The New Boudoir Pin-up!

There’s a new sensuality at play in the countdown to Valentine’s Day 2020 – boudoir photoshoots. Women are heating up social media with risqué shoots. For the uninitiated, a boudoir is a woman’s private sitting room or salon, usually between the dining room and bedroom. On Instagram, these sensuous shoots are the new tease in #couplegoals, with hashtag #somethingboudoir getting 4.2 million posts, #boudoir getting 4.6 million posts.
Photographer Sarika Gangwal believes social media has helped create a demand for boudoir shoots. “Boudoir photography is all about loving yourself and feeling good in your body. It’s an experience of discovering your sensuality,” she says. Her tip: expression is everything as there is a thin line between sensuality and vulgarity. Gangwal adds that camera anxiety is a real thing. A reason why she tells her models to relax, and creates a mood where they feel comfortable. “I always play some music in the background. I’ve done sexy boudoir shoots of women in sarees – it highlights the curves. The big change is people are opening up their desires to feel good about themselves and their body,” she adds.
SENSUALITY RULES
The photographer is officially now in the bedroom. Pre-wedding shoots are passé as to-be brides are preparing to gift their fiancés a little ‘secret’ shoot. Or it could be couples trying to spice things up. Even single women are resorting to it to express their love for their bodies. Photographer Priyanka Sachar notes that people do boudoir shoots for various reasons: to preserve their youthful looks, to surprise their partner, improve their body image – as a couple or single person. People of all ages, shapes, sizes and sexual orientation like to try out boudoir photography. “The mood at these shoots is casual yet glamorous. It is a special day for the person(s) getting the shoot done. I go with an all-women team of make-up artist, hair stylist and photographer (me). The participants are made to feel comfortable. Music is played to keep the atmosphere lively. Boudoir photography can be artistic as well as elegant. It is not titillating or crude.”
Boudoir photography emphasises the power and sensuality of ordinary individuals — primarily women — at an extraordinary point in their lives, notes photographer Pratik Sanghi, and adds, “The pictures express their feeling about their own relationships and, done well, depict them at their most desirable and powerful.” Sanghi likes to shoot high contrast black and whites images, usually in their homes where they are most comfortable. “My main goal is to visually convey heavy romance and intimacy and not shoot erotic portraits. In boudoir shoots, we limit the intimacy maximum to kissing. It takes a few minutes for them to get in the zone especially when it comes to getting comfortable with their bodies. I show them every image we shoot to make them feel completely at ease.”
THE NEW BOUDOIR
Thanks to Instagram, the interest in boudoir photography is showing a revival. Brides-to-be are stripping down either partially or completely and paying to have soft-sensual photos taken of themselves as a gift for their grooms. The job of boudoir photographers is to be “very discreet”; and most photographers are under strict contract. The favourite outfit is lingerie, but women often choose to wear what they feel most comfortable in – be it a saree, dress, shirt, garter belts, etc. The common misconception is that boudoir photography is nude or borderline pornographic. This is not true at all as these photos can range from intimate and sweet to straight-up provocative. They can also feature themes like popular pin-ups, burlesque or something trendy such as steampunk. Photographer Noopur says that it’s being fuelled by women who want to showcase their confidence. She says, “They are not shy and very comfortable in their own skin. Social media has made women (and men) own their sensuality. They have shed their inhibitions and are lovingly flaunting their bodies.” It’s like your bedroom is no longer off limits.
The favourite outfit is lingerie, but women choose to wear what they feel most comfortable in – be it a saree, dress, a shirt, garter belts
Couples are hiring photographers to shoot intimate portraits in their bedrooms to celebrate their relationship – and also feel empowered and sexy. They want to create something memorable other than a pre-wedding shoot. Last year, we had a bride gift her fiancé a boudoir shoot. It is the new sexy.
- Pratik Sanghi, photographer
The favourite outfit is lingerie, but women choose to wear what they feel most comfortable in – be it a saree, dress, a shirt, garter belts
HOW TO DO A TASTEFUL BOUDOIR SHOOT
- Relax and be comfy in your own skin. It’s important to trust your photographer
- Your images have to evoke emotions. Boudoir photos shouldn’t be cold
- Consider the outfits you’d like to wear. Be creative with your outfit choices and styling
- Create a mood board. Dark and moody? Cheeky and flirty? Girly and sassy? Black and white? Have a clear idea of the vibe you want
- Figure out your poses. Some of the common ones include sitting on knees, lying on your back, putting legs up against a wall, lying on your side, sitting on a stool, etc. Arched backs, leg lifts and torso twists are used to achieve sexy poses
- You can use interesting props, such as stools, canopy beds, pillows, furry throws, sexy shoes and classy lingerie
Thumb image: Instagram/Sarika Gangwal