Jump to content

Jeremy_Gilliam

Jr. Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    335

  • Joined

  • Last visited

    Never

 Content Type 

Posts posted by Jeremy_Gilliam

    BD photographers in Dallas, Houston, or Austin?

    in Wedding Invitations, Passport Invitations, Boarding Pass Invitations, STDs, photos & website

    Posted

    Edward Verosky wrote a great blog post about Photographer gender and Boudoir photography. I thought I would share the post here:

     

    A new boudoir blog started by Will Tompkins is addressing many interesting and important issues about this popular form of photography. Recently, he posted about photographer gender and how it is often one of the first questions he faces from a new client. Once a client gets to know a little about him and how he works, any apprehension she may have had is greatly minimized or gone entirely. Of course, beautiful images are created and she’s delighted! I’m happy to say, I have the same experience with my clients.

     

    Most of the best boudoir work I’ve seen, by the way, has been done by male photographers. There are a few exceptions to my personal observations, of course. Jules Bianchi does some boudoir photography that I like very much. And there are certainly other female photographers in various parts of the country that do this type of photography well. But, on the whole, I tend to prefer what a skilled male photographer can accomplish with a boudoir session. Just being honest, here. It should go without saying, unfortunately, that being male, in no way guarantees anything. Regardless of gender, most boudoir work I’ve seen is disappointingly boring, of poor quality, or just plain bad.

     

    What is unfortunate, as I commented on Tompkins’ blog, is that some female photographers will play on that initial apprehension about the photographer’s gender in their marketing. I wrote:

     

    “Many female photographers play up the idea that their clients will be more comfortable with a woman as their boudoir photographer.â€

     

    In a subsequent post, Tompkins responded:

     

    “I’ve seen those ads, too, and like a lot of ads, they say one thing and mean another. In this context, “more comfortable†is a marketing euphemism for “safer†that exploits fear—the fear that a male photographer is somehow, I don’t know, genetically incapable of treating a woman with dignity and respect while creating great boudoir images of her? Nonsense!â€

     

    The good news is that these tactics don’t work on everyone. Most women (and their husbands/boyfriends) can identify professionalism and integrity when they see it — and they know mediocre boudoir shots from really good boudoir pictures. It takes a great deal of trust to work with a photographer of ANY gender, for ANY photography that can be thought of as meaningful. Boudoir, is one of those genres that require several skill sets:

     

    RAPPORT. A photographer must be able to connect with and find common ground with his subject. A comfort level must exist.

    SENSITIVITY: This goes along with rapport, but is essential in boudoir photography. A photographer must be aware of his subject’s feelings, moods, and concerns.

    PHOTO LIGHTING: So important! Lighting, natural or studio, is everything when it comes to boudoir. It’s the way a photographer initially sculpts, enhances, and provides the image viewer’s eyes with those visual messages of “touch†and texture. There are no shortcuts to this. A photographer either knows how to use photographic lighting correctly and consistently, or he’s just hoping it works out.

    POST PROCESSING: Yup. Photoshop. I’ve seen really, really bad Photoshopping on boudoir images. I’ve seen no Photoshopping on boudoir images. Both do a disservice to the client. But quality Photoshop work is a MUST for quality boudoir. Boudoir isn’t about recording the up-close reality of lines, blemishes, and less than smooth skin. Boudoir is about finished photographs that reflect how the client feels about herself, when she’s feeling incredible. It’s about how her guy sees her through HIS eyes when she’s looking hot! Post processing the images is the other half of photography in boudoir. The picture’s only half done when it’s initially taken.

    PERSPECTIVE: When a photographer has an understanding about how women want to be photographed, it’s a great thing. This comes with years of experience and an ability to communicate on several levels with women. If the photographer has a male perspective to add to that, it can be an even greater thing. Many women want their pictures to reflect how they feel about themselves on a sexy and sensual level, but they also want to know their pictures will be the hottest thing their guys have ever seen. As a male photographer, I feel I can bring that extra perspective into the mix — I know exactly what a guy means when he says his girl looks hot.

     

    So, don’t misunderstand. I’m in no way arguing that a male photographer automatically makes a better boudoir photographer. But, I am responding to the occasional marketing ploy put forth by some female photographers that THEY are better for their clients because of their gender. I think a photographer’s gender is not nearly as important as how that photographer relates to women — and how skilled that photographer is at delivering excellent boudoir photography.

×
×
  • Create New...