How to do a Pin Up Style Photo-shoot at Home

Hey everyone! I’ve been getting a lot of questions and requests for more info on how to take and edit your own pin-up and vintage style photos so I decided to get it together and do another pin-up photoshoot with some friends and let you all get to see how its done! I made a video of the shoot so you can really see how I do all this in my own house. We had SO much fun and I am THRILLED with the results! Check out the video (its a bit long I know, but I wanted you to be able to really see how it all works so you can feel confident enough to try it yourself), and some of my previous pin up posts and invite some friends over and get crackin! Seriously guys, this is NOT hard and you CAN do it yourself. And your guys are going to LOVE it!

Thank you so much Sabrina (who by the way is the dark-haired brunette and the mother of THREE!), Vanessa, and Melissa for being my models! You guys did FABULOUSLY!

This photo shoot was a very PG shoot (due to the fact that I knew I’d be posting it online for all to see) but feel free to spice it up as much as you’d like for your special Valentine!

FYI: All the outfits and props were things from my own closet. A lot of the things in the pics are from thrift stores (its safe to say that at least 70% of my entire wardrobe consists of thrift store finds) and I highly recommend hitting up your local thrift stores before your shoot for some awesome vintage (or vintage-inspired) threads.

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Step 1: Vintage Calendar Girl Style

I really wanted to do a calendar tutorial just to show the range of outfits, props, and poses you can use so I will also now give you a list of my calendar themes month by month.

January: Think snow, ice, sledding, etc. You could also do a little cocktail dress and hat with a noise maker and confetti for a New Years theme. Sabrina dressed in fishnets, a black pleated skirt, a fur collar, a red hat, and teal cardigan, with a gold belt and red shoes. *TIP* Keep the clothes fun and colorful to make the pictures pop. We had her pretend to be chilly.

sonumishra says: Sep 8, 2012. 1:07 AM

you photos is very great

MissDaisy says: Sep 14, 2011. 5:22 PM

Very creative... I like it very much :)

avatar_i says: Sep 11, 2011. 5:34 PM

Very Nicely Done.
Looks a bit like 1940~1950 Classic Pin Up like the GIs' hung up, and somewhat like the aircraft art that went on bombers!
msero & rnewberry really need to develop some CLASS.

msero says: Sep 11, 2011. 1:55 PM

And where's exactly the "instructable"?

rnewberry says: Aug 25, 2011. 7:44 AM

Huh. Don't know what pin-ups *you've* been looking at.

mazinggrace says: Aug 25, 2011. 8:50 AM

Maybe these pictures are not as Riskee as Elvgren but I am sure the ladies want to save those for their men. It was a great tutorial though,

triumphman says: Aug 27, 2011. 11:34 AM

what or who is Elvgren ?

mazinggrace says: Aug 27, 2011. 12:11 PM

He is an amazing pin-up artist dating back from 1937. I would consider him the most famous of the artist depicting the early centuries pin-ups. His work is amazing!

http://www.gilelvgren.com/GE/

KI4WLG says: Aug 25, 2011. 4:02 PM

Do you think this would work well as an outside shoot? Or would it be best to stick to inside so the light can be diffused?

anahola says: Aug 25, 2011. 3:55 PM

Oh. What. FUN!

agis68 says: Aug 25, 2011. 1:15 PM

beautiful pics and excellent idea.....

dedwards13 says: Aug 25, 2011. 11:33 AM

I totally did something like that for my boyfriend for a Valentines gift. Here are some samples... http://nimbidesign.wordpress.com/2011/02/15/pin-up-style-photo-shootperfect-valentines-gift/

I love pin-ups, and have a calendar from a pinup painter artist, and these remind me of his work, and now i totally want to do a calendar!! thanks for the tutorial!!

1337pino says: Aug 25, 2011. 11:16 AM

Wow, that July picture is just...WOW. O_O

I think I'm in love.

onemoroni1 says: Aug 25, 2011. 10:40 AM

I feel like I just went to a model photo course. Much better than a book. I have done B&W and have my own dark room. I feel inspired to get it going again. I feel you get a more honest print doing it old school, but digital is instant gratification, waiting to afford a full frame sensor camera. Great instructable, this is what it's all about.

mazinggrace says: Aug 25, 2011. 8:49 AM

That is awesome, I wish you lived near Houston! I do not know any friend who would help me do this.

CreativeCate (author) says: Aug 25, 2011. 10:06 AM

I DO happen to live near Houston actually! :) In the Cypress area. If you are interested in doing a pin-up shoot with some friends, you can visit my photography site www.caterawsonphotography.blogspot.com and see more of my work along with my pricing and contact info. I'm so glad you liked the tutorial! Thanks everyone for such sweet comments! So motivating for me to keep posting! I'll be sure to answer y'alls questions asap. :)

billbillt says: Aug 25, 2011. 9:22 AM

Very COOL!!

hogtowner says: Aug 25, 2011. 8:07 AM

I havee a photo group. There is another photo group belong to as well. Everyone thinks they need a photo studio to do pin-ups. And professional models for the shoots. In one video you have covered what I have explained to members of the group! Stupendous! Thank-you. And ignore the compliants and other comments. These are excellent!