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Photography is an art form that best capture human emotions. This art is able to generate its very own special excitement that has the capability to transform the visual aesthetic of its subject, making it a challenging endeavor. Even though the things we see today can be counted as subjects of photography, women are perhaps the most widely captured subjects in the field of photography. In fact, photographing women is what made it possible for females to be released from the concept of domesticity.

Under the guise of photography, women within the society were able to emanate from their private worlds towards the eyes of the public sphere. This is especially true in the case of Boudoir photography, which has been gaining popularity in the field of portraiture. Boudoir is a genre of photography that often has women as subjects but can also be done for men, capturing them in sensual or suggestive poses or setting that may contain little or no nudity. It is totally different from erotic photography as it focuses more on the aesthetic qualities of the subjects as well as the artistry of the process rather than the sexually stimulating concept of the portrait.

The term boudoir is derived from the French word "bouder" which literally means to pout. However, throughout history boudoir has been used to refer to private rooms such as sitting room, dressing room but more importantly the bedroom. Because of the subtle uses of the word, the modern concept of photographing women in their bedrooms emerged as an offshoot of boudoir, which is why this genre of photography is also known as "bedroom photography," though it can also be carried out in different private environments. Even though term boudoir was used in the later parts of photography history, this genre has been around since the earliest photographic process and is in fact the precursor of pinup portraiture of the 1940s and 1950s.

Usually, women who serve as the subjects of boudoir photography are not actually models. They are everyday women who artistically poses for the camera in order to show a different dimension of themselves. The idea is to let loose of their inhibitions for a while in order to commemorate female sensuality without the need to shed all their clothes, rather they artistically use their bodies to angle themselves in suggestive poses to express their emotions. Unlike erotic photos that are usually digitally manipulated to achieve perfection, boudoir leaves a room for the bodily flaws of the subject to be visible in order to heighten the realism of the image.

Boudoir photography is becoming a popular trend in self-portraiture. It is often commissioned by the subject but its purposes vary from one client to another. For instance, a wife might give the photo as a Valentine's gift to her husband, or a young aspiring lad could use the photo as an audition piece for a magazine's centerfold. Whatever their reasons might be, boudoir is one good way to feel comfortable about yourself in front of the camera regardless of your flaws.

In Southern California, modern boudoir was introduced six years ago and has since been gaining a wide following especially from women. If you are living in Orange County and you'd like to have your own mini-fashion shoot to immortalize your sensuality, you can easily find an Orange County photographer that specializes in boudoir, but before you touch that dial make sure to do your own background check in order to ensure that the photographer of your choice would give you your expected results. Generally, boudoir is a genre of photography that celebrates women individually, capturing them in a different light that could reignite self-esteem and the way she perceives herself.

Boudoir photography is a process of photographing women in sexually suggestive poses in an idealized environment with little or no nudity at all. This genre of photography is gaining popularity in Southern California especially in Orange County. If you are within this area and would like to have a self-portrait inspired from the vintage pinup girls of 1940s and 1950s, an Orange County photographer specializing in boudoir can do a mini-fashion shoot with you to finish your portrait.