Milk Bath Boudoir Photography Tips

February 2, 2022

Have you ever seen those beautiful and dreamy milk bath photos and wondered how the heck to create your own? Then keep reading to check out some of my milk bath boudoir photography tips.

HOW TO CREATE YOUR MILK BATH

Creating a milk bath is just like it sounds- a bath with milk. But, there are some things you may not know. Like the milk to water ratios, what to expect when photographing someone in one, and what to add to elevate your bath setup. Well I’m here to help.

RATIOS– Personally I used a 1:20 ratio. One part milk to 20 parts water. Most tubs are 40-60 gallon tubs, so we filled ours half way with water and then added 1 gallon of milk. Depending on the color of your tub or the amount you’ll need to fill it, you can expect to add anywhere from 1 to 2 gallons of milk
MILK– For this session we used whole milk. If you use any lower percentage you risk having a watery look to your bath. Are you like me and not really a fan of cow milk? You can always try oat or hemp milk- just not sure how the end result will look (potentially watery or with small oat chunks depending on your milk brand)
ADD INs– To create a more romantic and whimsical look for this session, we added dried citrus slices (I used this recipe with regular and blood oranges) and flowers. Pro tip: I recommend using flowers with a wide bud since they seemed to float a little better than the petals or small chamomile buds that we had.

MILK BATH BOUDOIR PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS

Now on to the important part. Getting your dreamy photos.

LIGHTING- Is key! The milk in the bath will act as a natural reflector but only if there’s light to reflect it. Luckily for this milk bath boudoir session, there was a large window right behind the tub. We used draped fabrics and angles to utilize as much of the light as possible. If you are in a location with little natural light I recommend bringing additional reflectors or light sources. If you are shooting outside in direct sunlight, then you may want to bring a light diffuser or something to add shade if needed.
CLOTHING- Depending on the type of session you are doing, you’ll want to take clothing into account. Since this was a boudoir shoot, we had plenty of silk and lace outfits to utilize. Additionally, you’ll want to consider fabric coloring and types when selecting your wardrobe as light colors will start to become see through and heavier fabrics like cotton will soak up the water.
HAVE FUN- Lastly, have fun with it! Add fun little details to the water, grab some props (like hats or robes or even books and plants!), and get creative. This type of session is perfect for it!