Dudeoir shoots - boudoir photography isn't only for women.

We have been photographing men since the day we opened Scandaleuse Photography back in 2017, but nowadays, boudoir shoots for men (also known as dudeoir) are becoming more and more popular, and we couldn’t be happier about it. Boudoir photography is not only for women, men also need to accept and love their bodies as they are. With the scary increase in extreme masculinity, it is nice to finally see more men moving away from traditional ideas of masculinity to reconnect with their softer side.

We are probably biased, but in our opinion boudoir is the most powerful tool for anyone looking to get a long-lasting boost in confidence while having fun and celebrating who they truly are. Alright, if you are ready, let us dive in!

FIRST, WHAT IS BOUDOIR?

A boudoir shoot is simply an indoor or outdoor photography session in which you show more skin than you would in a regular portrait session. It can be done in lingerie or any outfit, really, as long as you show some skin. Wearing only a piece of fabric, or nothing at all, is also an option!

This experience is for everybody, no matter their gender, body type, age (well, you do have to be at least 18), ethnicity, or lifestyle. And despite some old-school beliefs, or examples of boudoir photography you may see online, you do not need any modelling experience to try this type of photography.

The only things you need are your beautiful self and us as your photographers 😉!

IS DUDEOIR PHOTOGRAPHY DIFFERENT FROM BOUDOIR?

Nope. The term dudeoir was invented so men could relate more easily to this type of photography and feel less afraid of ending up with pictures that might be too feminine for their taste. But the goal remains the same:

Feeling celebrated, empowered, sexy, and confident!

Just because this industry mostly showcases women, it does not mean you cannot do a boudoir shoot as a man. Some of our male clients want to showcase their masculinity by getting moody photographs that highlight their muscles, while others want photos that are brighter and airier to show their softer side and femininity.

Men, too, want to feel sensual, desired, and more confident. So if you relate to this, know that you are allowed to do a boudoir shoot and get beautiful images of yourself.

SPEAKING OF REASONS...

Since boudoir photography is not as common for men as it is for women, many of gentlemen hold back from doing a shoot because they feel like they don’t necessary have a valid reason to give it a try. Well lucky for them, we have plenty!

• ACCEPT AND APPRECIATE YOUR BODY THE WAY IT IS

The media puts so much pressure on people with all these “beauty standards” that having a distorted or clouded perception of our bodies does not only apply to women. It is universal! Most of us wish parts of our bodies could be different:

“I wish I were more muscular, thinner, taller, had bigger boobs, a bigger weenie...”

The truth is that we should be able to love the way we naturally look instead of always wanting to be different. When you learn to accept your body the way it is, you stop comparing yourself to others and start building stronger confidence.

• BOOST YOUR CONFIDENCE

Speaking of confidence! A boudoir shoot is a challenge in itself. It can make you feel vulnerable and push you out of your comfort zone. But that is a good thing, as it can help you grow and develop the confidence we all need.

Can you guess why it is important to be confident? Confidence gives you the strength to face life's challenges and make the world your oyster... Not bad, right?

We like to say that once you strip down in front of two strangers, nothing else in life can stop you 😀

• CELEBRATE YOURSELF

This is probably the first reason that pushes most of our clients to do, or redo, a boudoir shoot.

We all need to celebrate our awesome selves: every little or big victory, body transformation, new hairstyle, tattoo, or even a birthday. Basically, anything that makes us happy in our everyday lives. Always be your own cheerleader and treat yourself to unique experiences!

• FORGET ABOUT MEN BEING MASCULINE AND WOMEN BEING FEMININE

Yes, you read that right! Every single human being has both a feminine and masculine side. Not a lot of men dare to tap into their femininity, but your feminine side can be a huge asset in your life. It can keep you grounded and help you simply enjoy what is around you. You become more aware of what all your senses are picking up, which can help you develop new perspectives and boost your creativity.

• TAKE THE PRESSURE OFF MEN

The pressure placed on men is quite insane:

“Do not cry! Be strong! Suck it up! Do not be a girl!”

If you guys dare to show even a little sensitivity, you are immediately put into the “weak” category. You have the right to be whatever and whoever you want to be. But in order to change mentalities, just like women have to do, you have to stand up and challenge those expectations. You have to be willing to tap into and show your sensitivity to help make it feel normal.

