Let’s talk nude.

[ChristopherCoy]

Are you naked?

Seriously though, let’s talk about nudes. I‘ve never done them, even for fun, and I’m generally clueless about them. I know they are a study of form, specifically the human form, but what are their basic elements?

Do you pose someone? Do you it’s strip them and casually talk to them? Do you give them directions? What is it that you’re looking for when a nude person is standing before your camera?

I’ve got a willing model, I just don’t know how to proceed.

 

[guangong]

I have drawn and painted nudes, but I have never photographed any. I suppose the procedure would be the same. Model must have a place to disrobe that is not in view ( not a strip tease show). As well as the ability to put a robe on during breaks. Perhaps most important is respect and not commenting on models anatomy, other than posing positions. Otherwise, everyone has their own way of working, even for formal portraits. Again, respect and politeness can forgive a lot of mistakes. A professional model would be a great help in the beginning.

 

[Vaughn]

That covered everything I was thinking about.

Start looking at photographs by Weston, Ruth Bernhard and others -- light and form. And drawings...perhaps line drawings, too. Find some good poses and lighting, and work with them as a starting point. Avoid or limit cutting off body parts (photographically) at first.

 

[Pieter12]

In these times, unless it's your partner, maybe wait a while before starting to shoot nudes. Experiment with some peppers or toilets.

 

[MattKing]

I like the fact that this thread is in the "Exposure Discussion" sub-forum.
(which by the way, is probably intended to be more oriented toward technical questions about metering and EIs and camera settings et al).
If you have a willing subject, find some examples that inspire you, ask the subject if he/she has seen work they consider interesting and consider planning together what you want to do.
Pay very close attention to lighting. Maybe even practice with props or clothed people or mannequins.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Are you naked?

Seriously though, let’s talk about nudes. I‘ve never done them, even for fun, and I’m generally clueless about them. I know they are a study of form, specifically the human form, but what are their basic elements?

Do you pose someone? Do you it’s strip them and casually talk to them? Do you give them directions? What is it that you’re looking for when a nude person is standing before your camera?

I’ve got a willing model, I just don’t know how to proceed.

I've done them ad nausea and still consider them extremely difficult to do well.

 

[mshchem]

Church Lady says " Nudes, hmmm, Could it be SATAN!"

 

[Deleted member 88956]

Didn't take long to f this thread up. Too bad as it is an interesting subject.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Chris-

as someone who has shot a lot of nudes, I think the first thing is to have a good rapport with your model. Be able to talk to them, and tell them what the ideas are you have for the photos. If you are unsure of yourself, it would be an outstanding idea to take a class or workshop on photographing the nude so you can see how others with more experience do it.

As far as working with the models, as others have said, you give them posing directions. No creepy sexual talk - DEFINiTELY do not discuss their sex organs, or talk about their body unsolicited. If they express insecurity about a body part, I think it's ok at that point to reassure them that it's fine, and there's nothing wrong with it. You NEVER touch them unless A: they tell you it is ok, AND B: you tell them in advance "I'm going to position your knee/arm/shoulder" and then you do that and only that. If you need them to adjust their sex organs, tell them how you need them adjusted and let them do that. You want to be an absolute professional about it so that they're willing to work with you again, and they won't badmouth you to all their friends. Also listen to them if they say "don't include my part X in the picture". It's all about trust, and if you sneak a shot of their whatever when they told you not to, that's a big no-no.

I'd recommend doing your first shoot in the studio - it's a controlled environment and you're on safe ground legally. Doing nudes in the landscape is a whole other kettle of fish, not only in terms of balancing the model with the background, but also the privacy question and the public nudity question. Lots of public spaces ban nudity, and if you get walked in on, you might be lucky and the person just ignores it, or they might call the cops.

 

[ignatiu5]

I shoot nudes regularly. A general question that I have after reading your OP is, “why do you want to shoot nudes?” Because the response to that might help answer some of your other queries.

