a list of location suggestions:

Your bedroom, house or apartment (or a generous friend’s place) - FREE! The easiest, most accessible and free option with zero time constraints for you to shoot in and experiment with is your own space. When shooting in your own space I recommend taking the time to tidy the space and keep clutter to a minimum. Take out anything unnecessary or clunky in the background like a tissue box or backpack, whatever. Simple is always better, and will help keep the focus of the image and attention on you.

Natural lighting can work wonders, so experiment with different times of day and window angles to cast beautiful light and shadows. Hot Tip: Sheer curtains will give a beautiful soft light that looks great on skin.

If you have privacy concerns about shooting in your own space, I would recommend shooting in an area that has no elements that would easily identify the space as yours. This could be as simple as shooting your photos up against a white wall with only you in the frame, or removing any personal items or furniture from the shots that are unique to you.

If privacy and anonymity is of high priority to you, and you’re unable to remove personal items from the background then I would recommend you reconsider shooting in your own home at all.

Outdoors - Free!

There are so many great outdoor options you can choose - and clothed photos can work just as well as lingerie, underwear, implied and/or outright nude shots. For this option you may need the assistance of a good friend or basic phone tripod (check out Amazon or Kmart). Here’s a few ideas:

Out in the park, a cute casual look

On the beach or by a pool - throw on your favourite swimmers

Out and about getting brunch, coffee, or maybe some cocktails in your favourite evening wear.

Get physical and put on some activewear, an internet favourite look for sure

A brothel, massage parlour, strip club, or other establishment - FREE!

If you’re already working within an establishment that has rooms or areas for you to take selfies in then I say make the most of it! Especially if you’re wanting to use the photos to promote that you work in that particular place.

This option can be a bit trickier as you’ll generally not have access to natural light, and will be dealing with whatever artificial available light the space has. However, you can get creative with rearranging the positions of lamps in the room, or moving yourself around the space until you find a spot that has flattering or interesting light that you’d like to use.

You could also experiment with using the flash on you phone, or having a friend turn on their phone torch and holding it above you at different angles whilst you take the photos on your phone.

A Hotel Room or Airbnb

If you do have a bit of a budget to play around with, then you can look into booking a hotel room or Airbnb specifically for your personal photoshoot. Or if you’re currently working and find yourself in a suitable outcall location, make the most of being there and experiment with taking a few snaps!

www.dayuse.com

Prices range from $100-$300 for between 6-10 hours during daytime hours

Hot Tip! Make sure to cross check the name of the room type on the Day use website with the photos of the room with the same name on either the direct hotel website or www.booking.com - I have found that dayuse often posts photos of all of their rooms and it can be hard to tell which room you will actually get on the day of the booking.

www.booking.com or www.airbnb.com

Prices vary - Overnight stays

Hot Tip! Be mindful of check in and check out times. Sometimes in the winter you will only have a small window of natural light time between check in time and sunset. In this case I recommend planning to do a morning photoshoot before check out time so you are un rushed

Another Hot Tip! Find a friend who also wants to do a selfie photoshoot to share the room with, and share the cost with.

And another Hot Tip! I find booking.com great for searching for hotels within your city/area, but double check with the hotel directly first before booking as you may get a cheaper price directly.

Pre Shoot - Step 2: Choose an Outfit

You don't need an extensive wardrobe to create a captivating self portrait. Raid your closet for pieces that make you feel beautiful and confident. Don't hesitate to borrow from friends; they might have hidden treasures that can add variety to your shots. Keep it simple, especially if you're new to self-portraiture. Start with one outfit that reflects your personality and style.

Your location choice might dictate your outfit choice, or vice versa. Have fun with it, this is where you get to be creative.

On the Day - Step 3: Hair Styling

Styling your hair for your DIY photoshoot might just be the secret ingredient that takes your self portraits from ordinary to extraordinary. Your hair is a versatile accessory that can amplify the mood and aesthetics of your shots and can be a prop in and of itself. If you blur your face for your profile it can also be a helpful tool to obscure your face in certain shots to avoid blurring. It frames your face (even when blurred), adds dimension to your poses, and complements your wardrobe choices, enhancing the overall cohesiveness of your images.

If you’re confident in styling your own hair, then do what you normally do!

If you’re not so confident or you want to do a whole day of different looks, then booking in a blow wave or styling session for around $50-$70 can take the stress out of getting ready for your selfie shoot, and can really elevate the finished look.

On the Day - Step 4: Makeup

Makeup? It's your call for boudoir shoots, especially if you blur your face for shots. If makeup's your thing, stick to your regular routine – you could even dial it up a bit to make your features really pop. But hey, this is all about your personal taste and what makes you feel your best and comfortable in your own skin.

