The business of photographing women in their sensual form has historically been controversial. What is it that muddies the waters and fogs our understanding of the beauty of being sensual and flirtatious? It has been suggested that between cultural and familial messages compounded with media and social exploitation stereotypes of the female form, expressing one’s sensual beauty through boudoir photography is taboo. However, consider the art of flirtation. We must not underestimate the positive impact that the skillful use of flirtation may have on our relationships. Think back at women in history who mastered the art of flirtation: Cleopatra, Delilah, Mae West, Marilyn Monroe, Sophia Loren and the great women in our lives such as our moms.
What I learned from my mother regarding flirtation is:
Values: Ponder and consider your family values. Recognize that each one of us is born with sensual desires, and it is up to us to discover, explore, and cultivate them in a way that can bring us joy. Mothers, teach your daughters how to express their desires and what better person to learn this from than their mom. Proper flirting can be enjoyable, exciting, safe, and bring about confidence.
Art: Surround yourself with beautiful images of women; develop an appreciation for the great masters as to how they drew, painted and sculpted women in their beautiful form. Appreciate the textures, colors, lines and curves, which make up a women’s body. Applying the grace of art to the way we sit, walk and talk can have a great impact on our body language, and ultimately influencing those we attract.
Etiquette: Is the core of a true romantic. Isn’t it romantic when a man pulls out your chair, opens your car door, escorts you to your car, speaks to us with terms of endearment? The respect and value we place on another and ourselves is of essence to the engagement of flirtation. Let’s teach and model those traits of civility, kindness, courtesy and respect, for it will attract the true romantic.
As a woman’s photographer with discernment, my job is to capture your sensuality. As I reflect on my decades of photographing women the most significant thing that has evolved is my understanding of the divinity of what I do for a living and what empowerment I can give women through sexy, sensual, flirtatious portraits of themselves.
For more information, please visit www.intimateportraitsbymaureen.com or call Intimate Portraits The Art of Maureen Benoit at 661-476-9772 or 818-701-5001.