We love the art and beauty of boudoir photography. But what do we really mean by the term “boudoir?” Turns out as boudoir photography has grown in popularity, the term has become a bit muddled, referring to a range of photography genres. If you’re considering a photo shoot, it’s helpful to understand the differences among three basic genres to help you plan your shoot and communicate with your photographer: Glamour/pin-up, traditional boudoir, and fine art. When we work with new models, we often explore many genres to help them find their strengths and such exploration can be quite gratifying for our clients as well.
Working with professional model, Jasmine Joon, we conducted a three-hour shoot to demonstrate the different qualities of these three genres. Below you can see the differences of the three genres.
“Light makes photography. Embrace light. Admire it. Love it. But above all, know light. Know it for all you are worth, and you will know the key to photography.”
– George Eastman
- Glamour/Pin-Up Photography
- A glamour photo shoot is designed to bring out a model’s alluring beauty, charm and sex appeal. Glamour photos are typically brightly colored, captured in bright lighting and enhance the natural beauty of the model in a range of outfits, from fully clothed runway-style shoots to more revealing outfits or nude.
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- Traditional Boudoir Photography
- In boudoir photography, the subject is photographed in sexually suggestive, sensual poses, usually in a home setting, such as a bedroom or living room, partially dressed, in lingerie or nude. Lighting tends to be natural and is generally softer and less brilliant than in glamour/pin-up. Boudoir photography emphasizes the aesthetic qualities and artistic craft of the photograph, as opposed to other forms of purely erotic imagery.
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- Fine Art Photography
- Fine art nude photography is a genre of fine art photography which depicts the nude human body with an emphasis on form, composition, emotional content, and other aesthetic qualities. Erotic interest, although often present, is secondary to artistic considerations, In a typical fine art nude photography session, the model is photographed in a variety of unusual poses under unconventional lighting conditions in the studio, or in unusual settings outdoors.
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Which genres are right for you? Only you can answer that. Our best advice is to explore photographers’ portfolios, Pinterest and art exhibitions, and when you find imagery that speaks to you, you’re on the right rack. But we’ve also found that, like our aspiring models, the process of exploring new genres and a different side of yourself can yield some exciting, pleasant surprises. We wish you a fulfilling photographic journey!
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