aquarelle wrote:
I've recently had the opportunity to work with some models who'd never posed nude before.  This came about by my tagging or PMing some non-nude models with an invitation to pose nude for me.

It's got me wondering......did you begin posing nude because you were offered an opportunity, or was it more like,  "I'd really like to try nude modeling."?

In other words, were you self-motivated, or were you a muse who found herself being persuaded?  I'd be interested to hear your experiences.

My first nude photo shoot was actually a clothed photo shoot, and we had not discussed doing nudes beforehand.  But after a few hours of working together and getting to know each other, the photographer asked me if I'd be interested in posing nude.  I was just beginning to start supporting myself through modeling and I thought posing nude would help a lot.. I had a shoot coming up soon after that with someone who asked me if I wanted to shoot nude and kind of left it open for me to decide, but the pay would be more if I wanted to shoot nude.  So, here I was, already comfortable in front of the camera with a new friend, and I decided that it was a supportive environment for me to try posing nude.  It was great, I really liked the images...  I mean, I still do.

ShivaKitty wrote:
I was randomly approached at a bar, in 2005, by a photographer who basically just asked if I wanted to pose nude for him.

No one had ever seen me naked, except for sex partners and maybe a roommate or two, prior to that point.

I did it, enjoyed it, and just sort of never stopped modeling nude.

There was no motivation. Not a lot of thought. It was just an opportunity that seemed exciting, and I've always liked things that were challenging, new, and a little .

I'd like to think that when I ask a random stranger about it, that she might be as enthusiastic about it as you were.

aquarelle wrote:
I'd like to think that when I ask a random stranger about it, that she might be as enthusiastic about it as you were.

Best of luck with that. ShivaKitty is pretty unique, but who knows, you might get lucky.

aquarelle wrote:

I'd like to think that when I ask a random stranger about it, that she might be as enthusiastic about it as you were.

I've always been something of a thrill-junkie.

Toto Photo wrote:
Best of luck with that. ShivaKitty is pretty unique, but who knows, you might get lucky.

Actually, I'm surprised at the number of random strangers who are willing to consider a nude modeling request.

MatureModelMM wrote:
It just happened for me as well.  I had taken several modelling courses as a teenager, which was fairly common back then but never really did anything about modelling. A couple of years later at around age 19 or 20 one of my girl friends was asked by a man she worked with to model nude for him as he had a new camera and wanted to learn to shoot nudes. I could have gone and modelled alongside her but was too shy to undress in front of a stranger. Another of our close girl friends did go with her and did model as well but kept her underpants on. Afterward I saw some of the pictures and they were beautiful. I regretted not going but realized I simply could not have done it at that time.

When I was 35 and got married, my husband had been a nude figure model for artists since he was about 16. He had an ongoing assignment for a group of artists in a gallery nearby so one evening on my way home from work I stopped by to see what it was all about. After watching a few minutes, I went into the bathroom and got undressed. I came out and stood off to the side until it was time to change poses, then climbed up onto the platform and modelled alongside him for the next two hours. Immediately I started to get requests from some of those artists and some photographers as well and found that I was now confident enough to model in the nude.  A few years later at age 39 I was pregnant and that really gave my modelling a boost as it was around the time that Demi Moore and others were nude in big magazines while they were pregnant.

That's a great story!

Catnapping wrote:
I was looking for more dance teaching jobs on craigslist, and found an ad posted by a photographer needing dancers for art models. I had no idea what an art model was, but I figured dance + naked couldn't be that far of a reach for me. I intended to have that as a one-time thing, but somehow ended up not stopping.

d'oh

(same person different account)

aquarelle wrote:
I've recently had the opportunity to work with some models who'd never posed nude before.  This came about by my tagging or PMing some non-nude models with an invitation to pose nude for me.

It's got me wondering......did you begin posing nude because you were offered an opportunity, or was it more like,  "I'd really like to try nude modeling."?

In other words, were you self-motivated, or were you a muse who found herself being persuaded?  I'd be interested to hear your experiences.

I had an artistic concept I wanted to shoot and then I found a casting by an amazing photographer, who happened to shoot nudes primarily. I emailed badly and started threads and replied ad nauseum about it, and all badly.

In the end he did shoot with me and I had fully thought through the idea of nudes and art and was the one who felt I'd be loosing out if it didn't happen.

I'm very glad about it as it is another entire area of expression and modeling that is meaningful to me.

