People Might Judge Me! Boudoir and Cultural Taboos
“Boudoir is Taboo, But I Still Want to Try!”
For many cultures, the female body is a cultural taboo. Many religions encourage a degree of modesty. But it is not just religions. Every culture has its own judgments about showing too much skin. That is certainly true in the Midwest, even in a big city like Chicago.
Whenever something goes unsaid, there is an opportunity for shame to take root. This is why boudoir is so empowering. It faces cultural norms head-on and allows YOU to be in control of your body and image. That said, cultural taboos are a real barrier for many women interested in boudoir. Here is how you can decide whether or not boudoir is for you, despite taboos.
What is a Cultural Taboo?
A cultural taboo is an unspoken rule. Every culture has them, whether it’s a religious culture, national culture, or even the unique culture of your personal family. These rules can dictate anything and everything (especially modesty).
While you can absolutely have a more modest boudoir photoshoot, it’s important to choose your photoshoot aesthetic based on what you want. Making choices about your own body is a part of the empowering magic of boudoir. No one else gets a say!
What if People Find Out!?
When chatting with women about the details of a boudoir photoshoot, many women ask the same question, “what will people say if they find out?” Going against cultural taboos can feel risky. If this is where you are at, it’s completely understandable.
AND, Chicago Boudoir Photography prioritizes your privacy over all else. You are in complete control of who learns about your boudoir photoshoot experience. Our 100% female staff prides themselves on carefully protecting your privacy at every step of the photoshoot process. Some ways we protect your privacy include:
Reserving the entire studio for you, and only you, during your session
Partnering with professional printers who only work with photography businesses
Deleting your images from our system after 90 days so they are never just floating around the cloud
Password-protecting all digital galleries
Never sharing your images on social media or in marketing materials without your written consent
And more! (Explore additional privacy details in our studio FAQ’s section.)
How Do I Know if Boudoir is Right For Me?
Cultural taboos are a real factor when determining you own comfort level. However, if you feel a spark to try a luxury boudoir photoshoot, we encourage you to go for it! Yes, we might be a little biased, but we’ve seen firsthand how transformative it can be when a woman chooses herself and her dreams. And hey — don’t just take our word for it. Read what real women are saying about their Chicago Boudoir Photography experience. Their stories say it better than WE ever could. Who knows… this could be the start of a whole new, confident you!
“It was a beautiful experience and a real confidence boost!”
- Estefania
Where Do I Book a Photoshoot?
Ready to experience a boudoir session that feels safe, luxurious, and completely centered on you? That’s exactly what we do at Chicago Boudoir Photography. Your first step is simply booking a free consultation, and from there, we’ll walk through everything together. You don’t have to have it all figured out — you just have to be a little curious and open to saying yes to yourself.
This is actually something I talk about on stage, too. In my TEDx talk, I share why I believe it’s time to stop labeling women’s bodies as “naughty” and start seeing them as powerful. Because confidence doesn’t come from following rules you never agreed to — it comes from choosing yourself. Watch the full TEDx talk with the button link below!
