Photographer
Visual Delights
Posts: 204
Austin, Texas, US
Mizz Amanda Marie wrote:
For me, personally, I have always had this view on erotica vs porn where it pertains to photography/video/whatever:
Erotica:
A more personal depiction, less focused on eye contact with the camera and poses that look sexy, and more focused on sensuality in a more personal way. Its like the viewer watching the model in question having a personal experience. Can be explicit or not.
Pornography:
Generally explicit, very focused on the enjoyment of the viewer above all else. Poses, expressions, eye contact all focused on arousing the viewer, whether the experience is genuine for the model or not. Doesn't mean the model isn't enjoying it; it just isn't actually relevant to the viewer as long as the fantasy is there.
So, for me, when someone says they want to shoot erotica, I automatically go into personal or introspective mode as far as the feel of the poses/expressions. If they want to shoot glamour or porn, its more about the viewer and making the image sexy and visually appealing in a more obvious way.
I have no problem with either thing; I think porn is its own art form, and there's nothing wrong with that.
And, of course, this is just the way I see it. *shrug* I like the distinction you make between the situation experienced from the model's side (erotica) and the situation experienced from the viewer's side.
Model
Koryn
Posts: 39496
Boston, Massachusetts, US
I think people can go around and around all day talking about ideas, but unless they're actually describing specific poses and settings they find "erotic," it's a moot point.
Photographer
AgX
Posts: 2851
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Koryn wrote:
I think people can go around and around all day talking about ideas, but unless they're actually describing specific poses and settings they find "erotic," it's a moot point. +1
I believe it matters little how erotic is defined by members of an online forum compared to the specific and direct discussions between the model and the photographer/artist/art director. A thousand members could give a thousand different definitions, or the same definition, and it still would have little bearing on that individual interaction.
Model
Eleanor Rose
Posts: 2612
PASO ROBLES, California, US
Laura UnBound wrote:
I prefer people to just speak bluntly about what they expect me to shoot, Im not into running down a laundry list of all the various possible things I wont do, wind up missing that I wont fuck a baseball bat while riding a goat down the streets of manhattan during rush hour, and have someone get all fucking butthurt when I show up and thats what they want and pull some "but you didn't say you wouldnt! Now you're being unprofessional!" shit on me. Quote for truth!
Seriously, what erotic means to us doesn't much matter. Most of my erotic work is not something I personally find erotic, but I appreciate that it is to many other people. The definition of erotic that matters is the definition ascribed to by the client who's hiring me. If you want to shoot erotic work you have to speak directly to each model about what that means and what you want to do. Don't ask us to list everything we will or won't do - it's impossible. Even if we're discussing fetish work (which is a little easier to define), someone might be disappointed that I didn't mention pedal pumping or whatever their kink is and disappear because "I don't do that" - even though I do, I just forgot to mention it.
I have a list of work I view to be erotic on my profile. It's not all encompassing, but it helps start the conversation. I also make distinctions between erotic and explicit work to help facilitate conversations. But if you're too worried that a model will be upset that it prevents you from speaking candidly about what you want to shoot you're either speaking to the wrong model or shouldn't be shooting that material.
Photographer
Whose nudes
Posts: 54
East Hampton, Connecticut, US
Model
Koryn
Posts: 39496
Boston, Massachusetts, US
Eleanor Rose wrote:
Seriously, what erotic means to us doesn't much matter...The definition of erotic that matters is the definition ascribed to by the client who's hiring me. If you want to shoot erotic work you have to speak directly to each model about what that means and what you want to do. This is the answer to everything that has been asked in this thread. What models think is erotic is almost completely irrelevant.
The only thing that matters is what YOU think is erotic, since we're basically just fulfilling your vision.
To be completely honest, I've shot erotic and fetish work for years, but have found almost none of that content arousing to me personally. I have very specific things that turn me on, and while they are visual things (mostly beautiful, angelic faces, framed by long dark hair) it's not anything anyone would ever want to shoot.
If I was a photographer, my "erotica" would be a series of portraits. Boring, I know.
Photographer
Jerry Nemeth
Posts: 33355
Dearborn, Michigan, US
Koryn wrote:
This is the answer to everything that has been asked in this thread. What models think is erotic is almost completely irrelevant.
The only thing that matters is what YOU think is erotic, since we're basically just fulfilling your vision.
To be completely honest, I've shot erotic and fetish work for years, but have found almost none of that content arousing to me personally. I have very specific things that turn me on, and while they are visual things (mostly beautiful, angelic faces, framed by long dark hair) it's not anything anyone would ever want to shoot.
If I was a photographer, my "erotica" would be a series of portraits. Boring, I know. I have photographed a model who "was erotic"!
Model
Koryn
Posts: 39496
Boston, Massachusetts, US
Jerry Nemeth wrote:
I have photographed a model who "was erotic"! So she clearly captured the specific look that you personally see as erotic. You will never be able to know what she personally felt about it. She could have been balancing her checkbook in her head, or thinking about what to make her kids for dinner. Photographers and artists who believe otherwise may be, in many cases, rather naive.
