THE ADVANTAGES OF HAVING A MALE PHOTOGRAPHER TO SHOOT YOUR BOUDOIR PICTURES
“Within half an hour of being in Dave’s company he made me feel so at ease his just such a lovely gentleman. I truly enjoyed my experience it made me feel empowered & actually like what was looking back at me in the mirror. Just for one day I wanted to feel the way my husband sees me and that I certainly did I think every woman needs to have a shoot done like this.”.”…Tracey
Isn’t it just a little bit interesting that most Gynaecologists you see are male?
I mean, that always struck me as an odd statistic. Why wouldn’t more women want to enter the field of gynaecology? Do women normally ask for a female doctor, I know some do, but do most and should it even matter? Why would a female doctor be better than a male doctor just because they have the same plumbing as their clients? (Actually, that question sounds like a pretty obvious win for women in my opinion)
You see, I ask this question to draw a parallel with The Boudoir Photographer. Why would a female Boudoir Photographer be better than a male just because she has the same plumbing as her clients??
Is this even a fair comparison, after all, Doctors are trained to be professional so they are totally safe to be alone in a room with. Of course, the implication here is that photographers aren’t to be trusted at all. I used to be a radio dj and worked during my career with Jimmy Saville. Should I then be considered in any way like him? Of course not, so why do so many seem to get all knicker twisty at the thought of a male Boudoir Photographer?
Boudoir Photography is a genre that has gained immense popularity and evolved dramatically over the past few years.
When I started photographing Boudoir about 20 years ago, there really wasn’t much of a genre of boudoir at all. Most photographers were either photographing studio portraits on white backdrops or weddings. Neither genre was terribly inspirational until a handful of wedding photographers like Yervant and Jerry Ghionis (Both coincidentally from Melbourne) came along and shook things up a little. They sprinkled more than a little fashion style class into the wedding mix.
This is what influenced my wedding photography style.
So I started photographing my weddings in this fashion/magazine style
Then brides slowly came to me and asked if I could do some ‘sexy’ pictures in the same fashion style, that they could give to their husbands as wedding gifts and this then became my take on ‘Boudoir’, which was - fashion ‘style wedding pictures in lingerie’.
20 years ago, it’s fair to say, that the Art of Boudoir Photography was very different to the way it is today. It was mainly an American trend and most of the early ‘Boudoir’ photographers were male, like me, and very few photographers made their living entirely from Boudoir. It was normally as an additional offering on top of their day job as a wedding photographer but over the years, more and more women started specialising in Boudoir and turning it into a photographic genre with a real ‘girl power’ message. In fact the message of ‘empowerment’ and body positivity is something I don’t think purely male photographers could have created alone.
Only a woman can truly understand the pressures of society on conforming to a specific ‘look’ and this pressure is far greater for a woman than it is for a man and this pressure has only grown with the rise of social media. (As a Dad of 3 teenagers, I see these pressures on my kids every day)
As a male photographer, I used to feel the need to apologise for being a Boudoir Photographer because it seemed a little fraudulent to me, yet this was the style of photography that I was most drawn to and I was pretty good at helping my subjects to relax in front of the camera.
I have also spent many years developing a photographic style which I think lends itself well to Boudoir in general. A fashion style, upbeat, well lit magazine type look which is almost the opposite to the dark and moody, grunge type boudoir which seems more prevalent.
When you look at the Boudoir studios that are out there, and there are literally dozens of them, the vast majority promote the fact that they are all female studios and this is a big advantage when it comes to photographing Boudoir. Yet, is it really such an advantage?
There is no denying that a woman will be better suited to understanding the changing dynamics of a woman’s body and her insecurities about her body than a man would be. However, in my experience, a male photographer is better placed to look at a woman’s body without judgement.
Assuming the skill set of the photographer is exactly the same, a man will look at his subject through very different eyes than a woman. He will be able to provide a very different perspective that can help create stunning and unique images.
In my experience, many women feel more comfortable with a male photographer because they find it easier to relax and be themselves. They often find the experience quite liberating. They don’t feel as though they’re being judged as they might be with a female photographer.
Another way that Madison Bou has evolved it’s Boudoir style is by always ensuring that a woman stylist is present at all times during the shoot. (These days, it’s my partner, Jayne who is the stylist. She has spent her life dancing professionally around the World , including a couple of years in Paris at Moulin Rouge so is the perfect stylist and poser to help our clients. Her experience in topless reviews has also helped her when it comes to helping clients with their confidence. It’s a wonderful partnership and it certainly makes our days more interesting) The stylist will always watch the little details, labels in clothes, hair out of place, eyeliner runs etc and ensure that I can simply remain a short distance away and focus on getting great pictures. We always do everything we can to make the studio or ‘shoot space’ feel fun and friendly and always a safe place for our clients to relax and feel completely comfortable and this is key.
Ultimately, boudoir photography is an art form. It's about capturing the beauty, sensuality, and femininity of the female form in a way that is respectful, artistic, and meaningful.
In short, booking a male photographer for your boudoir session can bring a range of benefits, from a unique perspective to a range of styles and approaches. At the end of the day, it's important to choose a photographer who you feel comfortable with and who can help you achieve your vision for your boudoir photos. By keeping an open mind and considering a male photographer, you may be pleasantly surprised by the results.
CHOOSE YOUR BOUDOIR PHOTOGRAPHER CAREFULLY
