You’ve decided to enter the exciting world of boudoir photography because you think it’s going to be easy and fun. Well you’re partially correct. But whatever your reason to want to add boudoir to your already existing business model or getting into it for the first time you should know; it’s not going to be easy!
There are going to be numerous obstacles to your boudoir business right out of the gate. And most of those obstacles are going to come from right within the industry itself.
First off let me begin by discussing advertising opportunities. Facebook is absolutely on of the most predatory platforms when it comes to being a boudoir and or glamour photographer.
Their restrictions are not clear cut and they are not applied unilaterally. In fact; they are quite selective in who and what they block on their platform. They are known for systematically rejecting advertising from boudoir photographers under various dubious claims.
Claims like sexual content where there is absolutely none. Claims of body shaming when there is none. Claims of focusing on singular body parts while allowing national advertisers to create sponsored posts that are absolutely sexual in nature and absolutely do focus on a singular body part.
Of course; most of these restrictions are against women under the guise of trying to keep the internet safe and not offend people from other cultures and countries who may have a different set of “values”.
That by itself pisses me off. I don’t give a fuck what someone in some middle eastern country which still stones women for infidelity thinks about my images of women.
So why is Facebook like this? Well simple. Because no one has sued them for it yet.
Another is financing, and banking. There are numerous financial institutions which will not open business accounts or offer financing to photographers who’s focus is boudoir photography.
Even when looking for companies to provide financing for your clients you can run into issues. For instance; reps from Synchrony Bank have actually made the statement that they (Synchrony Bank) do not work with businesses like ours.
Like WTAF? Since when has being a boudoir photographer not been a lawful business? Apparently they don’t like women choosing to be photographed embracing their sensual power.
Currently with this COVID-19; the federal and state governments may classify boudoir photography as sex or adult work and deny PPP loans or unemployment based on that alone. Nice isn’t it?
The same goes for some insurance companies. For instance FullFrame Photography Insurance asks “Do you, or have you in the past, performed any work that would be viewed as adult content?” Really? What is that even about and why does it matter?
Not to mention how subjective the answer to that question is. There are morons who used to actually call the content in Playboy Magazine ‘porn’. Are you beginning to get the picture here?
But the worst travesty against photographers comes from within the industry.
That’s right. I said it. Major photography companies will rarely if ever sponsor boudoir photographers. Events like the WPPI expo don’t even feature boudoir photographers or speakers for boudoir photographers.
While I understand they are the ‘Wedding and Portrait Photographers International Trade Show’; boudoir photos do in fact meet the criteria for “portraits.” So why are we always overlooked?
The answer to that is something I don’t currently have, and at this point unless someone is planning on changing it I don’t care about the lack of representation in the industry.
In fact I believe that Sal Cincotta’s convention, Shutterfest is the only general expo that actually provides some representation to the boudoir business.
I don’t mind being the black sheep of the family. A member of the special operations group of photographers. But these are things you need to know that you will likely face as you enter the exciting and often lucrative world of boudoir photography.
Please let me know your thoughts about what I’ve written here and what if any experiences you’ve had that you’d like to add.
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