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Main Entry: bou·doir
Pronunciation: \bü-dwär, bu-, bü-, bu-\
Function: noun
Etymology: French, from bouder to pout
Date: 1781
: a woman's dressing room, bedroom, or private sitting room

Historically the term boudoir meant, the boudoir formed part of the private suite of rooms of a lady, for bathing and dressing, adjacent to her bedchamber, being the female equivalent of the male cabinet. In later periods, the boudoir was used as a private drawing room, and was used for other activities, such as embroidery or entertaining intimate acquaintances.

Although the term came into being later, boudoir photography is as old as the earliest photographic processes. It draws on elements of sensual painting and printmaking that were distinct from--yet related to--erotic art. If you were to look back through the history of paintings you would often find tastefully done paintings of women in various states of undress. Back then these types of painting were usually commissioned by the very wealth people in society. At the beginning of the 20th century sexuality was both scrutinized and suppressed. For example a woman showing a bare ankle was considered risqué and the word "sex" itself was not even used publicly.


During the 20th century, when new commercial printing methods were invented, boudoir photography started gaining momentum. Then in the 1940's and World
War II we saw the whole pinup girl craze explode! During this world war there was not many G.I.'s that did not have a picture of Rita Hayworth or Bettie Grable. Pin-up girls were also painted on the side of their aircrafts to bring the men luck during their missions.

It was not until the 50's and 60's that pinups girls began to surface in photography as we know it today. During the 60's Playboy and other magazines began to surface, all the while moving pinup style imagery into the minds of main stream America.

With the invention of the camera, photographs of women undressed or partially undressed became more available to women of all walks of life, not just the wealthy.

Unfortunately by the 1970's photography had just about taken over from art and most of the original pinup artists had retired.

In the past boudoir photography has had some negative associations attached to it. Today boudoir photography is about creating tasteful and beautiful images of the female form. Photographs are either taken in lingerie, pin-up style clothing and various degrees of partial to full nudity. The degrees of nudity is all up to you and what you are comfortable with. If you want full nudity, make sure you check with your photographer to see if they allow it. Intimates by Janet Lynn does allow topless if requested, but will not allow full frontal nudity. Boudoir Photography is a very empowering experience for most women! It gives women a chance to show their sensual side.

I would like to thank the Pin-up Portal website for making the history of Boudoir Photography available on the World Wide Web for all to view. Please visit their website at www.pinupportal.com, for more information on the history of Pin-up Photography.

History of Boudoir and Pin-up
Photography