Here’s the thing about boudoir photography. It can be sensual, it can be artistic, it can be erotic… Oh hell, who am I kidding, let’s just say it can be a lot of things to a lot of people!
But is it ever Porn?
We asked a few very well known boudoir photographers for their thoughts on the matter. First up boudoir and pinup photographer Robert Alvarado defines boudoir, pinup and porn for us.
Boudoir, IMO, has more of a direct “come hither” feel to the images. With the poses and clothing the subject wears, the image entices the viewer directly. The subject is made to look sexy in an obvious manner.
Whereas Pinup has a more innocent feel to the image. The subject can be wearing just a dress (fully covered) but with her look, entices the viewer. Pouty, surprised, sexy, mad, can all give off an innocence or sexy feel to the image. Not necessarily “In Your Face” Look at me I’m Sexy! Pinup (to me) also has a wholesome feel to it, the “girl next door” vibe. Teasing is also a big element of Pinup.
Porn is in your face “I wanna have sex with you” feel to the images. The message is very clear and to the point. You really don’t have to think about what the message is, in fact it’s not really about any message, it’s about arousing the viewer.
So even though Pinup and Boudoir can have that message too, there is still an element of, for lack of a better word, class. The image still has some innocence and are feel good images. Yes, Porn is feel good too, but in a different way.
To be fair to both sexes we posed the exact same question to the equally well known female boudoir photographer Tammy Warnock of True Blue Intimates and she had this to say about the difference between boudoir and porn.
Boudoir, pin-up and porn are all very visual, however I feel that the difference between them is that porn is more explicit while boudoir/pin-up is softer. While boudoir may show some traces of naughty bits (pubic hair or even a bare pubic mound), they still leave something to the imagination. You can easily do full nudes in boudoir but where I draw the line is whether the image shows the inner part of the genitals.
Now I know what you’re saying readers, it’s all fine and dandy to have definitions and what not, but is there a grey area?
TAMMY - Yes, there is definitely a grey area but I believe that you can push the line without crossing over it. It’s also easy to become numb to nudity. Since I do so many boudoir sessions and have many different client requests, I have to remind myself periodically where the line is.
ROBERT – Yes. I constantly push myself. I think it’s good for me as a photographer/artist to explore and push limits. I know I have crossed the line a few times, but it’s a good thing. I feel I have even melded boudoir/pinup and even some elements of porn into an image. I STILL strive to keep em classy and for me, that is a key componet of all my images.
In a recent DWF Boudoir Forum post titled “Pushin’ it” (membership or free trial required to view the link sorry) some members seemed to express that the “Profession” of the client might make a difference as to which side of the line a photograph falls. So do Robert or Tammy believe that knowing a persons profession change how you can categorize an image?
TAMMY – I think it can but I don’t think that it’s fair to generalize like that. An image should stand on it’s own and be categorized based on the way the subject is photographed, not on what the person’s profession is.
ROBERT – Not for me. It doesn’t matter to me what the model does for a living, I will always make them look like a pinup, or whatever concept we’ve talked about. I am a very non judgmental person. I could care less what you do for a living, it’s what we can create and the working relationship we have that counts in the end. It has always been that way for me.
Would a clients profession dictate your shoot in anyway? RE would you pose a school mom who came in for a session any differently than you would an adult entertainer?
TAMMY – I would pose them in the best way possible according to their body type as well as the clothing that they brought. I ask my clients to let me know how mild or wild (while not crossing the line) they want their session to be. In truth, one of my raciest sessions to date was for a 2nd grade teacher.
ROBERT – Let me say this, in working with porn stars, it IS much easier to work with them in the sense they are open to anything. And I mean that in a good way, especially nudity. I like to create Vargas type nudes, and porn stars have just been a lot more at ease in recreating that genre. I have worked with Moms before, quite a few actually, and I’ve even posed them like you see in my images. The only difference, really, is the experience factor.
So, in that sense yes, A Mom is not going to have the experience (posing) that a Porn star has, however, I feel I could make her look just as good as a porn star… That sounds funny, but I think you know what I mean…
So what do you guys think? Is there a grey line? Is it all porn? Does a clients profession make a difference? We can’t wait to hear your opinions in the comments section below.
Interested in finding out more about Robert Alvarado click to view our exclusive interview with him.
13 Comments at "Is it Boudoir, or is it Porn?"
One thing I think is worthy of noting is that BOUDOIR should enhance a woman’s (the subjects) self esteem, while PORN can possibly diminish it. With boudoir, the focus is on the clients beauty and sensuality, yet with porn the focus appears to be more on sex or the act of sex.
