Boudoir Photography - Is it Just For Confident Young Women?

There is little doubt that boudoir photography is the new growth area within social photography. Part of the reason for its increased exposure in recent years is that it has become embraced by brides - particularly in the USA - as part of a pre-wedding activity.

Brides are latching on to the concept that it might form an exciting honeymoon gift for their partner. Some fine art for the couple to enjoy in private.

But now, as a form of portraiture, its popularity is extending well beyond wedding circles. The key reason is that boudoir photography is no longer seen as a preserve for the brave and sexy.

Instead the causality has almost reversed: because it is increasingly seen as a private celebration of femininity, boudoir photography is being commissioned by women as a way of increasing confidence in their own body.

It is now being embraced by women who have lost weight; women who have undergone surgery; and women who have recently experienced bereavement or divorce. Or simply women who would simply like to boost their self-esteem.

What Is Boudoir Photography?

Like many photography genres, a simple label can conceal wide spectrum of styles, interpretation and execution. But boudoir photography is generally seen as being distinct from glamour or pin-up photography. Here the styles tend to centre on exhibitionism, eroticism and perhaps sleaze. Most important, glamour photography is normally for the benefit of men.

In contrast, boudoir photography is normally commissioned by women for themselves (though a gift idea is often used as an excuse).

The term (originally derived from the French word "bouder", meaning "to pout") has its roots in the idea of a lady's private dressing area.

The term also conjures up images of Dita von Teese and images of burlesque performances, though that is a theme that has stronger prominence in the USA than the UK and Europe.

At its most simple level, the genre is about artistic, tasteful images of a lady in her best lingerie. Although boudoir imagery sometimes crosses the line into artistic nakedness, nudity is most often implied - in a provocative, yet tasteful and sensitive manner. So whilst the imagery centres on luxurious lingerie and sensuality, this often manifests itself through noir shadows, enigma and creative understatement.

New Mind-Set, New customers

Most crucially, the photography itself is suggestive of the woman being very feminine, fully in control and liberated. And perhaps this is one of the main reasons why boudoir photography has changed from a form of private vanity and confirming confidence to a vehicle for increasing confidence.

If there is a common theme for new commissions, it is related to women experiencing major events in their life. Women who have undergone mastectomies for example, often want to confirm to themselves that they are still feminine; that they still exude sensuality. New divorcees may want a similar stimulus to their confidence for slightly different reasons.

Whatever the motivation for the shoot, and physical shape of the woman, most specialist boudoir photographers are skilled at enticing out the best in their subject by using creative light to derive an intimate atmosphere - and careful posing to bring out the woman's femininity and personality.

Ultimately boudoir photography is now about empowerment and liberation. A far cry from previous generations when anything remotely connected to this form of photography was almost seen as anti-feminist. Attitudes change quickly.

By : Gary_Roebuck