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Tips for starting Nude Shoots
Hello Everyone  Im new an about to start Nude/Pin Ups ext an I was wondering what some tips/ advice would be for helping the models feel more comfortable as well as to get the best shot outta the shoots what should i do/not do ext. Any an ALL advice is GREATLY appreciated. Thank you in advance ^_^May 28 14 12:54 pm Link Newmans Vision wrote: Just act as if they are completely dressed. Stay professional. May 28 14 01:00 pm Link Start by shooting them with clothes on. They have to feel comfortable. May 28 14 01:16 pm Link Some ideas, in no particular order -- pick the suggestions you like: ... Partner with an experienced & successful local photographer & share a model (taking turns). Let your photographer friend go first, and watch what he does. ... Start with an experienced model, and go ahead & let her know that you are a newbie with regards to nude photography. (And yes, that probably means paying her). ... Don't blow smoke up the model's ass. Don't over-complement their looks, but do give them feedback, as in "I like how the light works with that pose...". Don't say things like "nice tits". ... Never, never, N-E-V-E-R touch the models -- they have cooties. In fact, I announce when I'm going to get up and enter their posing area. ... Be enthusiastic, and be friendly, but you are not there to forge new friendships. Once the session is over, thank the model & let her go about with her life. ... Make sure the studio space is warm & private. Turn off your cell phone. ... For your first session, it might be a good idea to be organized. Indeed, pick a couple of pictures that you want to try to recreate. Set up the lighting, have to props ready, know what you are going to try to photograph. I think a common mistake many newbie nude photographers make is that they don't think past getting a model nude in front of their camera. Okay, she's nude & ready -- what do you do next? ... "Organized" also means being time organized -- if I have 3-4 setups in mind to try, I make sure that we get to them, and I never (okay, very rarely) go over the time allotted for each session). I make it a point to get the model out of the session on time. ... Before you make your first exposure, make sure you've gotten a signed model release and a scan of the model's ID and any 2257 paperwork you want to do. ... Background music can cover awkward poses, and sometimes, I need an awkward pose to solve a technical problem -- most models accept this; they don't need to be entertained constantly. ... My personal style: I start each setup by handling all the technical details upfront -- lighting, props, color balance, exposure, etc. Then, I turn my attention to the model (and away from the camera -- I use a tripod) to make the magic. ... Don't ask the model overly personal questions. ... Keep the session moving forward. ... While it is nice when a model likes the images we make together, I don't much care if she doesn't. Good luck. May 28 14 01:29 pm Link First, be comfortable shooting clothed models with minimal or no props, against a wall or backdrop paper. The subject is only the model, the body form, expression, the light, and the overall composition. If on outdoors, use the similar concept. Get a model with experience doing nudes – you do not want 2 inexperienced on the subject on the first time. Expect to pay for the model. May 28 14 01:39 pm Link warm studio? May 28 14 01:40 pm Link Work with a model who has training in dance, yoga, gymnastics, pilates, or similar. They have a much better idea of how to hold themselves and it makes things a lot easier May 28 14 03:35 pm Link There are some good tips here, I will reinforce some: Start with an experienced model, they can bring a lot to the table in terms of poses, and have a better sense of what works and what doesn't. Plus they are used to the situation and have probably worked with other first timers. Keep the area warm/comfortable. Keep a respectful distance, again let them know if you need to approach to adjust lighting or whatever. Keep comments to the level of lighting or pose only. May 28 14 03:45 pm Link I'm in general agreement with what others have said. If you have never shot a nude before, I TOTALLY agree about hiring an experienced model. Do it yourself or share the the cost with another photographer who also has experience in shooting nudes. Best way to start. Well worth the cost. You'll learn a lot and leave with some great shots. May 28 14 06:16 pm Link Got to have a product. Where are your nudes? What they said. Shoot models with their cloths on. Head Shots, Body Shots. Just the basic are needed. IF you build it, they will come. May 28 14 06:21 pm Link These are perfect!!!! thanks you alll SOOO MUCH ^_^ May 28 14 06:30 pm Link Newmans Vision wrote: Step 1: Shoot models comfortable nude. May 28 14 06:37 pm Link Treat the model as you would want to be treated if you were modeling nude. May 28 14 06:43 pm Link if you want to do nudes, make sure you hire a model who wants to get nude. trying to talk a non-nude model into it borders on the sketchy and can lead to remorse on the part of the model ("please take down the images because my boyfriend got mad"). have a way to adjust the temperature in your studio. i've had models that ran hot and ones that ran cold. putting them on a cold concrete floor in the garage isn't the nicest thing you can do to someone (albeit common). May 28 14 06:47 pm Link ontherocks wrote: I throw them in a 40 degree pond... May 28 14 07:00 pm Link The first time I shot a model in the nude, I was more nervous than she was. Most of the girls I shot were more comfortable than