By allowing yourself to be more vulnerable and not being afraid to show emotion, rather than always trying to be strong, you can slowly but surely help remove some of the clichés associated with men.

You will not only be doing yourself a favour, you will be doing one for your fellas too.

A GIFT FOR YOU, BUT ALSO FOR YOUR PARTNER

Even though a boudoir shoot should always be done for yourself first, using it as a gift for your partner can be a cool extra bonus and a great way to spice up your relationship. Who would not be pleasantly surprised to see sexy pictures of their lover, fiancé, or spouse?!

Now that you have read all the reasons for doing a dudeoir shoot, are we going to see you in front of our lens? If the answer is yes, you can contact us here and we will take care of the rest!

Not ready yet for a session but you like what you read, don’t forget to sign up to our weekly newsletter below to receive more cool content:

I tried a dudeoir shoot!

Hey there,

My name is Kino Jet, I am a guy, and I did a dudeoir photoshoot. Yep.

via GIPHY

Now, you may wonder "why on Earth would you even do that?". Truth is, I just wanted to see what I would look like in a more "risqué" setting. The vision I have of my body has changed over the years and I wanted to see what the reality actually was. I'm also always up for a challenge, and this definitely felt like it could fit the bill.

Was it the most uncomfortable thing I did in my life? I mean, it was pretty high up there.

I have found myself in front of a lens on multiple occasions, for fun or to help a friend out, so I figured it would be fairly easy. But yet, from the moment I booked the shoot, the only thing that was racing through my mind was:

"What the f*ck did I get myself into?"

I had to idea what to expect and I can tell you for a fact, that I was scared shitless.

I immediately began to think of every part of my body that I had issues with - my double chin, my sagging waist... I wondered to myself if it would look good enough, or even, if I had a good side...? I also began to think about what others would think of me doing a photoshoot like this, considering that women usually do this kind of thing, and not men.

Regardless of what I thought, I had already begun to make my way towards the shoot. It was like riding a roller-coaster that you couldn't get off of, because, well, you're already half-way up the hill. You can't just tell the operator "screw this shit, I'm out of here."

But the moment I got to the top, it was everything I didn't expect.

Only seconds after entering the room, I was greeted by the sound of music. The room was furnished with numerous plants, dangling lights, and comfy chairs, and it felt as if I was at a cottage. The moment Fanny and Juliette greeted me, I felt much better.

I started with the most covering outfit I had and then slowly stripped down to my underwear while they guided me through each pose. The more tips they gave me on how to position myself, the more I relaxed and became immersed and dedicated to getting my photo taken.

Time just flew by and before I knew it, the shoot was done.

Now, I don't want to toot my own horn, but I felt pretty damn good. And proud. I successfully took on this challenge like a boss.

via GIPHY

I couldn't WAIT to see the photos though I was nervous that they wouldn't look as good as I felt during the shoot. I was prepared to mentally go in a fetal position, but yet, when the photos showed up on the screen, I thought "Wait a minute. I DO f*cking look great".

I might not have had the best sleep the night before, or that "inverted Dorito" look that every guy strives for, but my arms, chest, legs, everything, look damn good, and nobody can't tell me otherwise. The reality I was looking for hit me, and it left me with a smile on my face. Mission accomplished.

I sincerely hope you will give yourself the chance to get in front of the camera too. And when you do, I have one advice you:

Go into the shoot with zero expectations.

Own that photoshoot, show your body off, flex that arm of yours. The less expectations you have, and the more fun it will be.

Growing up, I always had issues on how I saw my body. Even after losing weight, I still saw that pudgy little kid who used to suck in his stomach to hide the fact that he was overweight. But for the first time in a while, I was able to shift my idea of what my body looked like. The boudoir experience was such an amazing learning experience for me when it came to pushing my own boundaries when it came to masculinity. I realized I developed a lot of fear when it came to wanting to feel attractive and confident, and that's completely normal.

It's okay to tell yourself that this is what makes me happy. It's alright to be seen and desired in this way. As a bro telling you, another bro, it's alright to be flexible with your masculinity. It's important to break down those barriers that prevent you from feeling great about yourself.

I believe that the only way to grow as a person, are to do things that makes you feel uncomfortable. When you seek discomfort, you begin to live life's greatest moments and create connections that last for a lifetime.

~ Kino Jet

If like Kino you want to try this fantastic adventure that is dudeoir photography, then our Movember Boudoir Marathon is for you!