Branching Out

Very soon, I embark on a new chapter in my photography career, for I have recently found someone who has expressed interest in a boudoir photo session. Although I don’t know if I will ever reach a point in my business in which boudoir photography will comprise the majority of my paying clients, I would certainly like to leave that possibility open and available, so I’m jumping at this opportunity to work on this aspect of my art.

For those of you who haven’t heard of it, boudoir photography deals with images of the (usually) female form in a more intimate manner than your standard art nude. It celebrates the beauty of the human figure through depictions of female sensuality, rather than strictly sexuality – rather than a form of pornography, in other words, boudoir photography focuses more on a woman’s appreciation of herself and her own beauty. It may or may not involve either partial or full nudity, and is not restricted to the bedroom (despite the name “boudoir,” which was a woman’s bedroom or sitting room, the art of boudoir photography is more about intimacy of the woman, regardless of her location). It produces images of women being and feeling sexy, being comfortable and relaxed in their own bodies.

That’s a very powerful idea, and one that I emphasize in my approach to boudoir. There is something of a stigma attached to boudoir photography by virtue of its involvement with nudity; American society still feels attached to its Puritan roots when it comes to art involving nudity, and seems to shy away from anything even remotely sexual in nature. It has only relatively recently become more mainstream for women to accept and embrace their sexuality and to simply enjoy being in the skin they’re in. So rather than a somewhat fringe and risqué behavior, it is slowly becoming more acceptable and even desirable for women to get photographs of themselves that celebrate just how beautiful they are, no matter their size, shape, age or color.

There are a million reasons why women choose to have boudoir photos taken, and extend well above and beyond that “special present” for their husbands or boyfriends – many do it for their own benefit, their own enjoyment. Perhaps a woman has lost a lot of weight recently and wants boudoir photos as a way of celebrating how much better she looks. Maybe other significant life changes have happened and a woman wants them as an affirmation that she is still a vital and beautiful human, or maybe she’s feeling at the top of her game and this is just one more way to show she’s got the goods. Many women have boudoir photos taken as a group and make a sort of party out of it, as a way to share an experience with their best friends that is completely safe but just a little bit naughty.

Whatever the client’s reasons, it is the job of the boudoir photographer to create art with a client’s body that emphasizes the positive energy and natural beauty she possesses, and to make her comfortable with the idea of others paying attention to her, either directly or through the images that are created through the camera’s lens. Many women (particularly moms) seem to have difficulty justifying doing anything for themselves, in the belief that spending time or money or effort on themselves is somehow selfish, or they give so much of themselves to others that they have forgotten how to appreciate their own bodies. They place upon themselves the onus of meeting the needs of their families before their own, so having photographs taken that say, “Look at me! Look how amazing I am!” seems like the ultimate indulgence, but it’s actually in many ways exactly the opposite: when you feel good about yourself, you’re more confident and ultimately more effective in your everyday life, so taking care of yourself and really feeling your self worth gives you the power to strive for greater things in all aspects of your life. So the boudoir photographer can be a sort of combination of coach and cheerleader, encouraging women to explore and discover (in the words one of notable boudoir photographer) their own “fabulousness.”

Of course, I have the added challenge of being male; female boudoir photographers have a somewhat easier time getting their clients to relax and enjoy the experience of a photo shoot because having a strange woman in their home is a lot less threatening than having a strange man there (even one as handsome as me *grin*). So part of my learning curve is how to put my clients at ease that I’m not just some creepy guy who wants to take naked pictures of them, and that, I believe, will come with time, as I build a reputable and high-class portfolio of boudoir work that people can see ahead of time. When possible, of course, it would help to have Chris present as my assistant, and the makeup artist and hair stylist as well (since I am by no means above conscript labor in getting shots onto the camera if I need bodies to hold lights, reflectors or the odd electric fan), but I’ll need to get comfortable working with a client until she’s basically forgotten I have a gender (or, ideally, that I’m even present in the room), and she’s just enjoying being herself and for whatever reason, a flash keeps going off nearby.

I obviously can’t know that I’ve prepared adequately until after I walk away from the finished shoot, but I’m fairly certain I’ve got what I need to make this session a success. I’m pretty excited, and I’ll let you know how it went when I return. Wish me luck!