Sparrow
Veteran
... best bet would be to do it in Hebden Bridge ... then one would never be sure where their allegiance lay anyway 😉
Nudes. Your partners attitude?
- Thread starter rkm
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... best bet would be to do it in Hebden Bridge ... then one would never be sure where their allegiance lay anyway 😉
anjoca76
Well-known
My wife is fine most anything I do in terms of my music, photography, etc., but I am not so sure that would include photographing nude models--women, in particular. Fortunately for both of us, I don't see me venturing into that realm anytime in the near or distant future. I have plenty of work to do with clothed portraiture before I should even begin to contemplate nudes.
Roger, that's pretty funny about one of yours being stolen. It must have been quite a shot!
Roger, that's pretty funny about one of yours being stolen. It must have been quite a shot!
Clay
Member
I shot nudes of a girl friend (not a girlfriend) who wanted a
portfolio of her nude for modeling. Shot one nude set in a
studio. But I was single both times if that helps.
Best regards,
/Clay
portfolio of her nude for modeling. Shot one nude set in a
studio. But I was single both times if that helps.
Best regards,
/Clay
Last edited:
Timmyjoe
Veteran
Been shooting for forty years, and over that time have occasionally shot nudes. Sometimes it can be somewhat erotic, sometimes not. When we were younger my wife used to pose for me. And though she's not interested in posing for me anymore, she's okay with me shooting others, though I haven't much interest these days.
I found that if I went into the project with a very clear idea of what I was looking to shoot, the sessions went fine. Like with most other photo projects, if I went in with only vague notions of what I was looking for, the sessions could get uncomfortable.
Best,
-Tim
I found that if I went into the project with a very clear idea of what I was looking to shoot, the sessions went fine. Like with most other photo projects, if I went in with only vague notions of what I was looking for, the sessions could get uncomfortable.
Best,
-Tim
hepcat
Former PH, USN
The genre is too broad to paint with a single stroke. Much of what's out there are cell phone pix of naked chix and are, frankly, aesthetically crap. The problem with many photographers who want to do nudes is that they represent themselves as "photographers" but they're really just a GWC who has little or no photography experience who looking to see some chick naked. "Creepy" and "sleazy" are two adjectives I've heard from time to time about other "photographers" who want to shoot nudes. I do everything professionally possible to stay as far away from "creepy" and "sleazy" as those terms can kill a photographer's reputation in this internet-connected world. Unfortunately, good photographers are often seen in the light of those guys until we prove ourselves otherwise. They make it tough for everyone.
There are good points made in this thread about what the purpose of the photo session is. It is important to me to have a shooting plan for a session that I can articulate to the model before hand. The model knows exactly what I'm after that way, and I typically don't get distracted by trying to figure out what to shoot next. I have releases ready before shooting, and I always advise the model what the current intended use will be for the images. My model releases are unlimited-use though, but I generally try to recontact the model as a courtesy if I have a secondary use or market for the images just so they know where their image is being used "out there."
When I have the images I had planned, the session is over. I have the studio set up for that plan when the model arrives. It's all about the business of making "THE" image. I have shot nudes successfully and still enjoy doing it from time to time. Shooting aesthetically pleasing nudes is a difficult genre and it is a serious pursuit to undertake. To do it well takes an exhaustive study of lighting and posing. Every human body has aesthetic strengths and weaknesses, and lighting and posing to highlight the strengths while minimizing the weaknesses while still maintaining the context of the image concept can be daunting.
I always have a studio assistant with me when shooting nudes, and my wife fills that role when she can. She has modeled for me in the past and I have some images from those sessions that are remarkable. I have a couple of ideas I'm currently working on making into images.
If you approach shooting nudes in a professional and businesslike manner, it can be quite rewarding. Approaching it any other way can lead to a host of unresolvable problems, both personal and professional.
There are good points made in this thread about what the purpose of the photo session is. It is important to me to have a shooting plan for a session that I can articulate to the model before hand. The model knows exactly what I'm after that way, and I typically don't get distracted by trying to figure out what to shoot next. I have releases ready before shooting, and I always advise the model what the current intended use will be for the images. My model releases are unlimited-use though, but I generally try to recontact the model as a courtesy if I have a secondary use or market for the images just so they know where their image is being used "out there."
When I have the images I had planned, the session is over. I have the studio set up for that plan when the model arrives. It's all about the business of making "THE" image. I have shot nudes successfully and still enjoy doing it from time to time. Shooting aesthetically pleasing nudes is a difficult genre and it is a serious pursuit to undertake. To do it well takes an exhaustive study of lighting and posing. Every human body has aesthetic strengths and weaknesses, and lighting and posing to highlight the strengths while minimizing the weaknesses while still maintaining the context of the image concept can be daunting.
I always have a studio assistant with me when shooting nudes, and my wife fills that role when she can. She has modeled for me in the past and I have some images from those sessions that are remarkable. I have a couple of ideas I'm currently working on making into images.
If you approach shooting nudes in a professional and businesslike manner, it can be quite rewarding. Approaching it any other way can lead to a host of unresolvable problems, both personal and professional.
Sylvester
Well-known
I wouldn't give a f*ck about what my girlfriend would think. We already draw nudes in my photoschool for a whole session. (1/4 of a year). She didn't like the idea it. So what. The art that stays afterward is beautiful. Then she wants to pose for me after she saw what I did. Win/win.
