According to legend, Cleopatra took milk baths to maintain her skin’s suppleness, youth, and beauty. Sadly, photography did not exist at the time.
Fortunately for you, it is now feasible to create milk bath photo sessions that will provide your clients beautiful images and smooth skin.
Although it is very fashionable, this photography style is not new.
The 1984 Vanity Fair cover photo of Whoopie Goldberg in a milk-filled bathtub is among Annie Leibovitz’s most well-known works.
That idea image had strong social undertones, but this style can be used to many different genres and uses. You have a ton of options, including glamour pictures.
If you decide to ‘dive’ into it, here are a few tips to try milk bathtub photography.
How Do You Make a Milk Bath for Photography?
Many people are afraid to try this technique because they worry about milk’s cost (and waste). But, how much milk do you need for milk bath photography?
It might look like you fill an 80-gallon (302-liter) tub with whole milk, but it’s not like that. You have to dilute it with water. The exact ratio will depend on the effect that you’re after, but you should not need more than 2-4 gallons (about 7-15 liters) to make a full bathtub white and opaque.
You can also complement with powdered milk and even non-toxic paint if you want to use less fresh milk. If you have vegan clients, plant-based milk (oat milk, for example, is very cheap and easy to make at home) would be a great alternative.
Here is how to do a milk bath shoot, step by step:
1. Set up – Before you start filling your bath, you need to prepare the set and lighting. This is because the temperature of the water goes down quickly. Also, depending on your props, they might not resist long before they start to sink.
2. Prepare the milk bath – Fill the tub with water almost to the level you’ll want it at for the photo. Then start adding milk and stop when it’s reached the color and density you want. A small amount of milk will keep some level of transparency. The more concentrated it is, the less you’ll see through it.
3. Pose your subject – Floating props can be difficult to deal with and the tiniest movement can ruin your composition. That’s why it’s better to position your subject before adding anything else into the tub.
4. Add props – If your picture includes any props, this is the time to place them. Think about the composition and the colors. If you’re having problems with some of them sinking, try putting something underneath to hold them. Also, try to waterproof them in advance with Scotchgard.
5. Start shooting – These are all the basics you need to make a milk bath session. It’s very easy to set up, but the success of it relies on the details and creativity.
Try doing creative splashes, abstract photography, or floral and food pictures by photographing only the props. This way, the milk from your milk bath shoot doesn’t go to waste.
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