“Do you pose someone?” Sometimes, with explicit verbal consent, depending on the person and what I’m interested in creating.
I do talk to them, because I’m interested in shooting people, and people have character, and talking to them often helps reveal the character that I hope to photograph.
“Do you give them directions?” It depends on the subject; some people create compelling poses on their own, some can use some help, sometimes I’m looking for something specific.

My suggestions: be transparent and honest. As @TheFlyingCamera suggests, trust is critical. If you want to shoot XYZ, say you want to shoot XYZ. If s/he doesn’t want to shoot XYZ, don’t agree to ABC hoping that you’ll get a chance to explore XYZ. Either be content and excited about ABC, or find a different model, without prejudice.
Treat him/her with respect. Your subject is a person, not simply a meat sack.
A little lightheartedness can go a long way, especially if either party is nervous. It's not as deathly serious as you might think. Be prepared to laugh at yourself and each other.

 

[MattKing]

TheFlyingCamera and ignatiu5 are both worth paying a lot of attention to, because:
1) they both have a lot of experience; and
2) between them, they cover both alternatives (assuming a binary outlook on these matters).
If you have good rapport with a prospective model - of whatever gender - that is a real advantage.
Don't assume though that it will be a Charis and Edward photographic relationship though, unless you are incredibly fortunate.

 

[wyofilm]

OP-

I'm curious if you shoot many portraits, especially full body. And if so, do you feel comfortable with the process and results? For me, if I wanted to shoot nudes, I would have to get much better at shooting clothed! Lighting, posing, rapport, all of it! I would have a steep learning curve before the model ever disrobed.

Interesting topic!

 

[mshchem]

I love making candid portraits, if there happened to a situation where there was tasteful nudity, sure. I've rarely gone beyond a breast or curve.

95% of unskilled stuff looks like trash to me. It's hard for some to not produce erotica.

Candid, casual, lovely studies of people of all ages, body type gender etc. That's great and comfortable for all concerned.

Annie Liebovitz, she's got it down.

 

[grain elevator]

OP-

I'm curious if you shoot many portraits, especially full body. And if so, do you feel comfortable with the process and results? For me, if I wanted to shoot nudes, I would have to get much better at shooting clothed! Lighting, posing, rapport, all of it! I would have a steep learning curve before the model ever disrobed.

Interesting topic!

+1!
If the willing model is a partner or friend and you can just fool around with a camera together, at first sight it's a "why not?", but are you sure he/she would be willing to do it again if the results don't flatter? Better to practice in a setting with less vulnerability.

 

[ChristopherCoy]

OP-

I'm curious if you shoot many portraits, especially full body. And if so, do you feel comfortable with the process and results? For me, if I wanted to shoot nudes, I would have to get much better at shooting clothed! Lighting, posing, rapport, all of it! I would have a steep learning curve before the model ever disrobed.

Interesting topic!

My background is portraiture and weddings. I’ve shot since I was 15. Apprenticed under a pro after high school. And owned a brick and mortar wedding studio with my SIL. I’ve done available light portraits as well as studio lights. Studio lights is where I shined the most. So I know how to take a portrait. (ETA: I know how to take a “formal” posed portrait based on learning that I’ve gained from others and regurgitated. I.e. twist at the hips for a more slender waist, weight on the back leg for that “S” curve in females, higher angle for larger builds, etc etc. I’ve never developed my own style of portraits.)

And to answer a previous question, I am thinking about doing nudes as a study to improve my skill. I’ve been thinking about a lot of things to do to improve my skill.

As for the model, it’s my husband so I can “handle” things a little more freely than I could if it were a perfect stranger.

I guess I’m looking for information more along the lines of “what is the purpose, what should I look for in a nude, or rather what should I be looking to capture?” Is it lines, shape, tonality in lighting? What would a nude provide me with that a pepper, melon, or toilet can’t? Are nudes done simply because peppers don’t have appendages like arms and legs that can move and change the lines and curves instantly?