Photographer
Jerry Nemeth
Posts: 33355
Dearborn, Michigan, US
Koryn wrote:
So she clearly captured the specific look that you personally see as erotic. You will never be able to know what she personally felt about it. She could have been balancing her checkbook in her head, or thinking about what to make her kids for dinner. Photographers and artists who believe otherwise may be, in many cases, rather naive. She is naturally erotic. 
Photographer
Marcio Faustino
Posts: 2811
Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Many people call my nude photographs as erotic. I don't mind but this is not how I call them but simply nude. Why? Because I don't have the intention to provoke sexual arousal with them. Well, if they do provoke... great! But my main concern is to explore the body expression, beauty and forms. On the other hand I have some still photographs which I consider more erotic than my nude photographs but nobody see them this way... like this one: ![https://www.marciofaustino.com/uploads/1/6/4/6/16464874/5397306_orig.jpg]() Visual Delights wrote:
[...] please go to the Photography Talk thread linked at the beginning of this post. No the same question so I am posting here.
Photographer
D a v i d s o n
Posts: 1216
Gig Harbor, Washington, US
Koryn wrote:
So she clearly captured the specific look that you personally see as erotic. You will never be able to know what she personally felt about it. She could have been balancing her checkbook in her head, or thinking about what to make her kids for dinner. Photographers and artists who believe otherwise may be, in many cases, rather naive. So true some models don't really need to do much to give a look , and some are naturals. I've had models tell me they we're thinking if they need to stop at the store on the way home figuring out what to cook for family.
Model
Ana Lancova
Posts: 68
Powder Springs, Georgia, US
barepixels wrote:
when someone ask you to shoot erotic or edgy, ask for photo samples of what they mean.
a picture is worth a thousand words. This is basically what it has come to with me. I have met many photographers who mean spread eagle shots by erotic. I am comfortable doing shots that have a sexual nature, but i don't do spreads. I have argued with so many photographers about this they think they can convince me to make an exception. I am now basically to the point where when i see erotic again the first thing i am going to do is ask for example images.
And yes as a side not i have said straight up at the beginning that i do not do spreads. Some respond with ok thats fine we will just do other nudes that do not include spreads. When i get there and start shooting they again start pressuring me to do spreads. This puts me in a strange situation. I am a nice person and i avoid conflict. So as they pressure i have to nearly get rude to get the point across.
Photographer
Vindictive Images
Posts: 584
Houston, Texas, US
Ana Lancova wrote:
And yes as a side not i have said straight up at the beginning that i do not do spreads. It may also be easier to remove erotic as one of your genres if it is generating that much confusion or persistence.
Model
Cali Heat
Posts: 336
Los Angeles, California, US
If you have to get hard, it is erotic.
Model
Caitin Bre
Posts: 2687
Apache Junction, Arizona, US
The answer for me would be how comfortable and trusting I am with the photographer.
Also goes for comfort level with any male models involved.
There is a fine line between porn and highly erotic.... It all depends on the lighting,angle,quality,ideas,art,passion.
Erotic has to be a expression... Even with trying to capture a fantasy idea and/or fetish. Then the final images are what defines erotic from porn.
I do not do porn... But I will do highly erotic. I like doing erotic and am not offended by requests. If it is something I do not consider erotic then I will politely explain my concerns.
If it is a expression of passion and not the act then for me it is Erotic.
Model
Anne of Ohio
Posts: 4391
Columbus, Ohio, US
Erotica touches your soul....porn touches your bits and pieces
Model
Caitin Bre
Posts: 2687
Apache Junction, Arizona, US
Anne of Ohio wrote:
Erotica touches your soul....porn touches your bits and pieces I love this answer...
Model
Briana_Mae
Posts: 19
Warner Robins, Georgia, US
for me erotic is ANYTGHING other than sex with photographer or unwelcomed touching
Photographer
Derek Ridgers
Posts: 1625
London, England, United Kingdom
Jenna_jensen wrote:
for me erotic is ANYTGHING other than sex with photographer or unwelcomed touching This is the strangest comment.
And from someone that’s done one shoot.
What do you really mean here Jenna because I’m sure you can’t really mean this?
Photographer
Bella Photoshoot
Posts: 229
Laguna Beach, California, US
Davian J wrote:
i stop using terms like "erotic" when talking to models. I have found if you tell them exactly what you are looking for they will give a definitive yes or no.
"Are you comfortable shooting spread eagle upside down?" will get you to an answer quicker than "Do you shoot erotic nudes?"
Just my 2¢... carry on This!!!!! 
My .2 cents: Erotica is what most have described. Penthouse-style, Hustler style (toys), mastrubation. There are however many concepts in the middle - just ask the model if she's up for what youre going for (hopefully before the shoot!)
You might want a body suit with 3 holes cut out. Maybe cant see more than whats in Playboy but its certainly more objectifying? In short, I think other than the big two = 1. Showing p lips 2. Real or simulated mastrubation there are so many endless ideas that could be considered kink/avante garde/fetish/erotica.
That being said, if everyone's happy, dammit have fun!!!! But girls please play it all the way though in your minds. Dont let cash sway you from your hard line. You could always shoot again and do it and make the money.
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