A personal challenge for all photographers who shoot nudes

[neea]

I agree that it may help relax future models more if you have nudes of yourself to show them.
That way they know you understand how stressful it can be on the other end of the camera.
I've done both and being the subject you're completley self conscious of every single inch of your body.

i say go for it. it may be more fun than you anticipate

 

[toastydeath]

In sum, my experience is that being completely jaded to sex and sexuality is what makes a good nude photographer. Someone who just doesn't see that aspect anymore, and is free to produce art.

I have:

• been photographed nude
• taken photographs of nude models
• been in pornography
• photographed pornography

I do fetish/nude stuff, exclusively. I don't shoot nature, inanimate objects, macros, landscapes, sunsets, portraits, or anything else. My models ask me to take the pictures. Very nervous, first time girls have gone in, and confident ones come out.

Having a wealth of experience being naked in front of a camera helps measures in understanding what is going on. However, I don't believe one experience in front of said camera is going to help a huge amount. It took me awhile before I was jaded enough to truly not care who was naked and who wasn't. I've had plenty of friends over the years who were models, strippers, escorts, and in the pornographic industry. They echo this sentiment.

However, seeing someone else naked or knowing they were does nothing to alleviate stress. Saying "Oh, I know what it's like" is not a good idea. You don't know what it's like for them, despite personal experience. To suggest two experiences are similar is absurd. It's a very personal thing, and the best you can do is show them the highest degree of respect and concern for their well-being. My experience has been this: Be a true professional. What the nervous model wants is usually an understanding eunuch.

When I am taking photos, my sensuality and sexuality are nowhere to be found. I just don't care. The only thing I am concentrating on is what I am going to show, and how I am going to show it. The model picks up on this, and always relaxes in the first couple shots.

 

[table1349]

I think that this stems from the 10 years I spent in the Marine Corps. My leadership style as a non-commissioned officer was one that was hands on. I never asked or ordered any of the men in my command to do something that I either had not done myself or that I myself was not willing to do.

I am curious. In you 10 years in the Corps, did they have to shoot you with an M16 to give you the idea that a .223 can, when properly placed, kill you. I shoot sports for a local collage, but do not feel that I have to become fodder for a middle linebacker to shoot their football games. Just a thought here.

 

[df3photo]

I like this idea... I will debate on doing it myself... I am also alittle over weight, but less hairy...
I have had models that I approached about doing nudes ask me if I would do it myself... and I have not, and never really thought about it. I think it may help put their minds a little more at ease with modeling nude. But I see everyone elses point here also. Why do it? Well, Why not....?
I have shot nudes of females mostly. As far as males go Ive shot bodybuilders but not in the buff, just down to the speedo... And well, Im no bodybuilder... I am going to consider this challenge. if I think of an idea for the shoot, I will shoot it. (although it is winter, and i dont have a studio...)
hope yours turned out well...

 

[Puscas]

Saying "Oh, I know what it's like" is not a good idea. You don't know what it's like for them, despite personal experience. To suggest two experiences are similar is absurd. It's a very personal thing, and the best you can do is show them the highest degree of respect and concern for their well-being.

exactemundo! :thumbup:








pascal

 

[df3photo]

Quote:
Originally Posted by toastydeath
Saying "Oh, I know what it's like" is not a good idea. You don't know what it's like for them, despite personal experience. To suggest two experiences are similar is absurd. It's a very personal thing, and the best you can do is show them the highest degree of respect and concern for their well-being.

exactemundo!





pascal

I can agree with that Totally. If a person doesn't want to shoot, all you can do is explain to them everything about the shoot from where its going to be shot to whats going to happen with the photo later. A tasteful picture of yourself nude may or may not help the situation. But it is a personal event for everyone and everyone is different. If they are unsure about doing it you would probably get a bad result in the end anyway. all in all I guess an old teacher of mine was right when he said "nothing in photography should be forced....whether it is a piece of equipment or a model..."

I may have gone off topic there... it was working out in my head at the time....

