Photography is an art form that best encompass human emotions. This art form has its own special excitement that has the power to change even the most lifeless entity into the most visually aesthetic subject, which makes it a challenging endeavor to take. While almost all objects today can be regarded as subjects for photography, women remain as one of the most interesting subjects for any photographer. As a matter of fact, photographing women is what made it possible to somehow liberate women from the confines of their domestic roles.

Under the pretense of photography, female members of the society were able to close the gaps between their private worlds and public domains. This is especially true in Boudoir photography, a process of portraiture that is gaining a wide following among women. 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 word boudoir came from the French word "bouder," meaning to pout. Back in the old days however, boudoir is used to refer to different private rooms commonly utilized by women which includes the sitting room, dressing room and bedroom. Such uses of the word have led to the emergence of the modern concept of photographing women in their bedrooms, which is why boudoir is also referred to as "bedroom photography," though it can also be done in other settings. Although the term for such genre of portraiture was coined later, boudoir was already existent during the earliest photographic process and was the precursor of pinup portraits during 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. More often than not, a boudoir shoot is commissioned by the subject, though its purposes differ from one subject to another. For instance, a wife might want to give her husband a gift for their anniversary, or perhaps a young lad would like to 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 residing in Orange County and would like to have a timeless self-portrait, you can contact an Orange County photographer that specializes in boudoir; however, make sure to do a little researcher about the background of your intended photographer so that you can be sure that your expenses would be worthwhile. Succinctly, boudoir is a genre of photography that celebrates the sensuality of women, giving them the opportunity to exhibit a different side of themselves that gives them more confidence and self-esteem.