Planning your Boudoir Photos

As a Pittsburgh photographer, I often get asked if I also do Boudoir Photography. I guess the short answer is no, but it’s because I focus on intimacy and femininity to bring out the best out of a woman to tell her story through the art of photography.

Whenever I think of Boudoir photos I get a tacky image in my head of a woman wearing cheap lingerie pretending to do a sexual pose. I find many of these photos vulgar and with little to no sensitivity or creativity at all.

As an artist and an intimate wedding photographer, this cheapens the experience and taints an experience that should be intimate, beautiful and sexy.

I know, it’s probably an unpopular opinion to have, but there are ways to do things that are sensual and artistic without taking away from the experience.

What’s the difference between Boudoir Photography and Intimate Photos?

As a Pittsburgh photographer, I would love to explain the main difference between a Boudoir photoshoot and an intimate photo session with Natalia Baqueiro Photography.

It’s mainly how I approach each photo shoot and how much thought I put into creating art instead of just the same type of photos for everyone.

How did Boudoir Photography started?

The history and evolution of Boudoir Photography throughout time is very interesting. It’s an art form that was meant to express more than just a portrait of a beautiful woman and her sexuality.

It’s hard for me to pronounce the word Boudoir, so it’s no surprised that it derives from a French, which means a woman’s private salon.

The History of Boudoir Photography

So how did Boudoir photography first started?

This art form has a rich history that dates back to the early 20th century, gaining popularity especially in the 1920s and 1930s.

I wasn’t surprised when I found out that many of the sensual photographs were often commissioned by wealthy individuals as personal portraits or romantic gifts for their partners. The plot twist is that most of them were of their mistresses.

This only added an extra air of negativity to the already controversial art form.

Albert Arthur Allen

It was in the 1920s when boudoir art and photography really began to come into its own. During this time, it was generally illegal to have nudity in photographs. But photographers like Albert Arthur Allen started to brake the status quo.

He was an American photographer and film director who was known for his nude portraiture. I mention him, because it’s thanks to artists like him, his vision and persistence that boudoir photography gained popularity.

The evolution of Boudoir Photography between 1940s and 1970s

There was a point in the 1940s when boudoir photography took a bit of a turn. It stopped being as classy, and instead turned trashy. But then in the 1970s when photography started to become a respected art form, and boudoir photography gained interest again.

Boudoir Photography in Fashion Magazines

When fashion magazines started to feature photographs of real women instead of drawings with little clothes that were a sexy nature, boudoir photography gained respect in the fashion industry.

Even with all of these advances, there was still a stigma when women appeared in lingerie or partially nude in photographs or artwork, and even though most of the time it was for art, many people found it distasteful.

Boudoir Photography Now

It’s interesting to look back in time and see how things used to be as opposed to what they are now, especially with social media being at the forefront of everything in our lives.

As an intimate portrait photographer, it’s an honor to photograph women and bring out their sensual side with artistic photos that focuses on their sensitivity and femininity.

Intimate female portraiture with a purpose

To me, it’s not only an art form but a delicate process that I take with the outmost respect.

Props are something, I personally use at Natalia Baqueiro Photography.

Almost all my intimate photo shoots have some sort of prop, which ends up being fun and something to add on to the experience while we’re together.

Things like lipsticks, sheer curtains, fabrics, lingerie, sunglasses, and anything you can think of that will vibe with the style we’re going for when doing your boudoir photo shoot works!

I’m known for being curious, and I just think that photographing people is a collaborative art form, so your story matters to me, and it’s something you’ll see embedded in the final photos.

Boudoir Photos, an Empowering Experience

Boudoir photography is now one of the add-on experiences you can have when you book Natalia Baqueiro as your wedding photographer, and something I highly recommend to do at least once in your life.

Your intimate photo shoot will not only be a gift for your partner, but a gift to yourself and an unforgettable experience that will leave you with high-art pieces of yourself to cherish forever!

Boudoir Photography is Essential

This is really a great way to boost your self-esteem and have a bit of fun. The purpose of boudoir photography is for you to see yourself in a different light.

Feeling sexy is not just about pleasing others, but about giving back to you and cherishing who you’ve become. I promise that you’ll realize how beautiful and powerful you are after we’re done with your photo shoot.

The process of an Intimate Photoshoot

Having an intimate photo shoot will be an experience of your femininity and a time to look back and see how far you’ve come. It’s an empowering and beautiful experience that will leave you wanting more.

Are you ready?! I hope you are, because we’re going to have fun and make art together!

The best thing you can do is get in touch with me here, so we can start planning your boudoir photo shoot and have beautiful artistic intimate portraits of the person you are now.

The intimate photo shoots can be at your own place, a photography studio, or if it’s during the warmer months of Pittsburgh, in a pool, Lake Eerie or a park.

Anything is possible!

Booking Natalia Baqueiro as your wedding photographer

Some wedding collections include an engagement session, and an intimate portrait session, so if you’d like to find out more information about the packages and collections Natalia Baqueiro Photography offer for wedding photography.

If you need more inspiration when it comes to locations, here’s two guides on the most Iconic Pittsburgh Locations in the Steel City and the Best Pittsburgh Engagement Locations to consider so you can get more ideas on what vibe you’d like.