Photographer
Oscar Partida
Posts: 732
Palm Springs, California, US
i think you should mind your own Bizz....i dont care for nudity photos either but who am i to say it's wrong....some may be tacky and voyeuristic .some are cool...at the end of the day who cares if models want to show their Lady Parts ..lol
Photographer
MC Film
Posts: 1761
New York, New York, US
Matthew Braney wrote:
I am a photographer and I currently don't do nudes because I feel there is a fine line between sensual and sexual. You can make a photo appealing without the girl being naked. There's a photographers meetup group where I live and all their shoots are just paying models to get naked, which I don't 100% agree with considering most of their shoots look more like porn. I understand there are a lot of models and photographers that do nudes but I honestly question a lot of their composition or their artistic integrity.
Does anyone agree? This might backfire on me but I'm willing to take the hit
Maybe it just boils down to preference What's wrong with porn?
Photographer
WIP
Posts: 15973
Cheltenham, England, United Kingdom
Photographer
RHF Studios Limited
Posts: 30
Temple, Texas, US
Charger Photography wrote:
Just shoot what you like... and let others shoot what we like..
 Agreed
Photographer
Art of the nude
Posts: 12067
Grand Rapids, Michigan, US
Matthew Braney wrote:
I am a photographer and I currently don't do nudes because I feel there is a fine line between sensual and sexual. You can make a photo appealing without the girl being naked. There's a photographers meetup group where I live and all their shoots are just paying models to get naked, which I don't 100% agree with considering most of their shoots look more like porn. I understand there are a lot of models and photographers that do nudes but I honestly question a lot of their composition or their artistic integrity.
Does anyone agree? This might backfire on me but I'm willing to take the hit
Maybe it just boils down to preference In general, nudity is necessary if it fits your goals. Nudity isn't necessary to sexiness, and nudity doesn't inherently mean sexiness. If you look at my port, you'll find essentially no clothing, and pretty much no attempt at "sexy."
As far as the photo group, it seems like a poor fit for you. If you'd like to start a project where you pay models to pose fully clothed, I'm sure you won't have any problem finding candidates.
Photographer
Jhono Bashian
Posts: 2464
Cleveland, Ohio, US
Matthew Braney wrote:
Wow thanks for taking my analogy out of context lol Well this is MM and one man's opinion will spark 1000 more opinions and you will see them all. What were you expecting? "Hardcore Porn?"
Photographer
Art of the nude
Posts: 12067
Grand Rapids, Michigan, US
Jacob Davis wrote:
I wouldn't put that question to anyone else's work; to each their own. My sense is that, while some degree of nudity is needed for my own work, full-on nudity (visible genitalia and nipples) affects the narrative I wish to create and distracts from my goal.
Then again, I'm rarely going for "sexy."
But, in general, yes, sexy and sensual can be done without full or implied nudity. It's a matter of what kind of sexy/sensual you're trying to achieve. Didn't look at your work, but I often see cases where NOT showing "genitalia (or, more accurately, labia) and nipples" CREATES the sexuality. It is precisely the conspicuous mystery that sexualizes the image.
This is my shot, it is fully nude, and it isn't the least bit sexual, in spite of her beauty (18+, obviously).
https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/p … 6#28395016
Photographer
Darren Sermon
Posts: 1139
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Matthew Braney wrote:
yeah well I have seen nudes that have lots of artistic integrity, just hard to find them... most are cliche A good reason to just keep doing what is right for you : )
Photographer
David Sheldrick
Posts: 719
London, England, United Kingdom
Ive never taken a photo of a woman naked, or fully revealed. I think obscuring makes the imagination go crazy. Thats what its all about 
Photographer
Jerry Nemeth
Posts: 33355
Dearborn, Michigan, US
I'm going to be in the OP's area next week taking photos of nude women!
Photographer
Hero Foto
Posts: 989
Phoenix, Arizona, US
Matthew Braney wrote:
... I honestly question a lot of their composition or their artistic integrity ... AGREED ... 100% ...
Photographer
Kevin Stenhouse
Posts: 2660
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Matthew Braney wrote:
... I honestly question a lot of their composition or their artistic integrity ... Hero Foto wrote:
AGREED ... 100% ... Welcome, nice to see new posters. It's good to question things. So here's a few more.
