Okay, so I’ve been seeing this “gothic lingerie” trend popping up all over my feeds, and I gotta say, I was intrigued. I’ve always been a bit of a fan of darker aesthetics, so I figured, why not give it a shot? This is my journey into trying to find and photograph some gothic lingerie looks.
Getting Started
First things first, I needed to figure out what exactly is gothic lingerie. Like, is it just black lace? Are there specific details I should be looking for? I started by just scrolling through a lot of pictures. I mean, a lot. I looked for what kept showing up in pictures tagged with things I would consider Gothic.
- Lots of Black: Okay, this was obvious, but yeah, black is the primary color, duh.
- Lace, Lace, Lace: And more lace. Specifically intricate patterns, like floral or maybe even spiderweb-ish designs.
- Corsets & Bustiers: These seem to be key pieces. They give that Victorian/vintage vibe.
- Straps and Hardware: Think buckles, O-rings, and maybe even some chains.
- Velvet & Satin: These fabrics add that luxurious, almost decadent feel.
The Hunt
Armed with my newfound “knowledge” (lol), I started trying to find models. Easy right? Wrong. I started simple with asking any of my friends. No luck. Next step was my other photographer friends and groups. Nothing but a few maybes.
My Solution
Well, I’m not one to give up easily. One of the suggestions from a friend was to check any local shops that might have gothic inspired clothes. Turns out, that was the perfect solution. Chatting with the store owner not only did she have clothes, but she had a friend that would love to model. Boom!
Got the clothes, got the model. Time for the shoot.
The Shoot
We did a bunch of different poses, playing with shadows and light to really emphasize the mood. It was fun. I discovered that using a single, strong light source (like a window or a softbox) can create some really dramatic shadows, which is perfect for this style.
Post-Processing
After the shoot, I spent some time editing the photos. My usual editing routine. I mostly focused on:
- Boosting the Contrast: To make the blacks deeper and the details pop.
- Playing with Shadows: To further enhance that moody vibe.
- Selective Color Adjustments: Sometimes I’d desaturate everything except for maybe a hint of red or purple, just to add a little extra something.
And that was it! It was a fun experiment, and I’m pretty happy with how the photos turned out. It definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone a bit, but that’s always a good thing, right? I might even try this kind of thing again!
