The Boudoir industry has gone through a type of renaissance over the last two decades and I can honestly say I am here for it.
A reflection of the times, boudoir shoots from the eighties were often excessive and “in your face” offering obvious nudes featuring heavily made up women with large hair. Though enticing, they were generally associated with rich, beautiful women who would hang large prints of them in their bathroom or bedroom. Lingerie shots was in one of the three popular styles of the time: silk and garters, nighties, or a simple bra and panties set adorned with lace, usually one piece and white. Though boudoir had been around for many years before that (something we will talk about in another blog post) the eighties were a period when a seed was planted. Maybe boudoir wasn’t just for the rich.
Enter the 90’s. The rise of what would become modern day selfies can arguably be traced to a unique business called Glamour Shots. Suddenly what had only been available to models were in malls across the country. Women and girls could be pampered and primed, choose a backdrop, and have their flaws airbrushed away. Though in retrospect we can see the pictures as gaudy, they sold the image of glamour; after all it was right there in the name.
The 2000’s started with Glamour Shots and moved on to the true selfie. Though initially they were grainy, picture on phones were starting to become a thing. And purchasing a reasonably good camera was not impossible anymore, either. People got more comfortable in front of the camera, and with their bodies. Cue the rise of boudoir photography. Suddenly having photos of yourself in sexy poses and glamorous outfits didn’t seem like something just rich women did. More and more women were getting in front of (and behind) the camera before. Taking a cue from a few of the videos of the day, the results were often gauzy and white, but the exuded a new kind of sensuality that would pave the way for…
…present times and the social media generation. People from all ages and walks of life are more comfortable than ever before with themselves. They are also proud to show the world. This has translated to exciting times in the boudoir industry. Sexy isn’t just mainstream anymore, and everything from fairies to strong Valkyrie cosplay with a boudoir twist are popular these days. Whether you want to travel back in time, or create some futuristic fantasy the sky and your imagination are the limit.
And that’s not all. The pictures themselves have come a long way. With new editing software and techniques, and sexy poses that even twenty years ago would be out of the ordinary becoming more mainstream, creating a fantasy photo is easier than ever. Long gone are the days of fuzzy Glamour Shots, and instead your best qualities can be enhanced without sacrificing who you really are.
Boudoir has broken wide open in so many ways. Are you ready for your shoot?