A New Culture Emerging Abroad: Do You Know About 'Budwar', the Trend of Taking Photos in Underwear?

2020.08.16 published

What is "Boudoir"?

Have you ever heard the term boudoir?

Boudoir is an English word that means a woman's private chamber.

The origin comes from the French word "bouder," which means to sulk.

It is a term indicating a completely private space where one can do activities like putting on makeup, crying, laughing, or writing letters, but recently it seems to have evolved to mean "private photos."

Photos taken in lingerie at home are referred to as "boudoir" or "boudoir photos"＊

Commemorative photos that began overseas.

Boudoir photos are portraits taken almost naked, wearing only lingerie or swimsuits, and usually a sheer gown.

At first glance, it's natural to react with surprise saying, "Whoa! What is this? Too sexy!" or "Is this like a gravure or something adult-oriented??" or "Is it erotic??"

However, from a different perspective, boudoir photos do not have elements of eroticism or adult content (concerns about how the opposite sex perceives it). Rather, they are more focused on "self-expression."

In the first place.

Seeing your own naked body can be embarrassing, and it's even more embarrassing to have others see it.

But think about this for a moment.

Your body is a unique, innate identity.

Things like fashion, sense, and manner of speaking—typically what is referred to as a person's identity—are all acquired traits developed over time.

However, the body is not the same; it is almost the only innate "you."

Therefore, when you're taking boudoir photos, the idea is to embrace your body as it is, accept it, observe it closely, love it, and capture it in pictures.

Thus, this is not a type of photo shoot that screams "Look at me!" but rather carries a sense of therapy, emphasizing purposes like "acknowledging oneself," "self-confidence," and "self-acceptance."

How widespread is it?

The Instagram hashtag "boudoir" has over 4 million posts. Considering that the hashtag for "Disneyland" has 5 million, doesn’t that seem like a huge number?

(However, when I asked a friend living in the U.S., they said they didn't know anyone around them who does these types of photo shoots and weren't even familiar with the term. Indeed, newborn photography is also done by a select few.)

By the way, if you search on YouTube, you can find many videos reporting on boudoir photo shoots.

<Example: From makeup to the shooting process>

<Example: They also teach good poses>

What are the prices? Where are the photos taken?

The cost of boudoir photos varies depending on the photographer and the plan, ranging from simple shoots for around 20,000 yen to those similar to wedding photos costing around 500,000 yen, with many photographers offering various plans.

The locations are mostly homes or hotels.

Sometimes, not only are beds or sofas used but also the room is beautifully decorated to create a set.

Ideas for stylishly decorating bathtubs also seem to be popular.

Do you think it will increase in Japan as well??

Boudoir photography, which originated overseas.

(Of course, there are definitely some people who love selfies, want to show themselves, or want to document their youthful bodies.)

As a new means for "loving oneself," "celebrating oneself," and "expressing oneself," it may gradually make its way to Japan across the ocean.

Are you thinking, "I want to try it!"??