What is the Difference between Boudoir and Erotica?

We like to think of boudoir and erotica on a spectrum because there are no rules about what your Boudoir Experience or Erotic Experience must be. Everyone who comes into the studio has varying comfort levels with nudity and self-expression.

Many of our Boudoir Experiences involve no nudity at all. Boudoir Sessions can be sensual, lightly suggestive, and sometimes sexy. They may incorporate implied, nude elements, lingerie, hosiery, loungewear, evening wear, sports apparel, cute sweaters, a button-up shirt, fabrics, feathers, and furs, Boudoir may have some voyeuristic elements. while Erotic, Kink, BDSM, and Fetish Experiences require extra planning.

Legally, if accessories (and sometimes clothing or attire) are suggestive of or are bondage gear, it is no longer considered Boudoir.

The following items would change your “Boudoir Session” into Fetish, Kink, or BDSM:

Handcuffs, collars, chains, ropes (including Shibari), spreader bars, St. Andrew’s Cross, masks, gags, binding or bondage tape, or anything that restricts movement like duct tape or plastic wrap.

The following actions or scenes would change your “Boudoir Session” into Erotica:

Implied or actual self-pleasure, (hands down pants, hands between things, sometimes hands in mouth as to suggest a sexual act or sexual pleasure, food dangling in the mouth as to suggest a sexual act or sexual pleasure, implied or actual sex acts.

Most Fetish and Kink photography sessions require compliance with US Code 2257. All BDSM and Erotica photography sessions require compliance.

If only ONE photo in a photography session includes (eg) handcuffs…compliance is required.

One other big difference between boudoir and erotica is that we will not turn a Boudoir Experience into an Erotic Experience during a shoot.