Boudoir Or Glamour? What Are you Seeing?

I know how it is. You’re thinking of doing some pastime, sport or trying an experience and you look at online images and videos that have been posted on that very same subject. As you view them your heart sinks….instead of feeling enthusiastic, the pictures you’re looking at cause you to doubt yourself...I’ll never be able to do that!
This is certainly true of Boudoir photography. Hop online, pop ‘Boudoir Photography’ in the image search, and bingo…..thousands of images of intimate portrait (in your eyes) perfection. They are photos you can only dream to replicate, and you park the dream right there.



But what are you really seeing? Is it really Boudoir? I’ll be honest, I see a lot of ‘Boudoir’ images online, and I mean A LOT, and I’m often left questioning which genre I am actually looking at.
For a start a vast majority seem to be partially naked, early twenties and flawless. Although not always the case, I would bet good money that they are professional models. This has been a frustration of mine for as long as I have been offering Boudoir photography. The online face of this genre clearly doesn’t reflect the reality. Fortunately I’m not the only person to recognise this.



I read an article recently on a photography website Fstoppers by a photographer named Nino Batista with the title...Why You May Not Be A Boudoir Photographer Even If You Think You Are.
I’ll be honest, the reason I clicked on the post was to see if I was in fact a Boudoir Photographer! I need not have worried. It turns out I’m genuine! It describes my Eterno Boudoir photo work perfectly.
I have linked the article for you to read if you are interested, but the gist of the post is this.
Nino says that Boudoir isn’t so much a genre of photography as an approach to intimate portraiture. He says many ‘boudoir’ images are actually ‘glamour’ shots, as many have professional models posing, a team of photographer and assistants, are shot in a large commercial studio space and the aim is magazine publication. Models are typically younger than mid-20s with the intention of being paid for the shoots. He lists many other points, but what was of interest to me was what he defined as ‘boudoir’.

Those ladies that have Boudoir sessions typically have;
- never posed for pro photos other than family/school images.
- never posed in front of a camera in a state of undress or intimate attire.
They are also;
- generally a nervous about the prospect of their boudoir session.
- spend only some or no time on their physique because they don't pose in front of cameras for a living.
-generally in their late 20's or older.
Boom! It’s a match.



These points match perfectly to my clientele. It seems that I am a Boudoir photographer after all! However, this isn’t the reason I have written this post. The real purpose was to put people’s mind at ease about what Boudoir really is.
So, when looking at the Eterno Boudoir images, whether it’s here on my website, Facebook or Instagram, please remember…all the women are Eterno Clients, or have volunteered for model call shoots. None have had any previous experience of modelling, they are nervous about the shoot, many are mums, their average age is around 35 to 40 (with many older and younger,) BUT they all look beautiful. So next time you’re browsing online and you find ‘boudoir’ images, which are in fact ‘glamour’, don’t be put off. Don’t compare. Embrace the fact you are you and revel in the fact.

I’ll leave you with this quote “A rose can never be a sunflower, and a sunflower can never be a rose. All flowers are beautiful in their own way, and that’s like women too. I want to encourage women to embrace their own uniqueness.” Miranda Kerr


Want to Learn More?
Contact me for your copy of my latest information brochure. In will be all the information you need to see if an Eterno Boudoir shoot is right for you.

Become an Eterno VIP
Stay in touch with all things Eterno Boudoir by signing up to our mailing list. Be the first to see new images, and get member only specials too.
Join the Eterno VIPs to see more posts like this, and receive the latest Eterno collection brochure, which is full of information, FAQs and collection and session details…