Boudoir

The word "Boudoir" is French (from bouder "to pout, sulk") and refers to a "room where a lady may retire to be alone"; like a glamorous female version of a "man-cave".  Perhaps this words deeper meaning as to pout or sulk is why so many boudoir shots have moody, dramatic lighting and emotive poses. I believe these shadowy, atmospheric images beautifully capture what a woman intends to exhibit with a boudoir shoot- her innate sensuality.

Not all boudoir shots have to be melodramatic to be moving. By use of lovely, lacy lingerie, a mix of soft and bright pink tones, pretty props and accessories to decorate a delicately alluring pose, a classic, innocent yet strongly feminine look can be achieved. 

One of my favorite props to use in boudoir shoots is a mirror. Mirrors are great for capturing different angles of the subject to begin with, but when you are really aiming for sensual emotion and artistic sexuality, through the different angles, the mirror allows for both the physical reflection of exhibiting the bodies natural beauty and also the emotional, romantic reflection captured through the flirtatious eyes of the subject. 

Using props like a classic long stemmed red rose and playing with color effects like making the image Black and White while popping out the rose in color can elevate an otherwise perfectly beautiful boudoir shot into a more stylized piece of artwork. In both full color and Black and White, something about this image screams 'Old Hollywood' glamour.

Similar decorative effect can be fashioned with the antique style sepia tone, even bringing out the subject's reflection in color; aesthetically giving the already elegant image a deeper artistic reading.

What's better than one mirror? - Three mirrors, or a Tri-fold mirror that allows for multiple reflections and angles to really display all of the beautiful curves of the body. 

 

While this has potential to seem narcissistic, especially to anyone who finds boudoir photography vainglorious to begin with, it needs to be remembered that there is a fine line between self-love and self-worship. It should never be considered a vice to love yourself; why should we not be grateful for the body our creator has given to us in this life and celebrate it with a brilliant photograph? The fact that our current physique will fade and our exquisitely artful bodies will perish altogether is all the more reason to in the current moment, immortalize the ancient work of art that is our human body through artwork of our own composition.