Talk to Me About the Safety of My Boudoir Images

Your Boudoir Photos are Safe and Secure with The Boudoir of Eau Claire, WI
When women have boudoir images done, one of the first things on their mind usually is (and should be) the safety of themselves and their images. There are many people out there who will take advantage of a woman’s vulnerability, and more importantly; they are LOOKING for the opportunity. Unfortunately many women have blinders on, or are flattered by someone asking them to pose for them as “models.” The term modeling makes many women feel special, which they should but not at the expense of having unflattering or unprofessional photos taken of them. When you’re in your most special lingerie and you look your best, you want someone who will make you FEEL the best. Someone who will present you with images you will be very proud to share and excited for others to see. Tasteful & classy.

Another important detail, is you want those images to be displayed beautifully, you do not want those images floating around all over the place with no respect for your privacy. I know personally of a few photographers in this industry who have websites that they charge men to come on and view their images of women in vulnerable positions. In fact, a friend of a friend of mine had her images on one of these sites and had no idea until I brought it to her attention. This is such a lousy way to do business, and no woman should ever, under any circumstances have to find herself on one of these websites.

With The Boudoir, you have our word, promise, GUARANTEE… We will NEVER display or show your images, unless we’ve discussed that option with you and had a signed release form. We will never allow a third party to view your images in any way, shape, or form without your written consent. Even if written consent is provided, we will gladly remove any and all images from our website, Facebook page, etc. Our number one goal before anything else, is to provide you with a safe and comfortable environment in which you can feel your best and leave with more confidence than you came with.

However, we still need to share the work we’re doing so other women will feel comfortable and KNOW that this is a respectful business we’re running. One whose utmost, number one concern is you as our client, and your peace of mind. With that said, if you trust us with your images and presenting them in a classy and tasteful manner we will gladly give you a $50 credit to put toward prints or editing.

Ask us today how to book a special session just for you that will be in a safe & secure environment, and will make you feel like the lady you are. Thank you so much for considering The Boudoir.

Valentine’s Day Ladies Boudoir Marathon! | Eau Claire, WI Photographer

Last chance for Valentine’s Day! Your choice, book with 2 or more girlfriends for a Valentine’s Day Boudoir Marathon on Sunday, February 5th for $150 per person -OR- book for you and you alone for $300.

What do you get??

-1 hour portrait session
-2, 3×3 mini albums. You keep one, give one away.
-2 Fully edited poses
-champagne & chocolates
-AND you keep the hotel room for the night.
Stay with your girlfriends for a girls night or surprise your loved one with the room for a romantic stay away from home.

Don’t miss out on this fantastic deal! Must be booked and deposit paid by February 3rd!!

The Boudoir Valentine’s Day Boudoir Marathon

Valentine's Day Pin-Up

We’re getting closer and closer to Valentine’s Day, and as one of our first orders of business The Boudoir will be offering a one-time only steal of a deal!

Our very first Boudoir Marathon will also be held on Sunday, January 29th, just in time for Valentine’s Day. $150 gets you 40 minutes of session time in a swanky hotel, 1 fully edited image, and 2 mini accordion albums. 1 to keep, 1 to give away to your significant other. Only 6 sessions are available so book them while you can.

Normally, this type of session would cost $250 but we are offering it to you for $100 off! What a great gift to give to your significant other that says you still want them for your Valentine. You can also purchase Boudoir gift certificates for your loved one. Sometimes women want to do something like this but aren’t quite sure if their husband or boyfriend will find it as sexy as they do! Give her the go ahead with a Gift Certificate to The Boudoir. You’ll be glad you did!

Boudoir is NOT Porn!

A strong woman is terrifying to some people. A woman who knows herself, who understands herself, and appreciates what she has to offer, scares a lot of people. We live in a society where everyone is pigeon-holed into a slot where society feels they “fit.” If you don’t fit the proper societal mold, you’re labeled a “misfit,” an outsider, socially awkward, strange, the list goes on. I don’t like labels, I never have. I never will. I’m a strong woman. I have beliefs that are outside the “Norm.” But I am not strange, I am not a misfit. I am here to change the way that people look at things, change their ideas.