Why is this more of concern than the equal amount of imagery of non-nude subjects that also lack composition and artistic integrity?
I'll think you'll find that many people have a personal bias that says it's okay to take a crappy photo of girl in clothes, BUT if she's nude all of a sudden it's an issue. Same people will think a bunch of amateurs meeting up to photograph birds is fine but nudes, that's creepy.
For those judging it as creepy while the photographers don't.. wonder which side is truly having inappropriate thought?
Some will argue don't shoot nudes until you are good at photography etc. Things is to get good at shooting nudes, you have to shoot nudes. Same with trees, weddings, ducks, cars, whatever. So again who has the misplaced judgement about the situation?
And let me paraphrase someone I admire
I look to a day when photographers will not be judged by the amount of skin in their photographs, but by the content and the character of their work.
Shoot what you love, don't judge others for doing the same.
Photographer
Dan OMell
Posts: 1415
Charlotte, North Carolina, US
nudity is really a must. after all, you cannot pee in your trunks, or take a bath in your clothes. you can see it in the church's mural paintings and read in Bible's The Song of Songs (Canticle of Canticles). cats neither watch porn, nor enjoy tasteful artistic nudes, but have a lot of sex all the time and are always naked. weird, yeah? some people have a problem having a bigger brain and don't know what to do with their hyper asexuality or hyper sexuality. its all in your brain! look, some people find even the following image to be very pornographic: ![https://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q205/fins13mp/writing-a-check.jpg]()
Photographer
PhotographybyT
Posts: 7947
Monterey, California, US
Dan OMell wrote:
nudity is really a must. after all, you cannot pee in your trunks, or take a bath in your clothes. I beg to differ!
But seriously, OP, worry about your own craft and less about what other people shoot.
Photographer
Bottom Feeder Images
Posts: 668
Portland, Oregon, US
whats wrong with sexuality? Why does having an image that is full of sexual tension disqualify it from being considered art? And by that standard you know you disqualify some of the major works of art, from all mediums. there are many many examples of art that is and was intended to be sexual in nature.
The Surrealist movement was overly obsessed with the unconscious libido, many of its followers thought that was the true underlying driver of all human behavior.
I shoot lots of nudes and as far as my nude work I would be disappointed if someone looking at my work didn't find in it sexual on some level.
If nekkidness isnt for you fine but your judgment that a photograph cant be par excellence because a girl is showing her boobies is well, just ignorant.
Model
Dea and the Beast
Posts: 4796
Saint Petersburg, Florida, US
Nudity is mostly necessary in architecture: ![https://static.photaki.com/akt-skulptur-vor-sevilla_28984.jpg]() the fine arts, ![https://www.bodyartschool.com/uploads/pics/KuGa_Akt1750x500_01.jpg]() science sport (why, the very word gym comes from the Greek gymnasium and means 'place to be naked' ) ![https://www.utexas.edu/courses/introtogreece/cc301/Discobolos.jpg]() medicine (if your doctor has never seen anyone naked before, I'd recommend you get a second opinion) teachings thereof, personal hygene, procreation, and overall frolicking. See, plenty of necessity. I cannot imagine the chalice my soul lives in for (I hope at least) 80 years to be something disgusting or shameful that needs to be hidden. Perhaps we wouldn't have so much need (not want, I am talking need-you know who you are ) for porn if the human body wasn't such a negative and forbidden thing. When did we all become 'dirty'?
Photographer
LLOYD WRIGHT
Posts: 664
Newcastle upon Tyne, England, United Kingdom
Matthew Braney wrote:
I am a photographer and I currently don't do nudes because I feel there is a fine line between sensual and sexual. You can make a photo appealing without the girl being naked. There's a photographers meetup group where I live and all their shoots are just paying models to get naked, which I don't 100% agree with considering most of their shoots look more like porn. I understand there are a lot of models and photographers that do nudes but I honestly question a lot of their composition or their artistic integrity.
Does anyone agree? This might backfire on me but I'm willing to take the hit
Maybe it just boils down to preference i wouldn't expect everyone the like my work...like i wouldn't expect everyone to like your work...just the way of life...nothing more!
ps i have a music folder full of famous bands and musicians [everyone clothed] but nobody seems to like that!
Photographer
Light and Lens Studio
Posts: 3450
Sisters, Oregon, US
Charger Photography wrote:
Just shoot what you like... and let others shoot what we like..
