Boudoir Photography
Shooting sensual images of women is the latest trend in social portraiture. Take a peek inside the business of boudoir
Story by Ailsa McWhinnie
The term ‘boudoir’ conjures up images of a lady’s private dressing room – out of bounds to men, and full of secrets. It’s the perfect way to describe the form of photography which is big business in the USA, and which is becoming increasingly lucrative in the UK.
Astute photographers have cottoned on to the fact that more and more women are after a portrait shoot with a difference and a boudoir shoot – where they feel sensual, a bit cheeky, but very much themselves – is increasingly what they want.
One of the country’s leading boudoir photography studios goes by the enticing name of For Your Eyes Only (FYEO). It was launched in 2002 by Alexandra Burns, a wedding photographer. The idea came about thanks to the Mario Testino exhibition.
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"As I was wandering around I heard a couple of girls discussing how much they’d love to have a picture like that taken of themselves – a modern, sexy photograph," Burns says. "At the time I was looking for a studio-based business, so I spent all the money I had on the basics like advertisements, kit and the first month’s rent. I was inundated with requests from the start."
Within two years Burns was taking on new staff and moving into bigger premises. Now the business has 12 members of staff and two branches. It would appear there’s big business in creating images of women who want to feel sexy, sassy and seductive, but don’t feel like they need to be a clone of Angelina Jolie to do so.
Another photographer who can vouch for this is Emma Jones, who operates under the name Miss Boudoir. Her business has been so successful she has recently moved into new premises. Hair, beauty and model portfolios formed the majority of Jones’ early work, so the transition into boudoir photography was smooth. “The only thing I was changing was what they were wearing!” she laughs.
FYEO also targets the bridal market, and Burns is increasing the company’s presence at wedding fairs, beauty shows and the like. Jones finds the Internet is where her marketing spend is best invested, but ...
