What's in the name?

Something I have found over the years is a wide range of viewpoints regarding the various terms used in nude photography. For example, I have seem people get really upset over the word "boudoir" whereas other people have no fear of the word. Boudoir actually is French for a lady's bedroom, or private sitting room. Not very dirty now, is that?

Boudoir photography is normally a lingerie or implied glamour nude style shoot in an indoor, bedroom setting, with the appearance of being shot in the evening (of course, there are exceptions to the evening part!) Boudoir is fairly new in the photography timeline, but it has grown very quickly. It fills a void for women, in that this kind of photography is not often available in the more traditional studios... you won't get these at Sears!

Today's woman wants to appear as elegant, glamourous and sensual as possible, and boudoir offers all that and more. It is also very empowering to women in that it enhances the perception of their self-image.

Now the word "fetish" conjures up all sorts of concepts, from women in leather to people tied in rope, to being led around on a leash - and it is all that... and more! The term "fetish" originally meant "charm", and comes from the Portugese word feitico which meant "false power, or an object believed to have magical power or charm." This sort of work can range from tawdry, dirty magazine photos to some very fine art. A perfect example of the latter is my favorite classic photographer, Helmut Newton. Some of the best images I have ever shot came from my friends in the fetish community.

So, what is the point of this little vocabulary lesson? How you chat with your models and potentials is very important. You certainly don't want them to have the impression that you are a dirty guy with a camera. Understand the terms, talk politely with your potential models, and have some fun. As your friendships develop, you will find your conversations can get more personal, but never ever EVER let them have the GWC impression, it can haunt you forever!

Our purpose as a nude/glamour/boudoir photographer is to provide our client with images of beauty, of grace and elegance, and that tell the story of their beauty, within and without. Always remember that!

The image above is one of my favorite Helmut Newton photographs, entitled "Two Pairs of Legs in Black Stockings, Paris." This is one of many of his images that throughly captures my imagination, and one that I hope to re-create sometime this year.

What's This All About?

Hello, and welcome to my blog. It is my sincere hope that, with this blog, many people will begin to understand themselves, admit of their desires, and open up before the camera. I also hope that this blog will help both photographers and models.

All too often, we see photos of stunningly beautiful people... the "Perfect 10s" so to speak. It is very intimidating to many people, regardless of your intent - searching for a new model, searching for a new mate, or whatever.

I have been on both quests. Some ended badly, many were wonderful, and have never ended. My current muse, Renee, may not ever appear in Playboy or Penthouse, but she has a certain beauty that is amazing to me. She is 30 this year, loves me unconditionally, and takes very good care of me. I will be sharing pics of her - and others - in this blog. Sometimes, I will take a trip down memory lane with my images - sometimes, the photos will have been shot in the last few days - but no matter what or when, I hope you will enjoy them.

On the technical side, I am a Canon photographer. I currently use a 50D, with a 18-200 IS lens, 10-22mm EF-S lens, and a 50mm f/1.8, with a Canon 580EX flash. Oh yes, I have a full complement of other junk, studio strobes, backdrops, etc. But, let's just say I like to keep it simple. I am not much for Photoshop; I prefer the old-fashioned way of getting it right in the camera.

If you would like to see more of my work, go to my website, Images by Tom. You can purchase many of my images (including some of the photos you will see here) at Fine Art America. Please, feel free to comment on the images and / or what I write. Your input will mean much to me, and help me grow in my photography - as I hope I will help you grow in yours.

About the image. Above is a shot (one of many) of an old friend, Lisa. She was a really sweet girl, a dancer, and wanted some images for her portfolio. You will see her often, as well as her stster, Stephanie.