I don’t like societal molds. I don’t like placing people, things, or ideas in the spot where they “fit.” Sometimes, you’ll find you place something in a spot it doesn’t normally “fit” and it thrives. It grows, it flourishes, and it shares it’s strength with others. Think about all the places you’ve seen something or someone in a position you never would have imagined them in, but they’re doing it, they love it, and they are thriving. It happens all the time!

Boudoir Photography is an art form. It is about showing a woman what she’s got, and telling her to “Show ’em what you’re workin’ with.” This is a celebration of a woman’s beautiful body, but also what’s on the inside of that beautiful body. The heart and soul that makes that woman unique and beautiful. A truly great photo isn’t just capturing a moment, it’s also about capturing what is really there, what is on the inside. Making that photograph come to life, having people look closer not just take a glance and walk away. Pornography is very explicit, there are no questions as to what the objective of porn is. Pornography is an activity where the model is usually paid, and paid well to showcase their goods. Pornography is something meant to be shared enmasse, and to titillate many people. Boudoir photography is really only done for one other person than that of the female having portraits done. Boudoir photography is only meant for the eyes of her partner. It’s also not laying everything out on display for the viewer to see. It’s purposefully mastered and posed to give a little sneak peek but to remain slightly ‘anonymous’ for lack of a better word.

Labeling boudoir photography porn, is not giving it enough credit and is an insult to those who create it and those who have it done. We are living in an era where sex is everywhere, it’s in commercials and some of those commercials are not very tastefully done (think Jessica Simpson, Dukes of Hazzard music video or Paris Hilton, Carl’s Jr. Commercial.) These examples, really objectify women. There’s nothing wrong with shaking your booty, nothing at all…but there’s a line that should never be crossed and every Photographer worth his/her salt knows this. But sex sells, and unfortunately many are ready and willing to cross that line for the right amount of money. Boudoir CAN be porn, but it comes down to the Photographer’s vision and what they want their reputation to be.

For us, at The Boudoir, we want a clean reputation. We are seeking a reputation that will send the message to women and their partners that this is a safe way for them to share their sexuality.  We make sure we understand exactly what our clients are looking for, and we make sure we have boundaries in place even before that first CF card slides in. Before we create, we protect our clients, and ourselves. When we’re all done and the lights turn off, we go home and that’s where the true magic begins. We choose our very best images, the once that really stand out and say wow! and when these women see these photos they are speechless. Many of them had no idea they could look this beautiful, even before editing! This is a healing time for many of the women who choose boudoir. It’s a time for them to make amends with their bodies and to realize what they really look like to everyone else around them. Those minor insecurities that we all have look tiny in comparison. Doing these shoots give women strength and a new-found understanding of themselves, it’s empowering! With pornography, it is the opposite, most often. Pornography can diminish a woman’s self worth and value.

Ultimately it all boils down to the fact that we are here to provide a classy and beautiful service to classy & beautiful (inside & out) women. We’re not pornographers. We’re artists. What we create is beauty, and what is left behind is more than just images on paper. Our women walk away with TWO packages when they’re done with us. One that they give away, and one that they keep inside themselves. Empowerment, beauty, confidence, a boost to self esteem, and strength all wrapped up tight with a pretty, shiny satin bow. No one can ever take that away from them because Boudoir is NOT porn.

 

 

 

The History of Boudoir Photography

Since the beginning of time, many have been interested in the art of capturing the female form. The soft curves, swells, skin, and general beauty of a female in relaxed repose captures the attention of not only men, but also other women. The female form is a curiosity, and a beauty to withhold in and of itself.