 

[Efergoh]

I am curious. In you 10 years in the Corps, did they have to shoot you with an M16 to give you the idea that a .223 can, when properly placed, kill you.

That is a might extreme, and a bit of a stretch for an analogy.

honestly folks, if you don't feel up to the "challenge" or simply don't wish to have anything to do with it, you don't need to be personaly offended. You do not need to defend yourselves from me.

But, for me, I'm not jaded about sex, I am not a eunich. When a woman takes off her clothes, I respond physically like any heterosexual man would and should. but, the professional doesn't act on that response...that is the difference.

I feel the need to do this, not so much so I "will now what it is like" because you're right, one experience is not enough, but you know what? It will give me a frame of referrence. A pause for thought if you will. I think this experience will make me a more considerate photographer....no...I know it will.

If you don't want to take nudes of yourself fine, I really could care less. I posted this here on the net as one way to keep myself from backing out. It is out there, and folks are expecting me to follow through with photos (they are coming, I promise, I'm sorting and editing now).

But I think that what you should do is go take self portraits of any kind. I've done this before with very little thought, but now I am finding that I am much more critical of the photos. I do not know why, but I am.

This afternoon, I sat down with a model that I had shot last week to go over the contact sheets of the film that I had developed. There were a few shots that she didn't want printed. My kneejerk reaction was to defend those shots and insist on using them. But this experience gave me a bit of insight, I don't understand her reason doesn't want that shot printed, but I can sympathize with the reasoning. I still defended the shot, and told her why I thought it was important to the set, but I was a bit softer in my delivery, and took her concerns into consideration.

This sort of thing will make me a better photographer....might not work for you, and might not be your cup of tea, but I don't see any reason for anyone to poo poo what I take pics of.

 

[toastydeath]

I'm certainly not challenging YOU, personally. I've got no idea how much experience you have in this area, and I'm not going to question your methods of establishing rapport with new models if you've done this a lot and have a method that works. It certainly sounds like you've got the experience to not skeeve models out, and I really appreciate that.

However, I am most certainly trying to discourage near-first time nude photographers who may be taking pictures of nude, first-time models from using this method or any derived methods.

I've met girls who have told me (in passing conversation) that they'd been completely turned off to nude photography due to a poor experience with an otherwise decent photographer doing weird stuff like this. I'd prefer to keep the potential model base as wide as possible by not having good photographers do weird things to the models for the first couple nude photoshoots they do.

 

[df3photo]

I can see both sides...

I don't see any reason for anyone to poo poo what I take pics of.

I agree with the Sergeant, that no one should put down the subject on what anyone is shooting, which I'm not sure was done... plus.... he said poo poo...hahah:lmao:

 

[Efergoh]

While I'm personally offended at this project being called wierd I appreciate and understand where you're coming from.

I have not been shooting nudes for very long at all, truth be told. I'm certainly not going to whip out nudes of myself every time a model comes into my studio...yes, that would be creepy. I'm doing this for my own personal growth. Like I said, I will never ask someone to do something that I myself am not willing to do. I'm just putting my money where my mouth is.

In all honesty, I have shot a grand total of 4 models (not counting myself). One is a significant other, one is the wife of a good friend, the other two are fellow students of photography. One of the fellow students has a good bit of experience in modeling, the other was the one who was eager to shoot, but was nervous about doing so...she was also the most recent, and what made me want to understand that nervousness.


Speaking of putting my money where my mouth is....

Since site rules require links for nudes rather than images...here is the link. Put on your rose colored glasses before you view these, if you would.

link removed

 

[Puscas]

inspect the belly button for lint prior to shooting

:lmao::lmao:

classic!





pascal

 

[df3photo]

Nice work. Tasteful shots.
You got me beat... if I did nudes they would have to be mostly from the back... (plus, i have a sweet ass...:lmao: )

 

[bitteraspects]

i shoot all my nudes completely nude. does that count?????

 

[Efergoh]

i shoot all my nudes completely nude. does that count?????

Only if you did them on Waikiki Beach at noon on a Saturday. :thumbup:

 

[bitteraspects]

nah i usually do it friday or saturday. its generally busier