Imagine spending a year working on improving your self-care regimen, fitness, and overall well being. Training for a marathon, preparing for a new position at work with increased visibility and responsibility. You are feeling and looking your best in decades. Friends and family commenting on how good you look. Your walk has a little extra pep in your step. Your newfound physical, mental, and emotional changes are spilling over to all aspects of your personal and professional life. Even your spouse is seeing a difference in “performance.” So how do you celebrate this new sense of self? You truly deserve to treat yourself to something special or even a gift to the spouse to celebrate this new phase in your life. Something to look back on and truly be proud of.
Boudoir Photography is often associated with women. They do it for themselves or a gift to their spouse. Boudoir photographers promote self-love, empowerment, and self-discovery. It’s more than just taking pictures. It is a way of seeing your true self in an intimate way. In a society where everyone is subjected to the pressures of an unrealistic beauty standard. Embracing your flaws and imperfections is hard. While the standard of beauty has been primarily geared towards women, we often forget to ask, “What about the men?”
Men deserve to have a moment to feel sexy and appreciated without the pressure society places on their shoulders. Contrary to what society portrays, men are body conscious as well. When discussing the idea to a man who isn’t a model, the number of reasons to not do it was quite surprising. Ranging from body consciousness to needing to lose weight.
Many are insecure about their frame, shape, and weight. Personally, I don’t blame them. Society says in order to be deemed attractive men are required to have chiseled abs, a defined chest, and a toned body. What about the men who don’t possess those physical attributes? Are they deemed worthy? Jokes about the soft “Dad Bod” are made toward male celebrities who have gained weight. It is referenced to poke fun at their diminished physique. But what about the everyday dad or husband who doesn’t have the physical features society via the mainstream media deemed sexy and alluring; the so-called “Dad Bod”?
The pressure to perform at a high caliber can be for most mentally exhausting and crushing. The workplace, at home, in bed. When was the last time you really felt appreciated in a safe space? To be yourself stripped down of the titles and roles? Where does a man go to feel appreciated, spoiled, and pampered even for a day, without the pressure and stress of performing? Not required to make decisions, fix problems, or lead? While many defaults to the status quo to escape the nuances of societal pressures, are you free to be your true self?
Men participating in a Boudoir photoshoot isn’t exclusive to just young aspiring models, fitness models, or underwear campaigns. Like women it’s about discovering who you are stripped down of roles and titles coming face to face. It’s seeing yourself at your best in a safe vulnerable space. While sports and exercise are a good form of self-care, there is a certain level of competition to perform.
Like women, the amount of skin shown is all dictated by the client. From t-shirt and boxers to just full-on nudity is all the comfort of the client. A Boudoir session is not pornography. Many photographers to include me have limitations on what will be photographed. Anything that borders on pornography is an absolute no. Safety is another concern. In the age of the #MeToo era, total professionalism is important to avoid any uncomfortable situations that can lead to any legal issues. Avoid being a creep. Nudity is no more uncomfortable for men than women. The difference is men don’t publicly advertise it as frequently as women. Unlike women who can share their insecurities. Men don’t.
Men like women deserve a space to see themselves in their authentic form. Feeling pampered and spoiled. To celebrate milestones and overcoming struggles and obstacles that may have had crushing effects. Purchasing a Boudoir session for yourself or a loved one is a personal and unique gift to celebrate a special milestone. Let’s end the notion that Boudoir is not only for women it’s for everyone to feel comfortable in their own skin.
So if the idea of investing in yourself while being pampered and spoiled crosses your mind, let’s have a conversation. Don’t be the person who ends up regretting an opportunity to celebrate an important milestone. Check out some male boudoir sessions here. Come schedule a consultation and let’s have a conversation to create a day special and unique for you. Looking forward to having a conversation.
Do You, Be you, Love you
Bohemian Life