Sparrow
Veteran
... "If I ruled the world," eh?
hepcat
Former PH, USN
Indeed, Stewart... indeed.🙄
On edit: You know, sometimes I wish there was some kind of licensure required to hang a shingle out as a "photographer"... something that made you demonstrate at least the basic skills of lighting, posing, the fundamentals of understanding camera operation, and some knowledge of best business practices. When I owned my last brick and mortar studio in the mid-1990s, I can't tell you how many "photographers" opened up in my market with a splash only to fold inside a year and flee in the dark of the night with clients' money, and without providing contracted products and services. I think there were six or seven of them in my small market area in the eight years I had my studio there. Those are the people who make it difficult for the legitimate business people who pursue photography.
drewbarb
picnic like it's 1999
I've shot nudes of friends and lovers several times; made some nice photos and plenty of forgettable ones every time. It requires diligence and discipline to make really good images, as with any other photographic subject.
Funny, related story: in college twenty years ago, I posed nude for a female photographer friend (who, yes, I had the hots for- but she did not sleep with me!) We and plenty of our friends were "serious art majors". She had just come back from a year in Italy and was sick of looking at naked women in all of her classes, and she wanted to turn that objectifying gaze at men. She made a dozen or so very elegantly composed and carefully lit pictures basically of penises as her way of standing up for women and commenting on so much "art" over the last several thousand years being basically the male gaze of justifying looking at naked women. I'm sure it was partly charged by both the indignation and the hormones of youth.
Anyway; I was photographing raw meat at the time- ham hocks, sides of beef, etc.- thinking about the commercial meat industry and health and consumption issues. We staged a joint exhibition of these images during fall of our senior year in a college gallery. She scoured junk shops and yard sales and found loads of old fancy frames which she spray painted gold to look like grand old gilt frames, and she displayed her photos in these. My prints were flush-mounted and placed over butcher paper. We each took one of our biggest/best images and displayed them in each other's presentation style. All very serious "art school" stuff; the show was reasonably well received (meaning it created a lot of debate on campus); it was intended as serious commentary (by two 20 year old art students...) but of course it partly just about the shock and effect, too. Fun, silly, stuff.
Funny, related story: in college twenty years ago, I posed nude for a female photographer friend (who, yes, I had the hots for- but she did not sleep with me!) We and plenty of our friends were "serious art majors". She had just come back from a year in Italy and was sick of looking at naked women in all of her classes, and she wanted to turn that objectifying gaze at men. She made a dozen or so very elegantly composed and carefully lit pictures basically of penises as her way of standing up for women and commenting on so much "art" over the last several thousand years being basically the male gaze of justifying looking at naked women. I'm sure it was partly charged by both the indignation and the hormones of youth.
Anyway; I was photographing raw meat at the time- ham hocks, sides of beef, etc.- thinking about the commercial meat industry and health and consumption issues. We staged a joint exhibition of these images during fall of our senior year in a college gallery. She scoured junk shops and yard sales and found loads of old fancy frames which she spray painted gold to look like grand old gilt frames, and she displayed her photos in these. My prints were flush-mounted and placed over butcher paper. We each took one of our biggest/best images and displayed them in each other's presentation style. All very serious "art school" stuff; the show was reasonably well received (meaning it created a lot of debate on campus); it was intended as serious commentary (by two 20 year old art students...) but of course it partly just about the shock and effect, too. Fun, silly, stuff.
hepcat
Former PH, USN
Art should make one stop and wonder. Sometimes it's just beautiful. Sometimes it has a very serious message. And sometimes it's just fun and silly stuff too.
And it's all good. Great story, Drew. Thanks for sharing it.
Sparrow
Veteran
... we can just be thankful you don't then
hepcat
Former PH, USN
Surely, Stewart, you're not one of the unprincipled practitioners with whom I have taken issue?
Sparrow
Veteran
... a libertarian? sadly yes, and I find your principals objectionable myself
hepcat
Former PH, USN
Libertariansim? I think we're off track. I'm talking about best practices, and the ethics of conducting the business of photography, especially as they related to the making of images containing nudes.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
As we all have done. Surely, though, you never wish for that for more than the tiniest fraction of a second: basically, until you've thought about it for another 1/10 second.
Cheers,
R.
enero
Killer of Threads
most of my personal work consists of nudes, and thankfully, my partner (and a few ex's) have been incredibly supportive about what I do.
I have a general rule of not shooting nudes of spouses and close friends. I think its just weird. This rule has gotten me into trouble with past ex's. But it is what it is. I think its best.
I have a general rule of not shooting nudes of spouses and close friends. I think its just weird. This rule has gotten me into trouble with past ex's. But it is what it is. I think its best.
Sparrow
Veteran
Yes I realise that ... but I don't think I, or anyone else for that matter, should be interested in conforming to your personal ethics.
anjoca76
Well-known
This is a lot easier to say when you are 18--no offense. If I told my wife I was going to start shooting nudes and don't give a damn what she thinks about it, then my life instantly would become very complicated! I understand the art-at-all-costs theory, but being respectful of your partner's feelings is important--at least to me it is.
lonemantis
Well-known
I've shot some nude before through organized group photoshoots, and my ladyfriend certainly has no problem with it. Then again, she occasionally performs in a burlesque troupe!
The group atmosphere is interesting, especially since I usually shoot with my M3 or Hasselblad while other photographers buzz around me with DSLRs on burst mode.
Personally, I've found that I'm way too critical of my own work to be attracted to it, especially sexually. More so, I generally think the most uninspiring nude shot are the ones where the photographer seems too turned on. Even naked, it's still about framing and lighting!
The group atmosphere is interesting, especially since I usually shoot with my M3 or Hasselblad while other photographers buzz around me with DSLRs on burst mode.
Personally, I've found that I'm way too critical of my own work to be attracted to it, especially sexually. More so, I generally think the most uninspiring nude shot are the ones where the photographer seems too turned on. Even naked, it's still about framing and lighting!
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Then again, with a name like 'lonemantis' you'd be well advised to keep sex out of it...
(Those unfamiliar with the Mantidae should Google how the females sometimes devour the makle after mating.)
Cheers,
R.
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