When you think of boudoir, you might picture lace, silk and a large bed. That can be absolutely beautiful. But sometimes the most striking image comes from something completely different: a pair of faded dungarees, an old wooden stool and a piece of coarse jute on the wall.
That’s exactly the sort of picture I’d like to show you today.
What you can see in the picture
A young woman is sitting barefoot on a simple wooden stool. She is wearing denim dungarees with the straps folded down, her shoulders bare. She has her arms crossed over her chest, her hands resting loosely on her shoulders. She’s looking straight at the camera and smiling, as if I’d just said something funny. I probably had.
Everything around is warm and earthy: a jute curtain, loose fibres hanging down from above, pampas grass in simple glass vases and a natural-fibre rug. Nothing glitters and nothing is perfectly staged. That is precisely why the scene feels so authentic.
A sensual person is someone who feels at ease
What makes this image sensual is not what is missing, but what is there: a sense of lightness, self-confidence and a touch of cheekiness in her gaze. The crossed arms are not a defence, but a playful gesture. The bare feet speak of an afternoon spent making oneself comfortable. The bare shoulders are more than enough.
I see this happen in lots of photo shoots: as soon as you’re wearing something that makes you feel truly like yourself, your demeanour changes. You stop thinking about how you look and just are. And it’s precisely that moment that I want to capture in a photograph.
That’s why my policy is: you don’t need to bring any lingerie. Your favourite jeans, a loose-fitting shirt, a knitted jumper or even a pair of old dungarees can be just as much a part of your photoshoot as a lace bodysuit. How much skin you show is entirely up to you.
Materials that tell a story
Textures are important to me. Rough jute alongside smooth skin, worn denim alongside soft light, the light, feather-light pampas grass alongside the dark wood of the footstool: contrasts like these bring a picture to life. It almost makes you want to touch it.
Natural materials have yet another advantage: they don’t distract you. They create a calm, warm setting in which you take centre stage.
From jute to the hayloft: ‘Home. Skin. Hay.’
When I looked at this picture again, I immediately thought of my project ‘Heimat. Haut. Heu.’ It’s all about precisely this connection: nature, craftsmanship and sensuality – only a little more down-to-earth and a little more Bavarian.
Instead of jute and pampas grass, there is hay, old wooden beams and dappled light filtering through the cracks in a hayloft. Instead of denim, the women wear linen, lace and traditional elements: a bodice from their grandmother, an open-fronted dirndl blouse, a linen shirt. The idea is the same as in this picture: authentic materials, real women, natural light and a sensuality that arises quite naturally from the moment.
This image isn’t part of the project. But it illustrates very well where the journey is heading. If this earthy, warm visual style appeals to you, ‘Heimat. Haut. Heu.’ might be just the thing for you. I’m still looking for women from the region who’d like to combine tradition and sensuality in their own unique way. The deadline for applications is 31 January 2027.
And what about your own photoshoot?
You don’t have to be part of a project to get a photo like this of yourself. If you’d like a boudoir shoot that’s natural, warm and a bit playful, then let me know. Bring along whatever you love: your favourite jeans, a piece of clothing with a story behind it, perhaps even something that smells of home. We’ll figure out the rest together.
I’m looking forward to seeing you.
Leif Sundelius
