The Emotional Impact of Glamour Photography on Self-Esteem

Glamour photography can provide much more than it might seem on the surface. It offers a unique opportunity to empower yourself and improve self-confidence and body image.

Glamour Photography in its essence highlights the beauty, sexiness, and allure of its model. Glamour photography has a long and changing history, but has held these qualities and those that emphasize luxury and grandeur. As a woman in the 21st century, this style of photography can hold even more significance.

Since the rise of the digital age, the commonality of digital photos has changed many peoples relationship to their own image. Social media produces a continuous stream of pictures displaying beautiful people and altered images in order to sell products and ideas and constantly asks of people to put their own image on display in this online format. With the constant need for comparison, self-esteem is at an all time low and the popularity of the phone produced selfie is a culprit.

As we move further and further away from the initial purposes of photography, it can be helpful to take a look into the past to reevaluate this relationship with documentation of self. Reintroducing the intentionality of photoshoots and deliberate styling and editing from a professional, no more are the distorted and poorly lit phone selfies. The process of deciding a vision for your own photos, talking to a photographer, and being present within a shoot, can all contribute to the luxury and grandeur photographs once held. Glamour photography specifically puts an emphasis on these ideals and can help the model embody their inner beauty as well as their physical beauty. Just as self-care can help build one's self-esteem and mend the relationship to self, glamour photography offers the chance to see yourself as the confident alluring model you are capable of being.

The process of taking glamour photographs in itself is healing, but having the end result printed can be a constant reminder of your power and appeal. You can display yourself proudly, post your photos online, or keep them to yourself. Either way, glamour photography has a way of putting you on the pedestal you deserve.