Artistic and Sexy Rope Bondage Photoshoots, aka: Shibari

It's been a busy summer here at the Beyond Boudoir Photo studio! Word has gotten around among my kinky friends that my new studio has excellent overhead "hard points" suitable for doing rope bondage suspension scenes.  In case you haven't heard, rope bondage in general, and rope suspension specifically, is all the rage among "kinksters" worldwide.  No more do aspiring dominants spend big bucks for expensive leather and metal bondage gear.  Now they spend money on rope, lots of rope, in many different colors and made with a bewildering variety of man made and (mostly) natural fibers.  

Good bondage rope runs about a dollar a foot and most people start out with about a hundred feet.  Often, people who dedicate themselves to the art of rope bondage have thousands of feet on hand.  A thriving cottage industry now exists to fulfill the demand for high quality bondage rope in the BDSM community.   If you are looking to buy some hiqh quality rope, Renaissancerope.com is the site of the friend who installed my hard points.

Rope artists gather in work groups to practice their skills and learn from more experienced artists.  Some call themselves "riggers" but others dislike the term.

The amount of sexuality involved in a rope bondage encounter varies tremendously, according the wishes of the participants.  The person who is being tied up can be described as a "rope bottom" or a "rope bunny" among other things.  It is quite common to take photos of the rope session and post them on appropriate social media.

Sometimes the rope bottom is fully clothed, sometimes fully nude or something in between.  When a rope session takes place in public, it's sexy, but there is rarely any sex.  At most, the rope bottom may be granted an orgasm via something like the Hitachi Magic Wand.   In private, it's a different story.  Many rope instructors offer courses in bondage for sex.  The couple below has done rope play together many times and enjoy being in front of the camera.  They got a free photoshoot and you get to enjoy their pix!  I plan to post more from this shoot later.

When someone is tied in this manner, it is a very sensual experience.  Most people seem to go into an altered state of very relaxed consciousness.  Terms for this include "subspace," being "rope stoned" and "flying," to name a few.  When they reach this state, their pupils are often dilated and their gaze appears unfocused.

When suspending a person with rope, it is very important to have a reliable "hard point" above them to bear the load, as well as knowing the load ratings of all the various pieces of rope and metal connectors that are used for convenience.   A good, sturdy hardpoint is said to be "rated for full suspension."  Although a person may weigh less than, say, 250 pounds, the hardpoint is typically expected to hold perhaps five to ten times that weight to provide a margin of safety.   The same goes for the rope and carabiners which always come with a weight rating.

I always make sure the rigger is skilled, knows all the safety rules, and follows them rigidly.  I only allow expert riggers to do full suspension in my studio.  Accidents do happen, but not here.  If a rigger I don't know wants me to do a photoshoot for him and his partner, I ask to see photos of his past work and ask who he has studied under.

If you would like to schedule a Shibari photoshoot in my studio, but don't have a friend with excellent rope skills, I do have friends I can call on who will share their skills with you.  Typically, you would meet with them in advance of the shoot so that they can ask safety-related questions and make sure you understand the simple safety rules.  If you haven't been suspended before, it will most likely be an amazing new experience for you.