As someone who loves to take nude photographs of women, one would think that I would market myself a boudoir photographer. Labeling my work boudoir would certainly make it easier as the term “boudoir” itself is so popular. It just makes sense, doesn’t it? But I can’t bring myself to call my work boudoir.

It isn’t that I have anything against the boudoir genre. I am fully supportive of women’s sexual liberation and I think it’s wonderful that more and more women are reflecting on their bodies, experimenting with them, and embracing them through sensual imagery. But there is a good reason that I do not call myself a boudoir photographer, and in order for me to explain, I’ll need you to walk down an aisle of art history with me…

Under the Umbrella of Nude Photography

Under the umbrella of nude photography are other, smaller umbrellas. For the purpose of this post, I’m only concerned with Boudoir and the Fine Art Nude and the difference between the two can be found in erotic interest. Rooted in French postcards and pin-up girls, Boudoir’s primary interest is eroticism and the expression of sexuality. Its focus is external, in the gaze of the other. Primed for attraction and allure, Boudior’s intent is to seduce. Although the Fine Art Nude image often displays erotic interest, this is not its primary concern, and emphasis is instead placed on composition, emotional intent, and the study of the human form. Fine Art Nude is internally focused and with reflective and emotional intent. Boudoir might also use these facets at times, but they come second to erotic interest and because they are related (both Fine Art Nude and Boudoir imagery falls under the umbrella of Nude Photography) Boudoir may periodically use the facets of Fine Art Nude. Likewise, Fine Art Nude sometimes plays with the themes of Boudoir, but they remain distinct genres with different priorities.

Gaze and Its Use

The origin of Boudoir imagery is the male gaze. Its focus is sexualization, and although women may also enjoy it, the root of boudoir imagery was for the purpose of male pleasure. Captivated by the gaze of the other, Boudoir seeks to deepen attraction with a primary focus on sexual primacy; images filled with the body caught in moments of ecstasy. There is certainly a rise in women seeking this imagery for themselves in order to explore their own sexuality, but the most common reason that women seek boudoir photographs is for the enjoyment of their partner.

Now, I am not saying that there is anything wrong with this. It is completely understandable that we would want to share images like these with our partners. but my reluctance to call myself a boudoir photographer arises in that this has been the only justification in history for women to explore their sensuality; in service to their mate.

My Personal Tastes

I personally do not like to focus on sexuality and eroticism in my imagery. Although I believe that women’s sexuality needs to be liberated and celebrated, I also recognize that throughout history, women have been hyper-sexualized, and remain so in culture today. With this history of over-sexualization, I struggle with imagery that brings eroticism and sex to center stage – that was the first step in sexual liberation, but we now need to go beyond sex and normalize the female body for its many uses. Yes, sex is incredibly important, but as long as we as artists are only focused on sex and attractiveness, women will remain objects. I want to normalize the art of the female form, and photograph it from the gaze of reflection. I want the tone of my imagery to exude emotion, self-connection, and sensuality. Sexuality pulls the viewer into the physical act of intercourse. Sensuality evokes the senses in ways that are not limited to sex.

Does It Matter What We Call It?

For the purpose of definition, these are mine:

Boudoir: nude imagery that focuses on eroticism and exploration of sexuality as its primary concerns.

Fine Art Nude: nude imagery that focuses on emotional intent, inward reflection, and the study of the human form as its primary concerns.

In an age of fluidity, where lines are not so clearly defined, does it matter what we call a nude image? Honestly, probably not. Whether an image is deemed “boudoir” or “fine art nude” likely matters very little as the genres flow into one another, but for me as an artist, association matters, and we as a culture still associate the term “boudoir” with sex, and that is why I don’t call myself a boudoir photographer.