+1
@OP: Why is it any of your concern what other people do. Each of us has his/her own interpretation of what is tasteful and what is distasteful, though there are societal values that do generally set some limits on what's OK and what's not OK. Those values are constantly being challenged.
Nobody is forcing you to look at anything that you consider distasteful. 'Nuff said.
Photographer
Eros Studios
Posts: 690
Boston, Massachusetts, US
Matthew Braney wrote:
Maybe it just boils down to preference Ding, Ding, We Have A Winner!
Photographer
Art Silva
Posts: 10064
Santa Barbara, California, US
People just shoot what inspires them and what they know, Period!
Photographer
MKPhoto
Posts: 5665
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Photographer
Dan D Lyons Imagery
Posts: 3447
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Dan OMell wrote:
nudity is really a must. after all, you cannot pee in your trunks, or take a bath in your clothes.
you can see it in the church's mural paintings and read in Bible's The Song of Songs (Canticle of Canticles).
cats neither watch porn, nor enjoy tasteful artistic nudes, but have a lot of sex all the time and are always naked. weird, yeah?
some people have a problem having a bigger brain and don't know what to do with their hyper asexuality or hyper sexuality. its all in your brain!
look, some people find even the following image to be very pornographic:
![https://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q205/fins13mp/writing-a-check.jpg]() Hahahaaa! Yeah, I do myself. I usually only write cheques to pay bills. I'm usually getting fucked by those invoicing me!!! Lmao!!!!!
Photographer
B R U N E S C I
Posts: 25319
Bath, England, United Kingdom
Sex sells. If you can incorporate nudity into your work in a way that the majority of your clients and their potential customers will find acceptable and/or 'artistic' then you are ahead of the guy who can't. Just my $0.02 Ciao Stefano www.stefanobrunesci.com
Photographer
MKPhoto
Posts: 5665
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Photographer
MKPhoto
Posts: 5665
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Light and Lens Studio wrote:
ROTFLMAO Fucking 327 pages of it!
Photographer
Hero Foto
Posts: 989
Phoenix, Arizona, US
Kevin Stenhouse wrote:
Why is this more of concern than the equal amount of imagery of non-nude subjects that also lack composition and artistic integrity? I should have added:
I question their initial motives ... a LOT of the shoots around here are marketed as one thing and are the exact opposite of what was/is advertised of the shoot (sets, wardrobe, poses, location; etc..) ...
Photographer
n23
Posts: 18
Chiang Mai, Northern, Thailand
Matthew Braney wrote:
I am a photographer and I currently don't do nudes because I feel there is a fine line between sensual and sexual. You can make a photo appealing without the girl being naked. There's a photographers meetup group where I live and all their shoots are just paying llamas to get naked, which I don't 100% agree with considering most of their shoots look more like porn. I understand there are a lot of llamas and photographers that do nudes but I honestly question a lot of their composition or their artistic integrity.
Does anyone agree? This might backfire on me but I'm willing to take the hit
Maybe it just boils down to preference Totally agree, I think there's too many people doing nudes just for the sake of it and a lot of these images veer very close to porn. Also it seems to be used as a cheap way of getting noticed.
I will admit though there are some photographers on MM who do tasteful nudes with artistic integrity.
I've never done a nude shoot because I've never had a good reason to do one.
Photographer
BlueCheckMafia
Posts: 76
White Plains, New York, US
Charger Photography wrote:
Just shoot what you like... and let others shoot what we like..
++1
Photographer
Art of the nude
Posts: 12067
Grand Rapids, Michigan, US
Hero Foto wrote:
I should have added:
I question their initial motives ... a LOT of the shoots around here are marketed as one thing and are the exact opposite of what was/is advertised of the shoot (sets, wardrobe, poses, location; etc..) ... Why not focus on your own motives and goals?
Personally, my shoots are "marketed" as exactly what I intend them to be. It's not very tough to tell from my port what I aim to do.
Photographer
grahamsz
Posts: 1039
Boulder, Colorado, US
Matthew Braney wrote:
I am a photographer and I currently don't do nudes because I feel there is a fine line between sensual and sexual. You can make a photo appealing without the girl being naked. There's a photographers meetup group where I live and all their shoots are just paying models to get naked, which I don't 100% agree with considering most of their shoots look more like porn. I understand there are a lot of models and photographers that do nudes but I honestly question a lot of their composition or their artistic integrity.
