Nude Photography: Need Professional Tips

[Alpha]

I saw an interview with Heff...he insisted that they don't do any 'air brushing' or other post production work like that. I call B.S. on that.

With good enough hair, makeup, and lighting, there isn't always a need.

 

[confucious]

Nude shoots are always fun...just keep in mind you are not trying to put out a magazine in a month, this is for fun/experiment. The girls will be wowed with the shots you end up with...they are always pleased to see themselves in flattering shots and it provides them with a different perspective on themselves/thier bodies. A few things I've learnt (some will have been posted above already):

1. Like one poster said, baby them. Let them know they're beautiful, and let them know what angle, shadow, contrast, shape you are going for.
2. get them in on the creative process - let them have input on the shot (after you've gotten the exact one you want, of course), let them move freely, pose/laugh/stretch how they want to. When they are involved in the artistic side they get more excited and feel less like a big mac under a heat lamp. Okay - bad comparison...
3. Shallow depth of field can be intriguing/alluring but can also remove some of the beauty of her lines. Ie: long curving thigh to stomach etc. PLay with it, maybe even do some shots with low aperture and high. IN post-process you'll learn what effects both have.
4. This one should really be #1. Have a good idea for 10-15 poses/scenes and what you want out of them. Cut out magazine pics, or better yet - SKETCH the poses you want beforehand and reference as you shoot. You will be nervous and it is possible to forget, in the midst of all the lighting, angles, small talk etc, all the artistic stuff you had down pat before the shoot.
5. PLay with poses - some stiff and formal seeming ones look great on camera, others look like cheap porn...there is a fine line. One girl I shot thought pubic hair in the shot (it was a tasteful pose) made it seem more cheap porn style...I agreed (somewhat).
6. I think the 50mm. might be your best friend in this....

have fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[dpolston]

Here's where I can actually help (for the first time ever!) I actually learned formal photography in the studio taking nudes PRE-PHOTOSHOP DAYS... when we had to get it right in the camera. You cant average 4, 2 hours sessions a day, 5 days a week for a year and NOT learn something.

I am going to take it for granted that you know how lighting works and how not to make it to harsh so...

First, tell her NOT to wear under garments to the shoot. Also stay away from thinks with tight drawstrings that will leave marks on her body anywhere. Try to imagine putting a rubber band around your arm for an hour and then taking a photo when you take it off... there will be a mark.

Second, if she is a heavy makeup wearer, tell her to tone it down if she tends to look as if her face and shoulders are 3 skin tones different.

Third, pay attention to things like elbows, knees and feet. These things will creep up on you in the strangest times and will look unnaturally large in some shots that clothed, might not be as bad.

Fourth, other "wrinkely" (my own word) areas pop up in places that they shouldn't like under the armpit area and the love handle area. Make sure you are aware of these spots.

Fifth, have her arch her back, watch her posture and make sure she never stands square to you. Make her lean in a little and drop the camera forward shoulder a little and stay aware of "basic" poses (hopefully you have a grasp on this basic... otherwise... well, I won't even get into that).

Sixth, which is probably first and should be addressed ahead of time like number one, tell her to eat and drink something beforehand. This is going to be a hard session. Not only are you going to be worried about lighting, you can't do all of those cool tricks with clothes you normally could. If she has a little tummy pudge, in a shirt, no problem... Nude, BIG PROBLEM!!! Also tell her it's going to be physically uncomfortable because the positions that are comfortable to lounge around in usually don't make flattering shots. But a sexy nude shot might be one where she has to arch her back while she tucks her left knee to the side 3 inches and holds her neck that is starting to get a crink in it all the while smile and hold her breath because her tummy pudge is showing and her armpit has only 2 winkles where it usually has 5...OMG!! It's going to be exhausting.

Seven is interesting. Spoken from a dude... to a dude... You will more than likely NOT be thinking that there is a nude chick in front of me, you have lighting and all of the other things I mentioned plus all of the things I didn't mention. But if you have the tendency to "enjoy your surroundings more than normal"... wear an un-tucked long shirt that dropped below your waist!

Now... here is that most important thing: treat her like a lady! She's not there for your amusement or to be ogled. What I did mostly is (and I forgot this -have her bring a robe) while she was dressed in the robe, I'd show her the basic pose... yes I personally got on the floor and "posed" for them, then I'd turn my back to them and let them disrobe themselves and get into position and then I'd turn around and instruct them how to tweak the shot.

Good luck and I hope I didn't scare you!

 

[dpolston]

So... how did the shoot go?

 

[Socrates]

So... how did the shoot go?

Have you noticed that the guy that started this thread never came back?

 

[Trenton Romulox]

Have you noticed that the guy that started this thread never came back?

Hmm...how strange.

 

[Dubious Drewski]

Aww, I hope it worked out for him.

 

[JerryPH]

It was a couple days and his first post... first he was likely traumitized like hell, as was his model and ordinarily... how many times does anything that you do come out perfectly on the first try?

I think we can guess the results.

 

[gendarmee]

I guess the thread starter is taking his/her time in getting back....this has turned out to be a very informative thread.

 

[JerryPH]

I am sure that the OP found it more informative than any of us here... lol

 

[Socrates]

I am sure that the OP found it more informative than any of us here... lol

"Informative" or "enjoyable?"

 

[dpolston]

I didn't mean to scare him...

 

[JerryPH]

"Informative" or "enjoyable?"

:lmao:

I do hope it was a positive experience for him, though.

 

[chris_arnet]

i have a friend thats into nude art, she paints and i (obviously) do photography. we were going to model for each other, but i dont do studio, and she wasn't comfortable nude outdoors, and then i got a girlfriend, who wasnt comfortable with me nude in front of other girls, so that all went to hell.

 

[AmericanJesus]

i have a friend thats into nude art, she paints and i (obviously) do photography. we were going to model for each other, but i dont do studio, and she wasn't comfortable nude outdoors, and then i got a girlfriend, who wasnt comfortable with me nude in front of other girls, so that all went to hell.

Your girlfriend should be sympathetic the the plight of an artist