you would think. Always remember to be PROFESSIONAL. If you get out of line with them, word will get out fast. Sometimes you will have a model that is nervous about taking photos in the nude and she gets reluctant. If she is reluctant, do not push or order her around. For me, the one thing that I find that works well for me and the model, if she is nervous about shooting nudes, is how I break the ice. With someone who is extremely nervous, I ask them one question. That question is this, " Would you like to go ahead and do the hardest thing I am going to ask you to do today"? When they say yes, I step away from my camera and go sit down in a chair or on the tailgate of my truck. I then ask the model to step in front of me, usually about 10-15 feet away from me. I then ask them to throw the shirt, bra, pants, and if they have any on, their panties to me one at a time. Between each item they throw, I ask them to turn around in front of me with their hands by their side. Once the last article of clothing has been tossed to me I ask them to turn twice. After that I ask them this question. "Is there anything else you can show me that I have not already seen". Once they say "No", I ask them "can we now go to work". Usually within a minute or two, they are relaxed and are actually having a good time. Sometimes they get caught up in the moment and start acting goofy in a fun way, like running across the field holding up their clothes like they are free. Laugh with them and have a good time, but be PROFESSIONAL. May 28 14 07:37 pm Link Sean Scarmack wrote: If he wants to shoot the whole striptease thing or it makes him feel more comfortable then sure, go ahead, but if a model needs to be eased into shooting nudes in order to feel comfortable, then I wouldn't shoot them nude in the first place because they obviously aren't completely comfortable with being nude on camera. Plus, if you spend a bunch of time shooting in clothes and underwear you're most likely going to have to photoshop out the lines they leave behind once you do get the model naked. May 28 14 07:56 pm Link Lots of good advice above. Relax, and remember it is all about the image. I always found honesty to work well. If you are shooting a genre new to you, tell the model, make them into your collaborator. NEVER surprise a model. Tell them what you are doing. As an example, if you need to adjust a light behind the model, tell them before you go charging towards them. Never ask a model to shoot anything they are uncomfortable shooting. Have fun! May 28 14 08:15 pm Link Newmans Vision wrote: Treat them as people & as professionals. May 28 14 08:53 pm Link Newmans Vision wrote: be courteous. don't stare. offer milk and cookies lol. May 28 14 08:54 pm Link Few things....(some were already said) Communicate, communicate communicate. Before the shoot (try to met up beforehand over a coffee and lay out the concept, expectation and get the models input (art nude models are generally experienced and can add a valuable inspirational element to your shoot Never touch. That's pretty standard. Buy a decent pair of slippers and a warm housecoat. some model will show up with a light and lacy drape and get cold quickly; especially the typical size 0 or 2 models. Its a nice gesture and they will appreciate it. Keep a respectful distance from your model and let her know if you are moving in for a closer shot. Most of my models have said they like to know when the big, fully dressed guy, is lumbering toward them while they have no clothes on. Keep proper decorum; even if the model seems overly comfortable. I have one model that I had to repeatedly remind that she has a change room for undressing and I do not appreciate the inadvertent strip tease in the studio. Always have that robe at the ready for when you take a break or want to show the model the some of the shots from the set. Some won't mind standing there in the buff while you two chimp away at the shots but it can be taken as sign of disrespect. NEVER NEVER NEVER offer to make the model feel comfortable by getting naked yourself ;-) them don't like dat very much ;-) May 28 14 09:29 pm Link Get an experienced model to start - a newbie model and a newbie at nudes is a recipe for the blind leading the blind. Have a plan - make notes to follow - "This - then this - and then shots with ___ prop" It's ok to be a bit nervous at first - but, just keep moving - be professional - and follow the plan. I tell this story a lot - so anybody reading that is not the OP - you can skip ahead.  When I was in HS our theater had only ONE dressing room - we were lined up and given "the Speech" "We only have one dressing room - I expect you to be professional - you have a job to do and that is the show. We change in front of each other because the time pressure of the show demands it Nudity is no big deal Unless somebody makes it INTO a Big Deal. You will find that if you don't make a big deal about it - and nobody else does either - it's never going to be a problem. And if any of you act unprofessionally - I will personally skin you, in front of everyone" And you know - she was right. After a few moments of "WTF?" - it was actually no big deal and everybody got on with what needed to get done. Nudity was never an issue - because we never made a "big deal" about it. The same goes for a newbie nude shooter - get somebody to model that treats it as no big deal and their personal comfort and confidence will help greatly - and you'll remember that it is just a shoot and it is no big deal - and you have a plan and here's how the lights need to be set and "could you hold your hand back a bit and step to the right slightly" And, you are off and