Boudoir Photography: Taking A Step Towards Normalizing Nude Art
Photography is the most common way of saving our memories or capturing any moment as an image for eternity. We practice photography in our daily lives, but this wasn’t always the case. Capturing every moment in our lives was a privilege for the rich and educated. Now, however, everyone with any type of camera can do it. It has become an art which has many different genres and forms where beauty meets the lens to create art.
There are many types and fields of photography and while some of them are very famous and super common like fashion photography, wildlife photography, product photography etc. Others lie hidden under wraps of shame and barriers of criticism and judgement created by society. Yes, I’m talking about the hidden cousin of this family i.e. boudoir photography, a form of photography which dares to merge passion and art with the main aim to admire different body types and normalise nudity.
But, What Is Boudoir Photography?
The term ‘Boudoir’ is French for a woman’s private dressing room, which inspires the intimacy of this genre of photography. These photographs have a playful, bold and provocative look where the nudity is mostly implied rather than explicitly shown. This type of photography is a way of portrayal of the human body in all its beauty with a sensual and intimate twist.
Contrary to most beliefs, boudoir photography isn’t a new concept. It can be dated as far back as the 1940s. During the 19th and 20th centuries, early erotic photography like the French postcards, pin-up girls and Hollywood culture influenced the style of boudoir photography. However, a revolution in this field was brought about by digital photography, which made it more accessible and popular than before.
What Makes Boudoir Photography Special?
Boudoir photography is not discriminatory, it doesn’t value one body type more than others. It is a way to celebrate all body forms and types. Everyone can pose as the subject of this photograph. Everyone is a model in boudoir photography. It is especially common among women. It was characterized by females taking back the control and authority over their bodies, it was a means of their empowerment. However, in recent times, people from all walks of life irrespective of their religion, background and sexuality, have been indulging in this beautiful art. There is a vast range of views on this.
Raqeeb, a queer photographer, videographer and writer based out of Delhi, documents male bodies and sexualities. Most of his work is from an intimate lens. Raqeeb says “Every photography has its own aspect and my work is mostly documentation of intimacy and bodies in all their forms. I started photographing people through an intimate lens in 2018. It started as an outlet for my own expressions and relation with my body. I didn’t see any representation of the regular body types in the mainstream when it comes to men, and my aim was(to) portray male bodies in all their forms, irrespective of whether it’s presentable in the mainstream categories. Bodies that we see every day, bodies that we live in. The idea was(to) normalise all kinds of bodies and it’s a journey that I have been on since then.”
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Meanwhile, Tathagata Deb, a 31 years old commercial photographer based out of Kolkata, primarily focused on the boudoir genre adds, “Being a person with social anxiety who was bullied and body-shamed throughout his school life, I found my recluse in art at a very young age. I strongly believe that boudoir photography is a medium of paramount significance for people to overcome the irrelevant and unrealistic body standards set by society. It’s a beautiful form of art.”
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Whereas Witch Woodstocky, an editor by profession, an aesthete by nature and a feminist who dares to live authentically and turn her very existence is an act of rebellion believes that her journey to boudoir photography is what makes it special for her. She exclaimed, “This photographer friend of mine was the first person to capture my semi-naked pictures in aesthetic storytelling frames. He suggested that I continue with it. Then the lockdown happened. And I was stuck at home for almost a year with an old camera and my body image issues. I needed a change. So I decided to continue with the boudoir journey. But through my own eyes. And that’s where my journey with self-portrait boudoir photography began. That’s why it’s so special to me.”
Are There Any Advantages Of Indulging In Boudoir Photography?
Yes, there are many possible advantages of indulging in boudoir photography, it can be a very rewarding experience for both the photographer as well as the model. Boudoir photography exudes sensuality and is intimate. That’s why one usually wears racy lingerie and poses seductively to profess ownership over their sexuality and sensuality. However, it’s much more than simply sexy pictures of a person.
Talking about his own experiences in the field, Tathagata revealed, “Speaking strictly from personal experiences, I hated my body and the way I look for a better part of my life. And I may not be bold enough to say that there are many with the same story. I remember an instance when a follower of mine on social media texted me saying that it was because of my photographs she could finally start loving her body in front of her lover and not feel ashamed of it. In fact, one of my very dear friends started her journey into the world of boudoir and nude art photography influenced by the photographs I took of her. And that shoot was particularly focused on her self-harm scars and her body dysmorphia. If I can help these handfuls of people, then I do believe boudoir photography can help a lot of others too.”
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Raqeeb also added to this, “Most of the people that I have photographed have expressed a sense of relief and confidence in the fact that they were finally able to tell their story and get photographed with the body that they live (in) irrespective of the mainstream standards. Many people have told me how it helped deal with issues that they have been living (with) for a long time. The thing is even if we are comfortable with our own bodies, society will make sure with their snarky comments that we know we don’t fit in. Society’s judgement is a problem and I feel getting photographed nude is a kind of rebellion against those standards that are being forced onto us.”
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Looking back at her experiences, Witch also added, “As I started perceiving my body objectively, I realised that the difference between what I see in the mirror and what I see in my camera viewfinder is all in the mind. Being able to see my body not as a deviation from the beauty standards but as a higher form of timeless aesthetics, made me fall in love with my body in a very pure and healthy way. Over time, this practice has helped me develop a keen eye for beauty and a better understanding and appreciation of my own body. It has also allowed me to be vocal about exactly how I want others to treat me and my body.”
So, Can Boudoir Photography Help Normalise Nude Art?
One major problem related to this type of photography is its sexualization by the masses. People are quick to judge anyone willing to strip in front of a camera. We need the people to get their minds out of the gutter, not everything that involves our bodies revolves around sex. This thought hinders an average person to look beyond the innate sensuality of the picture, this leads to the easy judgement of the character of a person because no respectable person would ever do this, right? This is the thought process that needs to be changed but can boudoir photography help us get there?
Tathagata adds with a smile, “Well, according to me, to be honest, it’s not only up to boudoir photography to normalize nude art, It’s the people behind it. Our society typically associates nudity with sexuality, desires, vulgar thoughts, and inappropriate content. But, a naked body is just flesh and blood in its own form and shape, each one different from the other. There are stories behind a naked body, not just curves. It’s a moment of truth for an individual, a very vulnerable one. If you, as an audience, have that power to see a naked body for what it is then yes, one of these days boudoir photography along with a changed set of thoughts can help normalize nudity.”
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Whereas Raqeeb also strongly expressed that “boudoir art can help normalise nude art. I have seen the viewpoint around boudoir changing over the years. When I started, people were still shying around these issues online, now I see so many people embracing their bodies as they are. So many artists have also come around working in the area and doing some good work. I feel the viewpoint around nudity is slowly changing, but we’ve got a long way to go.”
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Agreeing with him, Witch added with a smirk, “You see, it’s a circular process. The more the society is exposed to nudity as not a function of sexuality, but aesthetic in its own right, the more will it serve to normalise it. The more we see the human body in its simple naked beauty, the less shameful will it be. It’s that simple.”
Boudoir photography is a means for expression, and self-acceptance of our body and it is extraordinarily empowering to step out of our meek shell and own our sensuality. Here the body is a piece of art. It is, therefore, celebrated the same way we celebrate a beautiful sunset. Society needs to mature enough and appreciate this kind of body art. Let’s hope we get there soon, huh?
Image Source: Freepik
