The Biggest Lie About Becoming A Boudoir Photographer
Updated: May 11
Maybe calling it a lie is a bit harsh, but this certain boudoir "untruth" surrounds you everywhere... Have you seen it?
What are we talking about? Well, it starts something like this...
Just a few months ago you woke up early in morning raring and ready to start your new calling...you were going to be a photographer. Not only that, you were going to be a boudoir photographer! You popped out of bed that day with a certain spring in your step which was fueled by your sudden new found passion to "make women beautiful."
Being a creature of the 2000s, you did your boudoir research online (because if it's on the internet it must be true...) and received your marching orders from the internet "experts." Now that you are going to be a boudoir photographer, your prescribed mission was to "empower the universe." You were ready to accept to your new purpose in life, empowerment, and much like Captain Kirk in the "The Wrath of Khan" you let out a primal "KKKKHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNN!" to let the universe know you have arrived. --Er, or maybe something else along those lines.
Somewhere along the way, though, things didn't go as planned. Where could it have possible gone wrong? This was supposed to be easy...
You did mention the word "empower," right? You put it on your new website. Posted on every social media post (sometimes several times.) All the shots you did of your friend Debbie were posted religiously to your Instagram feed and you told the world how she "rocked it." You posted every "strong woman" meme you could dig up. You were a photographer with purpose! Didn't the universe hear your good intentions and start sending the masses your way?
Didn't work out like that, huh? --Did you mention you were "empowering" women? Yeah, I think we covered that. What wen't wrong? You did the same thing every other boudoir photographer was doing...
The Big Lie Of Becoming A Boudoir Photographer
There in lives the big lie. The lie about becoming a boudoir photographer.
Boudoir photography is a super strange business. First, its probably one of the most technically difficult forms of photography there is. Its really hard to photograph women! Second, photography in and of itself is a difficult art to master... so combining the two makes for a challenging path to success. Additionally, in a day and age where there are literally millions of photographers walking around in this smart-phone era, what makes you think you're so special?
Then, of course, there is the big "boudoir delusion." You see, to some degree in photography as a whole, and more specifically in boudoir photography, there is this over arching idea that you wake up one morning to decide your going to become a boudoir photographer...and the next moment people should be knocking your door down for your "scary" good services.
Your "good intentions" and "empowerment" dreams aside... you're living the "Big Lie of Boudoir." Let's step outside of photography to look at this from another point of view...
Let's say you woke up one morning, and instead of being a boudoir photographer, you decided you were going to become a pro rock guitarist. (We'll preface this by saying you know absolutely nothing about playing a guitar.) You race down to your local Guitar Center, run in, and tell the associate your new plans to become the world's next Eddie Van Halen (and he seems less than impressed.) --Not only that, you tell him you want the same exact model Eddie uses.
You race home with your newly purchased guitar, sit down at your desk, and go over to Wix and create a brand new website "JennyJonesProGuitarPlayer.com" and you're off! You now own a "pro" guitar and you have a website that tells the world you are a "pro"... You've arrived! You're serious! You are now officially a "pro" guitarist, right? Your new website explicitly says "You ROCK!"
Now you can just sit back, and watch the offers from major rock bands come rolling in for your amazing guitar skills, right? ...Next stop: touring the world with the Foo Fighters and all the rock glory that comes along with that!! Whoooot!
Think it would work like that? After all... your website says your a "pro," right? Forget the fact that you can't even play the guitar, that shouldn't really matter, should it?
That scenario would be a bit odd, right? If that individual was your friend, you may smile and wish him/her well, but in the back of your mind you'd likely think they were a little strange sitting around waiting for a call from the Foo Fighters. Well, that's exactly what hundreds (maybe thousands) of men and women do yearly when it comes to starting a boudoir photography business.
What are the odds of becoming a pro rock guitarist? Small, right? First, and seemingly most importantly, you need amazing guitar skills. How does that happen? Hours and hours and hours of practice while locked up in your bedroom after work every day. Week after week. Month after month. Year after year.
Even if you did that... does that mean you're a pro guitarist? No. What would be the path to success there be? Maybe finding a few friends or co-workers and starting a band. Practicing with that group. Playing for free in a local bar or local event. Then repeating that maybe dozens or hundreds of times. Building up a local following. Finding some kind of a first "paid" gig along the way...
By some small chance, and after maybe switching bands a few times, getting your name out there on social media, and somehow being in the right place in the right time... some very small percentage of people who have a passion for guitar are able to earn a living by playing one.
Overwhelmingly, 98.47% of people who play guitar do so for pure enjoyment, or are hobbyists, or simply love music and like playing along with some friends.
Boudoir photography isn't any different.
The puzzling part is that somehow there is this collective internet belief to the contrary.
