Pubic hair - When will it return to fashion?

[John Austin]

I am currently working on a portfolio of large format naked portraits using 10x8" film - The problem I have is that many models remove their pubic hair

For me this is a two fold problem, firstly pubic hair denotes woman as opposed to girl, I am photographing women, not girls, and secondly pubic hair acts as a natural visual shield against disclosing too much personal information without going for coy poses, which I hate

This is only a problem with women in their 20s and sometimes in their 30s - Women in their 40s and 50s still have it

What is the current general thinking on pubic hair?

John

 

[dpurdy]

It is what it is. It is part of today's culture and should be part of naked portraits unless you want to hide part of the truth. It is annoying to a lot of fine art photographers. What is worse than totally shaved is artistically shaved. Also we have to remember that shaving is a result of so many people looking at naked woman pictures and the porn industry being so large. The fine art photographers have played a part. Most fine art photography I see is pseudo soft porn. What of bellybutton rings and little tattoos?
Dennis

 

[John Austin]

Yes, Dennis, same conclusions

I have no problems arouond scars or stretch marks, these are natural - Piercings and tatoos I accept as personal history, but I still miss pubic hair

Anyway, I will post some of the resutlts of this work on my website at Dead Link Removed when the exhibiton of Naked Portraits opens during FotoFreoFringe 2012 in Fremantle in March 2012

 

[Dan Dozer]

Hi John,

I connect up with most of the models I work with on Model Mayhem. While I know that many photographers don't like MM, I have had great results there. Most of the serious fine art models there don't shave and are still natural looking. However, the vast majority of models on that site are not fine art models and those who are more glamour type are mostly shaved. I have had great results with the fine art models there, but you won't get the good ones for free. They are modelling for a living and you would normally expect to pay for their modelling experience and time.

Dan

 

[Born2Late]

I'm new to this group, maybe the last in a while by looking at the postings.

My take on pubic hair and a few other things is this:
From what I have read, shaving or depilation has come and gone over the years but dates back to ancient times. The choice of shave, trim or grow wild is strictly personal. It is influenced by the styles of the times. It also varies from region to region. I don't really put much stock in the theory of shaving to look prepubescent. To let it grow is natural, but so is hair on the legs and armpits. You may think pubic hair is normal, but here in the U.S. you probably don't think the same of hairy legs and pits.

Personally, I lean towards shaved for models, but any style that the model is comfortable suits me. After all, the model is going to look and perform the best when they are comfortable with their own appearance.

On a similar note, what I don't care for is breast augmentation. It might look great when clothed, but nude, with few exceptions you can spot a mile away. Give me natural any day regardless of size!
Tattoos and piercings are fine for most work as long as within reason. Unless you are into body art, full sleeves, back and chest pieces just detract too much.

Let's add body type too. Personally I don't care for scrawny models (women in general for that matter).

Bottom line - it's what floats your boat.

 

[Red Robin]

IMHO pubic hair IS a natural part of a person . Out of fashion, sure hope we don't lose any more body parts. I'm old enough to remember the old Playboy mag. and all the odd looking efforts there. If its there shoot it, if not shoot it , just don't hand-um a razor! Kinda gives the artist a chance to show their stuff!

 

[lensworker]

Maybe I'm wrong, but I think waxing/shaving is a fashion trend at present because "all the women in the (adult/porn) movies do it." IMHO, that is a really dumb reason for women - or men - to do it.

Waxing/shaving all of the pubic hair looks unnatural on an adult. It looks weird IMHO. I would much rather have a model who looks natural than one who looks like a six year old because they are bald down there; YMMV on that.

Trimming, shaping and/or grooming the pubic hair is not objectionable IMO. A little maintenance down there is not out of the question.

 

[Born2Late]

There is little doubt that it is a trend, but perhaps it has less to do with fashion (porn inspired or not) and more to do with physical sensation. I say that because if it were just fashion I doubt the trend would have survived this long.