What is intimate photography? When I talk about intimate photography I am talking about photos that show a more everyday aspect of the subject's life in an intimate manner. If I were to give concrete examples of the differences between boudoir and intimate photography it would be that intimate photography is more candid and subdued than boudoir, without a lot of elaborate posing, makeup, or outfits.
Tiffany Roubert
I first became aware of intimate photography thanks to a YouTube video by Sean Tucker where he interviewed photographer Tiffany Roubert. Tiffany is well known for taking photos with her wife in their everyday lives. Now I had seen photos like that previously, but hadn’t really considered it being a genre of its own.
Spontaneous
One thing I love about intimate photography is the spontaneous nature of it. Here is an example. You get up in the morning and notice the light is hitting the bed nicely creating a beautiful scene with your partner. So you grab your camera and take the shot. If at some point they notice you are taking photos and play to the camera a little, even better. It's these moments which help to make intimate photography fun especially when you do it with someone you care about.
Candid
Thanks to the spontaneity of intimate photography you will naturally come away with more candid shots. The definition I am using for candid is organic and mostly unposed. Some photographers say you can only have a candid photo if the subject is unaware, but I don’t think so. A subject can be aware of you yet still remain candid.
Tips
Now that I’ve discussed a bit about intimate photography, let’s discuss some tips to help you pull it off.
Don’t start doing this out of the blue one morning. I suggest that afternoon or evening are better times to introduce this style of photography into your lives.
Keep it simple. Since the nature of this genre is more candid and spontaneous, keeping it simple will help you tremendously.
Focus on recording the moment that caught your eye. What was it about that scene that sparked your creative mind?
Lastly, remember and respect everyone's boundaries. We are typically more vulnerable in our homes and as such not everyone will be ok with introducing this into their lives or certain situations may be off limits.
Final Thoughts
The thing I love most about this genre is that you don’t need fancy outfits, props, or makeup to walk away with beautiful images you can cherish for years to come. I have several images in this style that I still love to this day. But, remember to respect everyone's boundaries. We are typically more vulnerable in our homes and as such not everyone will be OK with introducing this into their lives or certain situations may be off limits.
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