I remember my father buying me a Pentax ME film camera back in the 1970s when I was a teenager.  I taught myself how to use it and it was sometimes frustrating waiting a week for the photos to come back, especially if they would not be as dramatic as when I was looking through the viewfinder and pressing the shutter.  I struggled on to improve and took that camera with me throughought my early military career.  Years later cellphones came along, complete with cameras and the ability to see the photos immediately after taking them.  No more week-long waits for the photos to develop!  When I moved to Surf City, North Carolina to work as a civilian with the Coast Guard, I fell in love with the beach and I made it a goal to go down there every sunrise or sunset.

One day one of my friends mentioned their daughter's prom was coming up, but they had not hired anyone to take photos of the special occasion.  I had recently upgraded my D3300 to a D750 and bought a 85mm prime, so I offered my free services to be a photographer for their daughter's prom.  They had a pond in their neighborhood which turned out to be a perfect setting for the project.

Once I arrived in Charleston, I continued to photograph couples, engagement photos, a couple more weddings, and maternity photos.  I decided weddings were too stressful for me because I did not like the chance I would miss THE MAGIC MOMENT and would not be able to ask for a second chance.  "Ummm, excuse me, but can we do that first kiss one more time so I can reset my camera?"   That never actually happened, fortunately, but I did not want to risk it.  So I shifted into something considerably less stressful; astrophotography, light painting, and fashion.  I know, interesting combination, right?

My fashion photography introduced me to the Brazilian community here in the Charleston and I absolutely love every one of the Brazilian models and photographers.   I have been blessed to meet so many kind people who have not only worked with me but also gave me the opportunities to practice the little Portuguese language I have learned so far.

There is one thing that stands out with every American and Brazilian model I have had the pleasure to photograph, and that is when a model's face lights up with excitement when she sees the end results.  Nothing makes me happier as a photographer when I see that in person.  That being said, Charleston is over-saturated with photographers and I needed to find a way to stand out from the crowd.  Which leads me to the boudoir industry.

Too many times we hear about women who are intimidated or overwhelmed by the magazine industry's impossibly-high beauty standards, or how social media influencers use so many filters to appear more aesthetically pleasing than they actually are.  All this causes women to doubt their self-worth and attractiveness.  My goal, as your boudoir photographer, is to show you a collection of photographs from our session that will not only celebrate how special you are as a woman, but also convince you how beautiful and empowered you truly are. 

Now you know a little more about me.  I hope this is enough to earn your trust and help you consider hiring me to be your boudoir photographer.  At a minimum, read the testimonials on my website and reach out for a free consultation.  I look forward to hearing from you.

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I recently had an amazing photo shoot with a wonderful model where everything seemed to go perfectly.  Every photographer's dream.  Going through some of the photos, I noticed the focus was just a tad soft on more than I would have liked.  Was my camera off?  Did I not have the right shutter speed?  What caused this?  Fortunately I had a viewfinder video I could review to find any mistakes I made.  There were a few, but not on the photos in question.   So I did what every photographer does in this case...  RESEARCH!  

I discovered my Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G lens is a good lens, but it tends to be soft on focusing in low-light (almost a must in boudoir!).  I immediately dug deeper and found two options to replace my lens; a Sigma and a Tokina.  Both are expensive lenses and my recently vehicular accident made me doubt I could afford one, but suddenly I found a Tokina on Facebook Marketplace from another photographer for more than half the going price!  Before I would drive down to Savannah, Georgia to buy it, I had to do more research comparing my Nikkor 50mm lens to the Tokina Opera 50mm.

Both lenses cater to different photographers, with the Tokina targeting the high-end segment and the Nikkor being a more affordable option. This blog will dive into every critical aspect, from build quality to optical performance.