Jen

Avonelle wrote:
I never really thought about modeling, until one of my friends had a nude shoot scheduled. I had always been a supershy girl, but she asked if I wanted to come with her, showed me picture to the photographers, and they really wanted me to come. I was pretty nervous, but as soon as I got out of my clothes, I felt natural and free. The photographers were super friendly and professional, I didn't feel awkward at all, and there wasn't anything erotic about it. No adult stuff, just prancing around being naked. When they showed me the pictures afterwards, I couldn't believe it. I had never thought of myself as pretty before, but in a few of those pictures, I saw myself as downright beautiful, and that was such a mindblowing shock.

To top it off, I made almost an entire month of rent in a single three hour shoot, more than I made in two weeks at my retail job. Blew my mind. Good money, plus getting to feel beautiful and having a ton of amazing fun with professional people? Yeaaaah, I was hooked pretty quick.

Thanks for sharing this, Avonelle.  I've heard similar stories from first time models, but none has put it as beautifully as you did.  I like to think that I've been a part of some models having similar discoveries. 

Although the pleasures of being an artist are many, your experience makes me wish I could have the same thrill as you have had as a model.  Maybe I should try it.  Nah, you wouldn't wanna see that.

aquarelle wrote:
I've recently had the opportunity to work with some models who'd never posed nude before.  This came about by my tagging or PMing some non-nude models with an invitation to pose nude for me.

It's got me wondering......did you begin posing nude because you were offered an opportunity, or was it more like,  "I'd really like to try nude modeling."?

In other words, were you self-motivated, or were you a muse who found herself being persuaded?  I'd be interested to hear your experiences.

My first shoot was a nude one. Why? I decided to do the type of shoot that made me the most uncomfortable first. I figured if I could get over my apprehension early on, anything else would be comfortable. In my case, it worked like a charm.

Shandra Stark wrote:
Myspace was king.  I posted in a bunch of photography forums saying I was a new model looking for experience.

Got a few messages back, two for nude shoots.  One for a thesis/gallery show, the other for an amazing artist in Chicago.  Never thought about it prior. 

This was their need, I had the ability to fill said need, got the job done.

Interesting story, Shandra.  Always loved your work.

Isis22 wrote:
I was asked to pose by someone I met in college and had stayed in and out of contact with over the years. It took him months to get up the nerve to ask me to pose. It took me weeks to agree to it. It was fully nude so I really thought about it first. I have posed for my friend another time since. I think my first experience is why I prefer being nude rather than clothes. I am more comfortable. No worrying about how the clothes look or if they are falling the right way.

I have a wonderful friend who would be a terrific nude model.  We've been close for several years, and have traveled together and shared a lot over the years.  I would love to ask her to pose for me, but I worry about altering our friendship.  She knows my nude work, and says she once posed nude for a boyfriend when she was much younger.  Your story gives me a some courage.

aquarelle wrote:
I have a wonderful friend who would be a terrific nude model.  We've been close for several years, and have traveled together and shared a lot over the years.  I would love to ask her to pose for me, but I worry about altering our friendship.  She knows my nude work, and says she once posed nude for a boyfriend when she was much younger.  Your story gives me a some courage.

It wouldn't hurt to ask if you are really good friends. The most she can say is that she isn't comfortable with the idea, but if you are truly good friends she should not be offended that you asked her. She might even consider it a compliment that you think she would make a good nude model for your style of work even if she declines your offer.

I feel honored when one of my friends asks me to model in the nude for them, which has happened three times. They all knew that I was doing that sort of modelling and they were studying art or learning photography at the time. I would be open to modelling for most of my friends if they asked me.

MatureModelMM wrote:

It wouldn't hurt to ask if you are really good friends. The most she can say is that she isn't comfortable with the idea, but if you are truly good friends she should not be offended that you asked her. She might even consider it a compliment that you think she would make a good nude model for your style of work even if she declines your offer.

I feel honored when one of my friends asks me to model in the nude for them, which has happened three times. They all knew that I was doing that sort of modelling and they were studying art or learning photography at the time. I would be open to modelling for most of my friends if they asked me.

Your words are very encouraging.  I think my hesitance stems from the fact that I've harbored the fantasy of my friend posing nude for me for such a long time, that I'm afraid if she says no, it will be revealed to me as just that--a fantasy.

Instead of enjoying imagining her someday posing for me, I'd have to accept that it will never happen.  But I may have time working in my favor.  She's almost 45, and  her vanity might compel her to entertain the thought now before too much more time passes.