Hot Shots

Across the country, regular women and brides-to-be are signing up for sensual shoots for no one’s eyes but their own, and perhaps a partner’s.

- Cynthia Lewis

If you drew a Venn diagram of the booming wedding photography industry and the rise of glamour shoots and social-media powered portraits, boudoir photography would fall neatly in the intersection. But, these professional glamour shoots (mostly of women, but sometimes of couples), aimed at capturing intimacy and sensuality through implied nudity or racy outfits and positions comes with one very important caveat that neither the wedding industry nor social media seems to care for — total privacy.

Over the last few years, boudoir photography has been slowly making its way through the country’s bedrooms, growing almost entirely through whispered word of mouth. The trend first caught on with brides wanting to gift their fiancés a little secret something, or couples wanting to do just one thing before their weddings that didn’t have to be shared with the entire family. But, according to leading photographers in the field, it’s also become a way for women to express their love towards their bodies. “Boudoir photography is a sensuous, intimate photo shoot that a woman can get done to celebrate her unique beauty, style and personality,” says celebrity and luxury photographer Ronicka Kandhari. “I feel that every woman is beautiful in her own unique way, and if I can help her harness it through my photography, it’s a deeply satisfying moment for me.”