Male Boudoir Photography: My Take on Ron, and Why It’s Still a Thing
Male boudoir photography is still a question mark for a lot of people, and I get it every time. Let me introduce you to Ron, one of my all-time favorite boudoir clients, and let him answer that question for you better than I ever could.
When I mockingly ask Ron every time how old he is, as if I’d ever forget, he tells me that isn’t exactly an appropriate question, although we don’t make a big secret out of it either. Other times he brings up his age himself while looking approvingly at the back of my camera with “not half bad for a guy my age!” Ron is about to turn 84 this September, and he just came back to the studio for his 3rd boudoir session with me. I’d sometimes call him a repeat offender. Another insider joke, of course.
How Ron Found a Male Boudoir Photographer in the First Place
Ron found me about three years ago through my studio’s press release publicly announcing that I offer male boudoir sessions at House of Secrets. He said it intrigued him enough to look me up. As any responsible adult would, he did his research, and he even drove to the studio location to make sure it actually existed. Once that was confirmed, he quietly signed up for my newsletter and started reading every single one, as if he was looking for a sign. Sure enough, he got his sign in the form of a half offer, half challenge I sent out to my readers. Ron never shies away from a good challenge, and he took this one personally. He signed up for his first session.
Ron wasn’t exactly a novice when it comes to boudoir photography or photography in general. He loves and appreciates the art of photography, dabbles in it himself as a hobby, used to model for more than one local artist, and had even done a couples boudoir session with his wife about a year before we met.
Is Male Boudoir Photography Normalizing? Ron Thinks So.
In his video interview with me after our first session, and to which he managed to bring his wife without her suspecting a thing by telling her he was about to get his first tattoo, I asked him what the real drive was behind wanting that session. His answer: he wants to be one of the forces working toward normalizing and popularizing male boudoir as an official genre instead of a foster child or some sort of underground movement. By doing it, he wants to serve as an example, and by talking about it publicly he wants to let it set in other men’s nervous systems as perfectly normal, and even necessary. Equality is equality, he says. If women can do it, so can we. It should be acceptable and accessible to anyone.
Is male boudoir even a thing, you ask? Heck, yes.
What Male Boudoir Photography Actually Looks Like in My Studio
Since that first session, Ron has been back two more times, and now it seems the tables have turned. Presently, Ron was the one challenging me without even realizing it. I wanted him to have a different experience and different kind of images at every session. I wanted him to be just as excited about session number three as he was about the first one, so my artistic wheels were always turning. And let me tell you, he never missed a beat. Not once. He doesn’t even take a second to let my most ridiculous idea sink in before he’s up and ready to run with it. Yes, he really is that kind of guy.
If you’re curious about the kind of posing and setups this genre can look like, this guide to male boudoir photo ideas is a solid outside resource for inspiration.
Why Ron’s Male Boudoir Story Matters to Me
Something about Ron had always felt different. Easy. Cool. And while thinking about which of his images to share with fans he doesn’t even know exist, everyone I’ve ever mentioned Ron’s story to has asked me to post his photos so they can finally see them, the answer shaped itself in my head. Of course. I knew it all along. Ron is someone who doesn’t feel a need to defy or conceal his age. He doesn’t try to look younger. He knows he looks great, and that’s enough for him. There is no pressure to perform, to create a fictional character, to beat the clock, to prove anything to himself, to me, or to the viewer.
He can simply be who he is. A gentleman with a soft smile and a passion for mineral collecting, a classical music connoisseur, someone who feels at home in his own skin his whole life, and who has a real appreciation for his body and his clear, greatly functioning mind. He comes to me to help him celebrate what he has, and always had, in the most fun and unusual way he knows: through boudoir.
You were born a badass. I am here to remind you.
I hope Ron and I get together again for a future session, or two, or three. And I want him to know that every kind of creative challenge thrown at me will always be accepted with excitement and an up-to-no-good attitude. Well, he knows that by now. If Ron’s story sounds like your kind of challenge, reach out to inquire about your own male boudoir session.
Frequently Asked Questions About Male Boudoir Photography
What is male boudoir photography?
Male boudoir photography is an intimate, artistic photo session for men, built around storytelling and confidence rather than posed portraits. At House of Secrets, it works the same way our boudoir sessions for any client do: private studio, professional guidance, and images that tell a real story about the person in front of the camera.
Is male boudoir photography becoming more common?
Yes. Clients like Ron have specifically said part of their reason for booking is to help normalize it. Male boudoir is listed as a growth genre at House of Secrets, and demand has been steadily increasing as more men become aware it’s an option.
Do you have to be a certain age for a male boudoir session?
No. Ron booked his third session with House of Secrets at nearly 84 years old. Boudoir photography at this studio is open to all genders and ages, and the goal is to capture who someone actually is, not a younger or different version of them.
Where can I find male boudoir photography near Austin?
House of Secrets Boudoir Photography is a private, residential-turned-commercial studio in Austin, Texas, offering male boudoir sessions with an all-female staff. Sessions begin with an inquiry rather than direct online booking, so Tanya can confirm the right fit first.
What happens during a male boudoir photoshoot?
Sessions include professional hair and grooming/styling, a wardrobe consultation, artistic posing and lighting, and a same-day photo viewing appointment. The pace is set by the client throughout.
I’m Tanya, the creative soul behind house of secrets. If you’re ready to book a men’s boudoir session with me reach out here!
