Boudoir Photography - For Your Eyes Only Photos
"This style of photography definitely appeals to women who want to do something sexy and glamorous for themselves as well as their groom to be!" - La femme boudoir
If you are stuck for ideas on what to get your husband to be as a wedding day gift you could do what many future brides are now doing and present him with an album of intimate boudoir portraits produced by one of the many boudoir photography specialists who are now catering for this popular craze.
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| Dita Von Teese © Sean McCall |
Perhaps heartened by the story of the Calendar Girls and the TV show How to Look Good Naked, women of all ages, shapes and sizes are losing their inhibitions and posing for these sexy, but tasteful boudoir style glamour photo sessions.
You don’t need to have model looks and you can show as much or as little as you like. Implied nudity can usually present a sexier image than baring all. Often it’s more a case of what you don’t show rather than what you do that creates the most seductive picture?
Zena Snowdon from Mighty Aphrodite, a specialist in sensual boudoir style photography in Berkshire says: “Our clients come in all shapes, sizes and ages and we work together with each individual client to make sure we shoot them in a style that will be flattering to their body shape.”
Zena, who runs the business in partnership with her husband, photographer Leigh Perkins, adds: “It's the lighting and the posing that are most important and we have never had a client yet who was less than delighted with the results of their shoot. We can also tweak the images at the editing stage to remove blemishes, scars, cellulite and stretch marks, which all our clients love”.
A much remarked upon boudoir photographers of the moment are La Femme Boudoir who are based in the South East of England. As they say on their website - 'Intimate images, beautifully lit, with attitude, elegance and classic sophistication are the distinctive hallmarks of a La Femme Boudoir photo shoot'.
Alison Freeman who is one of the UK's pioneering female photographers has teamed-up with a leading female stylist from the fashion and film industry to create La Femme Boudoir. Alison says; "We are very much aiming at the classier end of the market - we feel the style is a mix of Boudoir with Hollywood glamour and style – think Dita von Teese! This style of photography definitely appeals to women who want to do something sexy and glamorous for themselves as well as their groom to be!"
Silvercanvas Photography work regularly with Dita von Teese whenever she is in the UK as well as other well known glamour and burlesque inspired models. While at first one might imagine they don't bother with non-commercial work they do undertake private and personal work for clients on demand.
Henry Jaremko, who works with his makeup and styling advisor, from their studio, based in a Victorian School House, near York, says: "Personally, I tend to shoot pinup and 1940's Hollywood portrait style rather than just 'pure' Boudoir. I don't see why a collection of sexy pre-wedding pictures need be boudoir-style specifically. Pinup or portraiture can also offer exciting alternative options"
Henry adds: "It's interesting to see the growth in the popularity of this kind of work. I've had the odd few enquiries of late and, obviously, with the number of photographers now specialising in boudoir portraits, it's a growing trend".
Henry acknowledges that many women may be unsure about going to a male photographer for this kind of work when he says: "I guess a lot of women who have never done modelling before are often worried about this. I work with my female partner (and wife) and that helps to put most women at ease. With any kind of female photography the secret is for the client to be relaxed and happy. I'd rather get less photos and have the client completely at ease because I know what will come out of that are better images".
How do you choose a Boudoir Photographer?
Prices can vary quite considerably so this is not always the best indication of the quality of the boudoir portraits produced. There are many reasons why prices differ, location being the main factor.
If you want really good quality professional images taken by people who will guarantee to make you look amazing, then you should go for someone who specialises in boudoir photography. This way you are dealing with a photographer who knows how to make you feel relaxed and comfortable. Look at the images on the different web sites and compare the quality. The most expensive may not necessarily be the best.
Obviously, the cost and hassle of travelling can put many girls off - but one photographer has come up with a novel way of addressing this problem. Nikki McLeod, the lady behind Breathless Boudoir Photography in Fife, Scotland, organises a series of 'Marathon' sessions where she sets up a series of photo shoots at various locations around the UK.
Nikki says: "Breathless Sessions have gone down a storm with Scottish girls over the past 3 years, and it has been great fun. I have run three separate 'Marathons' in the North East of England this year, where sessions were done in a boutique hotel room. These kind of photo-shoots have a totally different feel from a studio session, and allow those who can't come to Scotland to get a wonderful photo-session done. Although I have had clients travel from as far as Newcastle and the West Coast of Scotland to my studio for a session!"
> Miss Boudoir - Manchester & The Boudoir Book - Liverpool
> Choosing a Wedding Photographer > The British Institute of Professional Photography > The Society of Wedding & Portrait Photographers