On the Day - Step 5: Do the shoot!

By this stage you’ve arrived at your location, you’ve got your hair and makeup done, you’ve put on your favourite outfit and you’re ready to shoot! Now it’s time to grab your phone and start taking photos non stop until you think you’ve got the shots or you’ve run out of steam.

Below are are some tips for how to squeeze the most out of your shoot.

Tools to help you

Modern mobile phones are armed with powerful cameras that can deliver impressive results. They are your pocket-sized tools to capturing sultry and empowering self-portraits. To make the most of them, consider adding one of these low-cost tools to your arsenal:

A mini phone tripod

Prop up your phone on items you have around the room available on items you have laying around. Get creative - you can use a coffee cup to put your phone in to stand up, a sneaker also works great, or a stack of books on a chair. If you want more control, order a phone case that helps you stick it to walls, mirrors and other surfaces. Search for “suction phone case” or “nano sticky phone case”. Other DIY options include painters tape or gaffer tape - both of which don’t leave a sticky residue

A Bluetooth trigger / remote shutter. You can grab these for as cheap as $2 online, some $2 shops also sell them. Some mobile tripods also have remote triggers included for your phone. Bonus: A second phone can also be used as a remote trigger with the app “Remote Shutter”. This turns one phone into the camera, and the other phone into a remote shutter AND viewfinder which can be incredibly helpful for taking selfies

Shooting Tips

Experiment and have fun with lighting – it's like your secret ingredient for kicking your selfportraits up a notch. Try playing around with your camera's angle and where the light's coming from. When the light direction matches the position and direction of your camera, you'll get this even, all-over lighting that will always look nice. If you shift the camera about between 4590 degrees to the side, the light will introduce some shadows to your body from the side. That's when the magic happens – those shadows start showing off, giving your body some amazing depth and shape turning your selfies go from "nice" to "wow" in no time!

Play with angles - The beauty of self-portraits lies in the freedom to explore different angles and perspectives. Experiment with various camera heights, and don't hesitate to play with unconventional compositions. Remember that body parts and features that are closer the the camera will appear bigger, and parts and features that are further away will seem smaller. This is helpful when deciding what you’d like to accentuate and what you’d like to minimise.

Poses - you know your body best, so help guide yourself with mirrors and practicing poses.

Interval Timer - Make use of phone apps that us an interval timer (ie it take a photo every 0.5s, 1s, 2s, or however long you want the interval to be. This means you can pose freely without having to continually trigger the phone to take a new photo. Another option is to set the phone to record, and just move your body slowly into new poses, you can then review the video, pause and take a screen shot of poses that you like! Lens Buddy is a free app. Alternatively you can also use Procamera with it’s ProTimer feature to do the same, this app also allows you to shoot your photos in Raw if your phone model allows this capability.

Overcoming Self-Consciousness:

Even experienced models face self-consciousness. It's crucial to remember that every stunning image you see online is the result of multiple attempts. Embrace the process, and don't be discouraged by "imperfect" shots. Confidence is cultivated over time. The more you practice and experiment, the more comfortable you'll become in front of the camera.

Step 6 - Review The Photos & Edit if needed / wanted.

Take the time so flag and ♥ your favourite photos. You may have done such an amazing job that you don’t feel the need to edit the photos. However if you feel the need to edit your pics, there are a number of options:

Native photo app on your phone: use this to play with sharpness, contrast, colours, exposure, and cropping to refine your images

Lightroom - subscription based app but a 7 day trial is available that you can make use of. This app is great for all of the above mentioned editing tools, as well as patching and basic retouching for blemishes.

Facetune - Paid and free options. This has more options for skin retouching, but go easy as it’s easy to go over the top!

Photoshop Express - subscription based app but a 7 day trial is available that you can make use of. Great for face blurring as well as lots of the same editing tools in Lightroom

Procreate Pocket - once off fee $5.99. This is a bit more clunky and is made primarily for digital illustrations, but it has the ability to do blemish retouching as well as face blurring with layers. It is a steeper learning curve than Facetune, Lightroom Mobile or Photoshop express but the low once off price is in my opinion worth it.

Step 7 - Enjoy your photos and post them to your online profile!

And if all else fails, take the time to save a small amount of money and book in a shoot with a professional photographer. I pride myself on making my services as accessible as possible for all budgets, and specialise in photography for sex workers. If you haven’t seen my work before, you can check it out on my website www.silklab.photography - and maybe even get some inspiration for poses for your DIY self portrait shoot.

Happy snapping!

Written by Lauren AKA Silk Lab Photography