 

[wyofilm]

My background is portraiture and weddings. I’ve shot since I was 15. Apprenticed under a pro after high school. And owned a brick and mortar wedding studio with my SIL. I’ve done available light portraits as well as studio lights. Studio lights is where I shined the most. So I know how to take a portrait. (ETA: I know how to take a “formal” posed portrait based on learning that I’ve gained from others and regurgitated. I.e. twist at the hips for a more slender waist, weight on the back leg for that “S” curve in females, higher angle for larger builds, etc etc. I’ve never developed my own style of portraits.)

Great!

 

[ignatiu5]

Thank you for your answers.

I guess I’m looking for information more along the lines of “what is the purpose, what should I look for in a nude, or rather what should I be looking to capture?”

This is going to sound repetitive to my prior response, but what do you (and your husband) want to accomplish by shooting nudes? In some ways, it sounds like you’re approaching it from an academic or formulaic perspective: owned a wedding studio - check, shot landscapes – check, did some nudes – check.

I don’t think there’s an absolute should in nude work (or in photography, for that matter). If you want anonymous lines, shape, and tonality, then good. If you want to capture a sliver of your husband’s personality, a little glimpse of how you see him, equally good. Abstract? Fine. Erotica? Equally fine.

When you look at others’ nude work, what are the things that make you think, “I wish I had shot that. I wonder how s/he created that mood/lighting/feeling.”? What makes you yawn? If the differences between peppers and people don’t compel you to shoot the latter, I would suggest that it’s far easier just shooting peppers. If your reason is to improve your skill, you don’t need a nude model to accomplish that. I'm not trying to dissuade you from attempting nudes, I'm just suggesting that understanding your own goals and motivations (and not those of other photographers) might guide both your process and your outcomes.

 

[Horatio]

The human form has fascinated artists for millennia, across all cultures. What do you find compelling about it?

 

[grain elevator]

I guess I’m looking for information more along the lines of “what is the purpose, what should I look for in a nude, or rather what should I be looking to capture?” Is it lines, shape, tonality in lighting? What would a nude provide me with that a pepper, melon, or toilet can’t? Are nudes done simply because peppers don’t have appendages like arms and legs that can move and change the lines and curves instantly?

You're asking US for the purpose of something YOU want to do? Either you want to do it, then you have your reasons and you need to look inward to understand them. Or you don't want to do it, then you need to free yourself from whatever is telling you that you should. Or you're looking for a formula for a good nude, like the formula for a portrait you say you worked with. There's no such thing, nudes can be done many different ways.

If the differences between peppers and people don’t compel you to shoot the latter, I would suggest that it’s far easier just shooting peppers.

Well said!

 

[Vaughn]

An easy way to work with the nude is to keep the figure as far away as possible...

But do consider working out of the studio...the differences in natural outdoor textures played with the texture of skin is something to explore. Soft lighting (open shade or light clouds) is fun to work with and helps to keep the skin tones smoother.

Edited to add an image playing of the texture, light values and form of the figure with the same of the redwood.

 

[M-88]

Where I live, models are so unwilling to pose for nude shots that literally any nude shot of sub-par quality gets high praise by local photo... umm... "enthusiasts".

 

[Sirius Glass]

I've done them ad nausea and still consider them extremely difficult to do well.

I found that photographing nudes and programming in either machine code or assembly language is best done by someone other than me.

 

[macfred]

I have never photographed nude - I usually wear corduroy pants and a tweed jacket ...

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Are you naked?

Seriously though, let’s talk about nudes. I‘ve never done them, even for fun, and I’m generally clueless about them. I know they are a study of form, specifically the human form, but what are their basic elements?

Do you pose someone? Do you it’s strip them and casually talk to them? Do you give them directions? What is it that you’re looking for when a nude person is standing before your camera?

I’ve got a willing model, I just don’t know how to proceed.

Usually artists who work with nudes, have an idea in mind. They don't photograph nudes just for the sake of it...unless their goal is to see naked women. Ask your willing model what he/she would like to do.

 

[logan2z]

I have never photographed nude - I usually wear corduroy pants and a tweed jacket ...

Elliott Erwitt
East Hampton, New York, 1983