Does anyone agree? This might backfire on me but I'm willing to take the hit
Maybe it just boils down to preference I think that's a function of who you are shooting with. I went to a group like that for a while and the whole thing just struck me as distasteful. The images that came out of it were fairly tacky and few of the photographers seemed particularly interested in learning and more interested in how skimpy her lingerie was.
I ended up doing one nude shoot. It was mostly the model's idea, but it seemed like a good setting to try something like that. The end result was great and I think it was a worthwhile first nude shot. I'm sure I'll do more but for the style of things I like to shoot, I don't think I need naked girls
Model
Jen B
Posts: 4474
Phoenix, Arizona, US
Jacob Davis wrote:
I wouldn't put that question to anyone else's work; to each their own. My sense is that, while some degree of nudity is needed for my own work, full-on nudity (visible genitalia and nipples) affects the narrative I wish to create and distracts from my goal.
Then again, I'm rarely going for "sexy."
... I agree here, ...with this June reply.
Jen
p.s. edit, now that I've read the thread I agree with lots of posters here but want to add that maybe you are considering it since you are doing so much pondering about nudes... in hindsight I sure was a few months ago and wouldn't you know it, now I am.
Model
Jen B
Posts: 4474
Phoenix, Arizona, US
Jerry Nemeth wrote:
I'm going to be in the OP's area next week taking photos of nude women! Ha, ha, ha.
Model
S. Stark
Posts: 13614
Los Angeles, California, US
Matthew Braney wrote:
I am a photographer and I currently don't do nudes because I feel there is a fine line between sensual and sexual. You can make a photo appealing without the girl being naked. There's a photographers meetup group where I live and all their shoots are just paying models to get naked, which I don't 100% agree with considering most of their shoots look more like porn. I understand there are a lot of models and photographers that do nudes but I honestly question a lot of their composition or their artistic integrity.
Does anyone agree? This might backfire on me but I'm willing to take the hit
Maybe it just boils down to preference Not everyone shoots for the same reason. Likely, the meetup group where you live is comprised of people who have more or less pervy intentions, and they want to shoot images that resemble pornography.
That does not mean that A) you need to shoot nudes that resemble pornography B) you need to shoot nudes at all C) there aren't perfectly lovely nudes out there with less questionable artistic merit
Photographer
Matty272
Posts: 229
Dunfermline, Scotland, United Kingdom
I don't shoot nudes either. Not through any kind of moral thing or judgement of artistry in local community. Simply because I'm skint and models take one look at my portfolio and don't wish to trade  Oh well, shit happens 
Photographer
Ev Murkov
Posts: 28
New York, New York, US
Necessary...No, Relevant....yes! Walk around any museum for just a few minutes and you'll quickly realize it's been an integral part of the art world dating back to some of the first paintings known to man. It's in our being, it's beautiful, and we'll always be attracted to it. I think a more interesting question would be...is it being using "with good taste" in the fashion photography world? To that I might agree that it seems to be over-used for its shock value, which to me, cheapens a shoot. If it adds beauty I'm for it. If it seems like you threw a boob in front of my face to make me pick up a magazine it's just smart sex-based marketing but I would have to argue against it's artistic value for the most part. Doing something to make money vs creating something to look beautiful are 2 different species and rarely mix well today. Just my 2 cents.
Photographer
BTHPhoto
Posts: 6985
Fairbanks, Alaska, US
Your prudishness is your problem, not anyone else's. Keep it to yourself.
Photographer
ShutterSpeedPhotography
Posts: 186
Tempe, Arizona, US
People are still talking about this? I originally posted the very broad question because a lot of photographers on MM take nude photos. While personally I don't prefer it as something in my portfolio I do like work people have done depending on the style of the photographer/model
Model
Dane Halo
Posts: 1154
San Francisco, California, US
Kenzphotos 2 wrote:
Yes, I agree.
The OP could possibly just move to the Middle East. He already lives in the desert, so the heat would be no problem for him. There are no nude photo shoots there. He might possibly enjoy taking photographs of local Arabic models wearing burkas (
|
) for porn if the human body wasn't such a negative and forbidden thing. When did we all become 'dirty'?