In the 1920’s, when nudity in photography was mostly illegal and often times considered pornography, Albert Arthur Allen emerged. A Frenchman, based in San Francisco who despite being arrested for his art on numerous occasions, continued to create. A closer view of Mr. Allen’s work reveals a man who saw beauty in the more lush and “plus-sized” models to today’s standards. His posing and model choices led to a very soft and romantic appeal, which is not hard to imagine why he became very popular with his small clientele base at the time. Mr. Allen has left behind some phenomenal pieces of art history, only proven by the photograph below:

Around the same time, Cecil Beaton, an Englishman came on the scene and is famous for his photographs of Marilyn Monroe.  In fact, one of Marilyn’s personal favorites of all time come form Cecil’s collection of photographs. This detail says a lot, considering the many photographers who covered Marilyn in her day and the sheer number of incredibly beautiful images.  See Marilyn’s favorite photograph of herself below: 

Yet another photographer, whose work I find immensely enjoyable is Sam Shaw. A United States native, born in New York, has coverage of Marilyn that I feel shows her natural beauty and her everyday side. Sure, there is the glitz and glamour but more importantly he captures an innocence that I feel a great boudoir photographer should be able to capture. Not just sex, not just beauty, but also an innocence that reminds you there is a woman there. One of Shaw’s images that I find particularly revealing can be viewed below:

The history of boudoir & glamour photography is a vast one, celebrating the beauty & femininity of women, but also if done well: the innocence and romance. The reason behind this blog post today is to show you that the objective for us is not to just capture the modern day take of boudoir & glamour photography, but also to take note from our photographic ancestors and bring a little something more to the table. To show the artistic side of it all and to provoke thought and interest in what seems to be a forgotten art form.

There are many artists to learn from and from which to seek inspiration. Another of my personal favorites is Steven Meisel. Steven is an American photographer born in 1954, who has made the majority of his living through publications in Vogue, a magazine I use to this day simply for inspiration. I subscribed to this magazine, not for it’s inspiring articles, but also for it’s artistic and avante garde imagery. Steven Meisel has not forgotten what the roots of boudoir photography are all about. He has been known to photograph plus-size women, women who do not exactly fit the proper societal mold in which we place women for their size. Something I applaud, because no matter the weight of the woman, there is beauty to behold and to be captured. One of his photographs of what we consider a plus size model doesn’t even come close to defining a plus size woman in my mind, but is still one of my favorites. It shows power, and sex, but at the same time in a pose that could be seen as objectifying a woman, I see empowerment:


Another of his images, capturing exactly what we discussed earlier. Showing a woman with a 1940-1950’s glamour about her:

 Horst Paul Albert Bohrmann, A.K.A Horst P. Horst, was also a phenomenal photographer and master of lighting, something that is a huge part of our focus here at The Boudoir. We spend a lot of time researching the latest in lighting techniques, purchasing lighting equipment and arranging our lighting and models in the best possible way, to create the most dynamic image that we can. Horst is a huge influence for this. Also a Vogue Alumni, he became famous for his work with Madonna on her “Vogue” single in 1990. Horst went on to inspire many photographers, including myself, in the years since.

The list of incredibly inspiring famous photographers and artists could go on and on: Alberto Vargas: famous pin up artist, Frank Powolney: photographer, Sam Menning: photographer, Olivia De Berardinis: famous female pin up artist, Andre De Dienes: photographer, Bert Stern: photographer, Bob Willoughby: photographer, Charles Dana Gibson: pin up artist & artist of the “Gibson Girl”, the list goes on and on. The lesson to take away, is that Boudoir & Glamour photography shouldn’t just speak to the sexual side of an image. It should speak to the soul, it should show personality, and innocence. Every woman has an innocence to her that is just waiting to be captured. Welcoming you to The Boudoir, is welcoming you to a new way of doing things. We’re putting ourselves out there, we’re setting a precedent for ourselves, and a reputation that we will be working very hard to uphold. We encourage you to find inspiration of your own before your session. Come to us with your ideas, share your inspiration. We’re here to make them a reality.

Get in touch with us!

The Boudoir is located out of Eau Claire, Wisconsin and just an hour from St. Paul. Our number one priority is to capture photographs that encapsulate you in a classy, dignified, fresh, and contemporary manner. Our number one priority, is you. YOU could be a boudoir girl. Are you up for the challenge?