Stacie very interesting observation.
simply put “sexy, not sex”
Boudoir images have an indirectness to them. Selected area are covered and details obscured.
There is a level between boudoir and pornography called “cheesecake.” The sexuality is much more direct like a Betty Page portfolio.
I once posted a cheesecake image from a commercial shoot on the DWF and got some harsh negative feedback from women right away. If it offends, it is not boudoir, it is cheesecake or porn.
We all have sex (at least most of adults humans like it), and the idea with boudoir is not only to increase the self-esteem of the woman (which I think is important), but usually she also wants her man to have these images and they are shot with that intent, and I pretty sure that when he sees those images, he wants his woman even more… sexually.
So not trying to beat by the bush and by shy about it. Pinup, boudoir or porn is in the end just different ways to depict a woman as good as possible to get a raise in men (or women). And as long as the woman doesn’t feel forced to do anything against her will, and it makes her feel beautiful or good about herself, who are we to judge if she chooses to do a boudoir session, a pinup session or even a spread for Playboy?
I personally is not that much into porn, but I sure love and get a raise (ok, I’m a girl so nothing raise up really) out of both well executed boudoir (sensual as they often are) as well as pinup (playful as they often are), while some spreads in Playboy leaves me emotionless and cold (gynecological exams are more fun).
I remember having a debate over that very question in one of my threads a few years back. It’s a tough one and is judged differently depending on the viewer’s perspective. I used to think of porn as showing genitalia and/or penetration, and boudoir as just a “sexy portrait” that may or may not show T&A. But there are lots of “sexy portraits” viewable on subscription sites like gods girls that are still considered porn that don’t always show P or G. To blur the lines further, i’ve had clients who want to take boudoirs inspired by images they’ve seen from gods girls, suicide girls, etc.
My latest conclusion is that if it’s for strangers, most people consider it porn, if it’s for your significant other, most people consider it boudoir.
Boudoir should have boundaries in my opinion. Otherwise, professionally it raises a lot of questions for a lot of prospective clients. While I would love to do boudoir (as sensual photography gifts for my brides/grooms) I have no interest in taking shots of naked women or men. I strongly believe that is for the bedroom and some things should be left to the imagination.
I believe a clear line must be drawn. I think of pin up as Farrah Fawcett in her swimsuit, I think of Playboy as Porn and I think of photos ment for an audience of one that keeeps the subject resonably clothed as Boudoir and it’s meant to be sexy.
All three are meant for arousal at some level. I believe there are many things degrading to men and women in photography today. I believe it’s up to photographers to draw healthy lines.
We are forgetting the most important element here: Our Audience! Porn is available for all eyes to see and purchase. Boudoir photography is for the clients eye and whomever they are getting the photo shoot done for. Even so, I always “consent” every client before a shoot to get their permission on publishihg for use on my website or in marketing material. Yes, Boudoir is a little naughty and defiitely Sexy, but only for the private view of your client and whomever else she gives permission, which most likley will only be her signficant other/partner.
Ali
When shooting boudoir, I shoot to leave something to the imagination, thats what makes it sexy. A womans body is beautiful and should be protrayed as such. One can be sexy without having to show genitaila. As an example, just pick up a Victoria Secrets catalog. My clients know I never shoot anything that would leave me embarassed to call it my work. If its something that would appear in an x-rated magazine, its not coming from my studio. Because of the sensitive nature of these sessions, I, too, always seek permission from the woman (or couple) before displaying their images either on the web or in any marketing material.
It’s a very grey area and is as really down to the individual’s perception viewing the image.
I was going to say at the point of showing genitalia but that is often shown in fine art nudes.
As a photographer, my clients may have boudoir photography at any level they choose. It is not my place to tell them when boudoir becomes porn – only to create amazing artistic images in good taste. Perhaps that is the difference – and that it is really down to whether images are created artistically in good taste or just show the brutal reality?
[...] IS IT BOUDOIR, OR IS IT PORN? [...]
I think if you talk about boudoir, we talk about sensuality and bring out the woman’s true beauty. Of course: Depending on the photographer in a very elegant and tasteful way).
And porn is about sex. The words tasteful, beautiful, elegant are words we often don’t use in the same sentence with “porn”.
I have done a boudoir session with my sister who was amateur boudoir photographer. I personally feel the comfort level is up to client. But as far as the look, i feel showing nipple and pubic hair crosses the line from boudoir to pin-up. How much you show from there determines if it’s pin-up or porn in my opinion. It gives the viewer a different feel too. you can feel a different message from the model with each of these levels.
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