Tokina Opera 50mm f/1.4 FF  The Tokina Opera 50mm f/1.4 FF is a professional-grade lens designed for full-frame DSLR cameras. Released as part of Tokina’s "Opera" line, which is aimed at high-end users, this lens promises excellent optical quality and performance. The f/1.4 aperture makes it ideal for low-light situations and offers a shallow depth of field for subject isolation and smooth bokeh.
Key Features:

• Maximum aperture: f/1.4
• Full-frame compatible
• Advanced optical design with multiple low-dispersion elements
• Weather-sealed
• Focus ring designed for smooth manual focus adjustments

Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 G  The Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 G is a classic Nikon prime lens that offers incredible value for its price. While it doesn't have the premium build of the Tokina Opera, it’s lightweight, compact, and delivers excellent image quality, particularly for those who don’t need an f/1.4 aperture. This lens is a popular choice for both beginners and seasoned photographers looking for a reliable 50mm option.
Key Features:

• Maximum aperture: f/1.8
• Full-frame compatible
• Silent Wave Motor (SWM) for quiet autofocus
• Affordable price point
• Lightweight and portable

Tokina Opera 50mm f/1.4 FF  The build quality of the Tokina Opera 50mm f/1.4 FF is outstanding, as expected from a high-end lens. It has a solid and robust construction, with a metal body and weather sealing that makes it resistant to dust and moisture. This is a lens built for professional use, capable of withstanding tough environments such as rain or dusty locations. The weight and size of the lens, however, reflect this sturdy build, making it one of the bulkier options in the 50mm range.

• Weight: 950g (2.09 lbs)
• Diameter: 80mm (3.15 inches)

The lens features a large manual focus ring that is smooth and precise, making it easy to achieve fine focus adjustments. The attention to detail in the design ensures that the Tokina Opera 50mm f/1.4 FF feels premium in hand and pairs well with higher-end DSLR bodies, such as Nikon’s D850 or Canon’s EOS 5D Mark IV.
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Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 G  In contrast, the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 G is a much lighter and more compact lens. While the build quality is not as robust as the Tokina Opera, it still feels solid enough for everyday use. The body is mostly made of plastic, but Nikon has ensured that the materials are durable. This lightweight construction makes it an attractive option for photographers who prioritize portability.

• Weight: 185g (0.41 lbs)
• Diameter: 72mm (2.83 inches)

Despite the plastic build, the lens mount is metal, which adds a bit of durability where it’s needed most. The manual focus ring is smaller and less smooth compared to the Tokina, but it's perfectly usable for occasional manual focusing tasks. Given the price point, the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 G offers a good balance of build quality and portability.  However, and this is HUGE... Look at the photo above that shows the actual front face of the lenses and notice how small the glass diameter is on the Nikkor compared to the Tokina.  The overall diameter of the lenses may be less than half of an inch, but the actual difference in GLASS is what makes the Tokina superior.
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Verdict: The Tokina Opera 50mm f/1.4 FF is the clear winner in terms of build quality, offering a professional-grade construction that’s weather-sealed and durable. However, the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 G shines when it comes to portability and ease of use, especially for casual shooting.

Tokina Opera 50mm f/1.4 FF  Optically, the Tokina Opera 50mm f/1.4 FF delivers exceptional results. It uses a complex lens formula that includes both aspherical elements and low-dispersion glass to reduce chromatic aberrations, distortion, and other optical issues. The result is sharpness across the frame, even when shooting wide open at f/1.4.  ​The bokeh is creamy and smooth, with pleasing out-of-focus elements. The wide aperture also allows for excellent subject isolation, making this lens perfect for portraiture and any situation where you want to separate your subject from the background. There’s minimal distortion, and vignetting is well-controlled, even at f/1.4.
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In terms of flare control, the Tokina Opera handles strong light sources admirably, thanks to its advanced coatings. This means you can shoot in backlit situations without worrying too much about ghosting or flaring, which can be an issue with lesser lenses.

