Within the world of nude photography, there is a battle between photographers who prefer to shoot their models in highly “posed” ways and those who like more candid shots. Let’s take a look at this topic in more detail.

Was the nude photograph above “posed”? To at least some extent, yes. However, I think it succeeds in coming off as a fairly natural, candid, and spontaneous shot. And to most people, those are very favorable traits for a picture to have.

However, photography is a deceptive medium. While I certainly agree that the natural look of this shot is appealing, it’s impossible for a viewer to know whether this shot was taken in a legitimately spontaneous manner or if the model simply possesses the talent to portray “naturalness” at a high level.

Ultimately, I think these two questions need to be asked: 1) Does it matter if it was posed? And 2) Is the appeal of the photo diminished if it was, indeed, posed. In my opinion, the answer to these questions are “no.” I believe it’s a very appealing shot on many levels (whether it was or was not posed).

In my work, I’ve found that I’m most likely to capture images such as this one during the “in-between” times that inevitably occur during shoots. For example, it may happen while I’m making a lighting adjustment and the model uses the short break to simply fall into the most comfortable and natural position possible.

“Natural-looking” pictures like this one (whether or not they are in some way “posed”) can be created in a number of ways. However, there’s one thing that pictures of this type typically have in common: They’re usually quite charming and quite appealing to viewers.

This nearly nude image is a classic example of a nude photography tip composed of  using opposing forces to create something very interesting. This technique is used in all art forms. It’s certainly no secret that mixing vastly different textures, styles, or colors often result in very unique creations.

In this case, the opposing forces are comprised of extremely lacy and ultra-feminine lingerie being worn by a model who possesses an “alternative” look. The combination makes for a striking juxtaposition.

There are an infinite amount of potentially contrasting elements that can be put together to create these types of shots. The list of nude photo ideas is truly endless. The shot of this model wearing something that seems out of character is just one of many possibilities.

Along with the obvious contrasts in this shot, the tilt of her head, the position of her upper body, and her thumbs hooked under her panties create a somewhat aggressive feel.

From the hard shadow visible on the backdrop, you can tell that only one light was used for this shot. This type of hard lighting adds a grittiness to the shot that serves to accentuate the model’s relatively hard-core look.

Want to make a comment about this post? I’d love to read it.

When it comes to the subject of how to take erotic photos, it was only a few years ago that taking a simple nude underwater picture like the one seen here would have been an expensive and frustrating task.

Until fairly recently, the protective cases that allowed photographers to shoot underwater were cumbersome and a huge hassle to use. These cases could turn a basic 35mm SLR into a contraption the size of a shoebox.

However, today there are convenient underwater cases for virtually all brands and types of cameras (and for phones as well).

Now that the technical factors required for underwater nude photography have been reasonably dealt with, photographers are free to devote their energies to shooting creative, high-quality images.

In addition to casual shots like the one seen here, shooting underwater gives you the chance to take elegant and beautiful glamour photographs that would be impossible to pull off on dry land.

However, better cases alone don’t make taking great underwater shots a simple task. You’ll quickly discover that shooting underwater adds an entirely new set of variables to the photographic process.

For example, if you go the low-tech route, it’ll take some time for you and your model to get the necessary timing down. The two of you will have to coordinate your time underwater in order to give you the best opportunity to capture good shots.

Scuba gear can be very helpful for the serious underwater shooter; allowing the photographer to stay underwater for long amounts of time (however, I must admit that my underwater nude shoots have definitely been on the low-tech side of things).

One warning: If you’ve never before attempted to shoot glamour images underwater, be prepared to take a lot of pictures. The ratio of total shots to good shots can be very disappointing if you’re not prepared for it.

While shooting glamour and nude underwater shots may not be something you’ll end up devoting much time or effort to, it’s definitely worth trying at least once.

Helmut Newton’s photographic images are a lesson in themselves regarding how to take nude pictures style challenged and altered the conventions of fashion, portrait, and erotic photography. Without question, he was one the most influential photographers of the 20th century.

Newton’s fascination with photography came early. Born in Berlin, Germany in 1920, he left school at the age of 16 to become an apprentice to famed German photographer Elsie Simon.

Fleeing Germany in 1938, he eventually ended up in Australia in 1940. It was in Melbourne that he opened his first photography studio. It wasn’t long before he was shooting for magazines such as Australian Vogue.

He quickly moved on to shooting pictures for British Vogue. He soon found himself shooting for the world’s most [Read more…]

If you’re interested in learning how to do nude photography to make some extra money, you should know that there’s a huge market for images of “Teens.” The models in this category are usually 18 or 19-year-olds (or women in their early 20s who can still pull off a younger look).

Like all niches, this one has certain photographic characteristics that fans of the genre like to see. And to be honest, this picture contains so many of those young and sugary characteristics that I’m starting to get a headache from just looking at it.

However, simply because this picture contains numerous “Teen” cliches doesn’t mean it’s a bad picture. In reality, it more likely means that it’s a very marketable picture.

Let’s take a look at some of the main factors that make this picture so ideal for the “Teen” category. First, the model in this shot has a very [Read more…]