What is Boudoir Photography

So what is boudoir photography?  Well to get to the answer let's start with the word itself, a boudoir (/ˈbuːd.wɑːr/; French: [bu.dwaʁ]) is a lady's private bedroom, sitting room or dressing room. The term derives from the French verb bouder, meaning "to be sulky" or boudeur, meaning "sulky".

Historically, the boudoir formed part of the private suite of rooms of a lady, for bathing and dressing, adjacent to her bedchamber, being the female equivalent of the male cabinet. In later periods, the boudoir was used as a private drawing room, and was used for other activities, such as embroidery or spending time with one's romantic partner.

The term "boudoir" may also be ascribed to a genre of photography. Boudoir photography is not generally a new concept and numerous examples including ones of Kathleen Meyers, Clara Bow, Mae West and Jean Harlow photographed in a boudoir style.

Typically shot in a photographer's studio or luxury hotel suites, it has become fashionable to create a set of sensual or sexually suggestive images of women (and occasionally men and couples) in "boudoir style". The most common manifestation of contemporary boudoir photography is to take variations of candid and posed photographs of the subject partly clothed or in lingerie. Nudity is more often implied than explicit. Commercially the genre is often (though not exclusively) derived from a market for brides to surprise their future husbands by gifting the images on or before their wedding day. Other motivations or inspiration for boudoir photography shoots include anniversaries, birthdays, Valentine's Day, weight loss regimes, other form of body change or alteration (such as breast augmentation or reduction) and for servicemen and women overseas.

Boudoir photography may, in some cases, be distinguished from other photography genres such as glamour photography, fine art nude photography and erotic photography.

If your new to posing you might want to take the time to learn the basics first before you place your model in a vulnerable position.  Because let's face it one of the hardest images to make is when you have to pose the human body.   Coming up with ideas to fit the location or mood can be difficult.  How do you avoid your subject looking awkward? Getting your idea across to the model is also a challenge. You can try to avoid the effort and frustration by using posing cards or example images, but they limit you to how many examples you have that might fit your requirements.

Posing Secrets - The Photographer's Essential Guide Vol.1 is a newly released practical resource for creative posing that will quickly show you clear and comprehensive practical steps to produce and communicate a pose for any situation.

This book is for you if you photograph people and is invaluable whether you use digital or film photography. No matter what angle you wish to photograph your model from you can apply these techniques to head shots, ¾ shots and full length shots. Whether you want models still or apparently in motion, seated or standing, this resource will suggest every pose any photographer would need.

This 120 page book includes:

  • How to focus on the body to aid posing.
  • The key to duplicating or creating any pose.
  • The three letters that can build a pose (no, not A-B-C).
  • Important points to consider for a reclining position.
  • Exercises and suggestions to help analyze pictures and poses.
  • Ten simple solutions when your model does not know what to do with their hands.
  • How to avoid foreshortening of limbs.
  • The three basic head movements that make a difference to your model's features.
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