Is Boudoir Photography "Art" Or Just Naked Pictures?
Erotic boudoir photography is a style of image that captures an individual in all their beauty. It's more than just a photo; when done right it can be both erotic and artful.
Boudoir photography is a recognized style of photographic art. Though erotic in nature, it has every valid claim to being art. The Musee d'Orsay in Paris exhibits nude photographs by Helmut Newton, Avedon and Irving Penn along with other celebrated photographers whose work might be classified as erotic or pornographic—but are nevertheless featured prominently alongside their non-erotic counterparts such as Ansel Adams and Alfred Stieglitz.
When it comes to boudoir photography, or any erotic photography for that matter, one of the most important things a person can do is to make sure they hire someone who understands the rules of artistic composition as well as their own personal style and preferences. The genre itself is broad enough that everyone from fine art photographers to pin-up artists work this niche, but there are some common aspects every good boudoir photographer will have—good lighting (natural if possible), a sense of design in staging shots and post processing (which should always be tasteful).
One of the most important aspects is making sure your photographer understands what you're looking for, as well as what's off-limits.
There are as many types of boudoir photography styles and genres as there are artists working in it; each person who decides to do a session has unique expectations. Some people want to express their sexuality, some want more playful or romantic portraits while others simply want to create images that restore confidence after they've lost weight or feel like they don't look their best. No matter what your style may be though, whether familiar with the genre or not, if you approach it correctly you will end up with inspiring photographs that can help you build self-esteem in a fun and flirty way. And all of this in the comfort of an artistic photo session.
There is a lot of controversy about the validity of boudoir photography as an art form. Of course, it's often hard for people who are not exposed to this kind of content on a daily basis to grasp that there's artistic merit in erotic photographs. But if you take time to admire the print work by respected artists such as Helmut Newton or Herb Ritts , it should be pretty clear that there is artistic value in these images. The models may be nude or partially so but they're not gratuitous; instead, they add a sense of elegance and style to any room in which they hang.
Individuals who have never seen this type of image before might feel differently but for many it can be eye-opening—a style of image that has the potential to be both erotic and artful.
If you're a fan of fine art, have an eye for design or are visually curious but not quite so adventurous as to try something like this yourself, these images can add a whole new dimension to your appreciation of art. They deserve no less respect than any famous painting hanging in galleries around the world.
When it comes down to it though, if you take away all the controversy there is one thing everyone can agree on—nude photographs like this when done right are beautiful and inspiring in equal measure. There's nothing wrong with being confident about your body and what it can do, whether nude or clothed…and anyone who thinks otherwise probably shouldn't be looking at it to begin with.