Tokina Opera 50mm f/1.4 FFWhen it comes to sharpness, the Tokina Opera 50mm f/1.4 FF is a stellar performer. Even at its maximum aperture of f/1.4, the center sharpness is outstanding, and stopping down to f/2.8 or beyond yields incredible sharpness across the frame. This lens is designed for photographers who demand the highest optical quality, making it an excellent choice for professional work, such as portraiture, weddings, and even landscape photography.
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The autofocus system on the Tokina Opera is reliable, but it’s not the fastest in the market. It uses a ring-type ultrasonic motor that delivers smooth and quiet focusing, but in fast-paced environments, such as sports or wildlife photography, you might find it a bit slower compared to other lenses in its class.
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In the photo below, I focused on the 14-Inch mark on the tape directly in front of the camera.  As you can see, the lens is sharp across the frame, even when shooting wide open at f/1.4, although I believe the image truly becomes "tack-sharp" at f/1.8 and above.  Since I usually shoot boudoir around f/2.8, I don't think this will be too much of a problem.

Tokina Opera 50mm f/1.4 FFThe Tokina Opera’s f/1.4 aperture gives it a significant edge in low-light performance. This makes it ideal for night photography, indoor events, or any situation where light is limited. The wide aperture also allows for very shallow depth of field, which is perfect for creating subject isolation and artistic bokeh.

Speaking of bokeh, the Tokina Opera excels in this area. The nine-blade aperture diaphragm helps create smooth, rounded bokeh balls, even when shooting at wide apertures. The bokeh is soft, creamy, and pleasing, making it ideal for portrait photographers who want to separate their subject from the background.

Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 GThe Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 G, with its slightly narrower f/1.8 aperture, doesn’t perform as well in low-light situations compared to the Tokina. However, it’s still very capable in most conditions, especially when paired with a camera that has good high-ISO performance. The f/1.8 aperture allows for decent subject isolation, though it won’t create as much background blur as the Tokina.

When it comes to bokeh, the Nikkor does a good job, but it’s not quite as smooth or creamy as the Tokina Opera. Out-of-focus highlights can be slightly harsh, and the bokeh balls may have more defined edges, especially in busy scenes. For portraits, the Nikkor still delivers good results, but it’s not at the same level as the Tokina in terms of bokeh quality.
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Verdict: The Tokina Opera 50mm f/1.4 FF takes the lead in both low-light performance and bokeh quality, thanks to its wider aperture and advanced optical design. The Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 G is still a strong performer, but it lags behind in these areas.

Tokina Opera 50mm f/1.4 FFThe Tokina Opera 50mm f/1.4 FF is positioned as a high-end lens, and its price reflects that. It’s more expensive than the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 G, and for many photographers, the higher cost may be a deterrent. However, for those who need the best optical performance, particularly at wide apertures, the Tokina is worth the investment. It’s a lens that delivers professional-level quality, making it a strong choice for wedding photographers, portrait shooters, and other professionals who demand the best.  I doubt I would have been able to afford this lens had I not found it on Marketplace.  Fortunately the previous owner was also a photographer who kept it in its original box in immaculate condition.

Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 GThe Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 G is one of the best value lenses on the market. It offers excellent image quality, fast autofocus, and a lightweight design, all at a fraction of the price of the Tokina Opera. For hobbyists, beginners, or even professionals who need a reliable and affordable 50mm lens, the Nikkor is a fantastic choice.
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Verdict: The Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 G is the clear winner in terms of value. While the Tokina Opera offers superior performance, it comes at a significantly higher price. For most photographers, the Nikkor provides more than enough quality at a much lower cost.

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Keywords: boudoir photography, boudoir photoshoot, boudoir studio, intimate photography, sensual photography, women's photography, empowerment, self-confidence, self-esteem, body positivity, femininity, romantic gifts, photography packages​​Keywords: boudoir photography, boudoir photoshoot, boudoir studio, intimate photography, sensual photography, women's photography, empowerment, self-confidence, self-esteem, body positivity, femininity, romantic gifts, photography packages.
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