Anyone who knows my work can guess one of my favorite location or settings to shoot would be on the bed. The bigger the better, but apparently there are California Kings, Super Kings, and then there’s Grand King mattresses. I’d like to find a place with a Grand King and see how many ladies can fit (just kidding). I prefer to spoil one lucky woman and give the whole estate to her.

There’s not a better ice breaker than to share a soft, warm, plushy surface you both have to crawl around to get the right angles and shots. It’s comfortable, it’s relaxing, it’s intimate, and it’s affordable! No permits required and no public eyes gazing in. If it’s their own bed, they are even more familiar and comfortable, and it opens up all new possibilities.

Whether it’s a large window with natural light or just a night stand lamp, I almost always use the Canon 50mm 1.4 USM. Shooting at f/1.8 allows plenty of ambient light to soak in to the frame. Most people are too caught up on specs and rules, minimum shutter speed and aperture, must use telephoto for portraits, etc. Instead, I concentrate first on getting as much light into the frame as possible, the sharpness and depth of field are secondary to me compared to the mood and the colors.

I remember practicing photography in college using only what I had available, the tungsten lamps. While very limited in control or brightness, it offers a simple understanding of how light and shadow works, since it is a constant light source. Ironically, years later having much experience with all types of lighting, I will still go back to using the lamps to create an intimate and real scene. Don’t forget the model also needs to be in the appropriate mood to express emotions you want to capture.

Next time you have a subject willing to be captured, don’t be afraid to ask to use his or her bed. I will save my favorite shooting and modeling positions in bed for another post.