Shooting sexy swimsuits on the beach
I went on a sexy bikini beach adventure for this Instagram vibe video I shot for Stellar Dust Resort Wear. Inspired by 80’s Playboy magazines and swimsuit calendars, I indulged in an established aesthetic that any red-blooded man of that (or any) era would enjoy checking out. As the sun sets, sex appeal rises…
How did I do it? I’m so glad you asked.
How to achieve a vintage sexy look
The first step to achieve the sexy bikini beach video look was getting our girl wet. Our talent, Emary, took a dip into the waters of Hermosa Beach, wetting down both her bikini and skin. Dappling water onto skin creates a smooth, slicked texture. This subconsciously signals sexual arousal, perfect for creating hot sexy summer vibes. Next, I photographed Emary against the setting sun. The sunset equipped her with an orange edge light, catching her wet skin and separating her from the background.
Simplifying colors
Another way I opted to capture a classically sexy bikini beach video vibe was by simplifying my color palette. I filmed our scene at sunset, when the sky turned a light lavender. In the biz, this window of time is referred to as “magic hour.” This aligned well with the cool grey coloring of Emary’s leopard print Stellar Dust swimsuit. The lavender contrasted nicely with the fleeting orange sunset, a necessary combination for reflecting the warmth of summer. An entirely cool (i.e. blue) color palette wouldn’t lend itself towards the idea of paradise. You need the dynamic of warmer colors too.
Equipment I used to shoot the video
I filmed this using a Sony A7iii camera, mounted on a Zhiyun Crane 2 gimbal rig, with a mixture of different prime lenses. The wide shots were captured on a 24 mm lens. A wide angle establishes location and gives the viewer a sense of space. I shot the remaining coverage with an 85 mm lens to separate Emary from the background. The big trick here was to keep the camera just below her eyeline to cultivate images with an elevated, cinematic energy.
Capturing a beautiful booty shot
Let’s talk about that sexy badonkadonk.
The ass shot was designed to bring us closer to the textures of everything: the smoothness of the swimwear, the goosebumps on her skin, and the flow of the rippling water, all working together in one very tactile image. Not to mention just, you know, savoring one of the greatest visuals available in nature.
Asses may be saturating the internet these days. I figured the best way I could stand out from the pack was by stylizing this booty coverage to make sure it felt more 80’s and less like your standard-issue 2021 Instagram butt snap.