Women Photographers – The Genesis of Boudoir

Celebrating Women’s History Month

As we move into the final stretch of winter, we find ourselves in March, Women’s History Month! The importance of Women’s History Month, along with Black History Month, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and others, is that the contributions and accomplishments of these communities have often gone unrecognized. So, this month, I’d like to spotlight a few incredible Women photographers who many may not know, but absolutely should!

Women have played a crucial role in shaping the world of photography. They have created space for new forms of visual expression, including the boudoir photography we know today. These trailblazing women broke barriers in a field often dominated by men, capturing new perspectives and opening doors for future generations of photographers. For Women’s History Month, we honor five influential women whose contributions to the art form paved the way for photographers who celebrate women’s beauty, sensuality, and empowerment through intimate portraiture.

Women photographers

Imogen Cunningham (1883–1976)

One of the earliest and most influential female photographers, is Imogen Cunningham. Her work is often remembered for her stark and intimate portraits, botanical photography, and nudes. As a founding member of Group f/64, a collective of West Coast photographers advocating for sharp, realistic imagery, Cunningham helped shape modern photography’s technical precision. Oh, and by the way, of course she was the only woman in this group! So when I say photography was a boys club…this is a great example. F/64 was a highly influential group which included the likes of Ansel Adams.
Cunningham pushed boundaries early on by exploring nude portraiture in a way that emphasized the beauty of the human body without the male gaze. Her ability to capture both vulnerability and strength in her subjects laid a foundation for intimate portraiture that would later influence boudoir photography.

Portia, 1930
See more of her work here.

Dorothea Lange (1895–1965)

Though Dorothea Lange is best known for her iconic documentary work during the Great Depression. Her photograph “Migrant Mother,” is one of the most famous photos of all time. Her influence on the portrayal of women in photography is undeniable. Lange’s ability to capture the resilience and strength of women living in hardship shaped how women were viewed in photography— as complex individuals, not merely objects of beauty. Her humanistic approach, particularly in her portrayals of women, gave future generations of photographers the framework to explore deeper emotional and personal narratives in their work, essential elements of boudoir photography today.

Mexican Woman and Child, Imperial Valley, California 1935
See More of her work here.

Diane Arbus (1923–1971)

Diane Arbus’s work is known for its striking, raw portrayal of marginalized individuals. She was fascinated with capturing the unconventional, and her portraits often pushed societal boundaries. While her photography wasn’t boudoir-focused, her unapologetic approach to portraying her subjects authentically helped pave the way for photographers to explore nontraditional beauty and confront taboos surrounding nudity and identity. Her ability to get her subjects to reveal their true selves in front of the camera is a technique embraced by boudoir photographers, who seek to capture their clients’ unique and empowering self-expression.

Woman in her Negligee, NYC, 1966
See more of her work here.

Carrie Mae Weems (1953–Present)

Carrie Mae Weems is an artist and photographer known for exploring themes of identity, race, and gender. Her series Kitchen Table is a powerful exploration of womanhood, family, and self-identity, portraying scenes from a Black woman’s everyday life. Weems challenges the traditional narratives of women as seen through a male lens. Instead she presents women as active participants in their own stories. Her work reminds us that photography is not just about the image—it’s about the message behind it. Boudoir photography, which seeks to empower rather than objectify, owes much to artists like Weems, who redefined how women can be portrayed in intimate and personal spaces.

See the full Kitchen Table Series here. It’s phenominal, you gotta see it!

Cindy Sherman (1954–Present)

Cindy Sherman’s work is essential to any discussion of women in photography, especially when it comes to the way women have been portrayed in media. Known for her Untitled Film Stills series, Sherman used self-portraiture to challenge societal views on gender, identity, and representation. By photographing herself in different personas, Sherman exposed the constructed nature of female stereotypes perpetuated by the media. Her work is an important commentary on how women have historically been depicted through a male lens. Sherman’s challenge to these norms is reflected in boudoir photography today, where the goal is often to capture women as they see themselves rather than how society expects them to appear. This introspective approach is why Sherman is considered a key figure in the feminist movement within photography.

Untitled Film Still #7. 1978
See more of her work here.

Francesca Woodman (1958–1981)

Francesca Woodman’s brief but impactful career was defined by her surreal and intimate self-portraits. Her work often explored themes of self-identity, vulnerability, and the body. Woodman’s ethereal, dream-like images frequently depicted the female form in fragmented, obscured, or unusual compositions, inviting the viewer to question their perception of the subject. Her willingness to explore the deeper, more vulnerable aspects of femininity parallels the core ideas behind boudoir photography: that beauty is multifaceted, deeply personal, and can be found in both moments of strength and vulnerability. Though her career was tragically cut short, Woodman’s exploration of identity and intimacy continues to inspire photographers, particularly in the realm of self-expression and personal portraiture.

See more of her work here.

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Women Behind the Lens

These pioneering women photographers each made significant contributions to the art form. They defied societal norms and challenging male-dominated narratives in photography. From Cunningham’s intimate portraits and Lange’s empathetic storytelling to Sherman’s deconstruction of media tropes, these women laid the groundwork for the more nuanced and empowering photography genres we celebrate today, including boudoir. They showed that photography could be a powerful tool for self-expression, reflection, and empowerment. They left a legacy that continues to inspire modern boudoir photographers working to uplift and celebrate their clients.

For Women’s History Month, we pay tribute to these groundbreaking photographers, whose work helped pave the way for a more inclusive and diverse photographic world. Through their lenses, they created space for women to be seen—on their own terms—and gave future photographers the courage to do the same.