Gravure

Shibari and photography mix up very well together. This is not surprising, since Shibari is a strongly visual art form, which can provide excellent photographic material. On the other hand, pinup photography has a long tradition in the West. Actually, it goes back to the classic 40s and 50s models. Pinup has been displaced in mainstream media by other forms of erotic photography. However, there is a very strong vintage and burlesque market where it still finds a place today. Gravure is the combination of these two traditions in a specific kind of erotic photography. Its most evident characteristic is its pinup quality.

Shibari has a strong photographic tradition. Just as decades ago, you could find several magazines which included Shibari photography among their pages, nowadays you can find plenty of Shibari photography on Instagram and Pinterest, just to mention two of several platforms and apps where you can find this kind of photography.

So, if you practice Shibari, you should consider thoroughly documenting your work in high quality photographs. Moreover, if you are a professional performer or a model, it is almost mandatory to keep a high-quality portfolio of your work, so that people can appreciate your talent and skills. 

You can do Gravure photography with simple, amateur equipment. However, you should invest in a professional photoshoot or, even better, in the acquisition of state-of-the-art equipment, so that the images are of the highest quality.

The mention of pinup when talking about Gravure is not casual. Although Shibari is an art form, it can also be a little bit playful and teasing. This is more important if you’re planning to sell the photographs. This merging of traditions is not for everybody’s tastes, and there will always be people who prefer their Shibari “pure”. However, mixing the Japanese tradition of Shibari with the American pinup tradition can result in fun, interesting pictures. And both professionals and amateurs will appreciate them.