running And then you come here and post pictures May 28 14 09:39 pm Link Keith Allen Phillips wrote: Sometimes easing into it helps the first time. I've done shoots before where the girl wasn't 100% sure if she wanted to do topless shots going into the shoot or not. We started out fully clothed, had her work down to lingerie, then, when the time came, she took off the bra and was totally fine with it all because she felt comfortable and was having fun. If she'd had to take it off from the word go I don't think she would have been as comfortable with it, but she loved the photos and one of the topless shots remains one of her favorite images from the day. May 28 14 11:19 pm Link I always build rapport first. Take 5 or 10 minutes to get to know the person (not creepy stalker stuff), crack some jokes (appropriate jokes), and just be easy going and keep the mood light. At the end of the day, I think most people are pretty good at judging intentions. Don't give off a creepy vibe and you'll be fine HAHA. May 28 14 11:41 pm Link Viator Defessus Photos wrote: Just no. I mean, you're welcome to do it that way of course, but I'm just not shooting anyone that isn't 100% sure they want to do nudes. That's a recipe for problems down the line when their daddy/husband/new boyfriend sees the photos and flips out so she calls begging for you to take them down. It's just not worth the potential hassle if you could work with someone who has no issues at all with nudity to begin with. May 29 14 12:33 am Link "Start out clothed, then work your way to nudes". Ahhhhh, striptease. More brilliant male ideas. Here are two points of order: To get a halfway intelligent response you really should post your question in the 'correct' forum, that would be the modeling forum NOT the male dominated male forum called 'photography'. Yet ok, here is one first answer to your question...see that the model is wearing shoes. Great psychological statement backed up by many, much research and investigations, "You believe you are clothed when you are wearing your shoes." This is in fact one of the great truths in our civilized society. See, and you did not even need to go ask the girls! May 29 14 02:44 am Link The best thing to do is to spend some time talking to the model, preferably before the day of the shoot. Discuss (with visual examples) the kind of nudes each of you like. If you already have your own portfolio, its a matter of finding out if she likes your work. If she wants to bring someone with her, position them where they can't make eye contact or be a visual distraction to you or the model. She should have a robe or other cover up for breaks. Do warm up with some clothed or covered poses. For example, you could have her wear a long shirt or sweater with nothing under it, or be wrapped in a piece of lace. But don't drag it out, because you've discussed all details ahead of time, you both know what you're shooting. Also, she doesn't have to be facing you when she does her first nude poses (or ever for that matter.) Have visual examples of the poses you discussed prior to booking; use these as reference. Props or furniture can help an inexperienced model get into creative poses. A favorite of mine is to ask them to bring a musical instrument. If they are an athlete you can ask them to draw on that experience to improvise poses (example: yoga poses) Keep the shoot moving. Don't stop shooting if you see a pose you don't like; shoot it and move onto the next. Take breaks to drink water, discuss what you want to shoot next. May 29 14 05:30 am Link Keith Allen Phillips wrote: Well, in that case she was a friend, the photos were more for her anyways and they weren't destined to go online period. Otherwise I agree with you. May 31 14 03:14 am Link Newmans Vision wrote: To get the best shots out of the shoots, you're going to need to know how to photograph people nude. Lighting, posing, setting, type of nudes you want to shoot, concept for the shoot, tons of stuff to know and do before the shoot, to make the shoot a success for all involved. May 31 14 05:17 am Link Christopher Hartman wrote: +1,000,000 May 31 14 05:55 am Link John Rougeou wrote: This doesn't work for me at all. I'm not a stripper, I am a model. It sounds like a fantasy of yours and has very little to do with photography. May 31 14 07:17 am Link May 31 14 07:34 am Link You can learn a lot from this guy's youtube videos: http://smokingstrobes.com/# - he comes over as a bit of a perv but I think that's more cultural / foreign language issues than anything else. Some decent stuff here. My personal tips would be: 1. Agree up front what you want to shoot - then stick to it. Don't tell the model you want tasteful artistic nudes if you want to shoot her cervix. You can find models on here for almost all types of shoot - book one appropriate for the content you want to shoot. Dont try to sneak crotch shots - it's crass and will foul up the rest of the shoot if you're caught. 2. Dont treat it like a strip show. I tend to get the model posing naked as soon as possible in the shoot "to test lights". Really it's to stop a big emotional build up for "the big thing" when they disrobe. 3. Dont get your perv on. 4. Compliment the models enough to boost their confidence but not so much it looks like you're hitting on them. If you're going to compliment then make it specific and on topic. "I love the way that pose emphasises your xxxxxx" is ok. "wow! you look great nekkid" is not ok. 5. Dont shoot the model unless she is officially posing for you. Shots "behind the scenes" should be agreed upfront. My number one piece of advice would be sometime early in your nude model shooting experience book a first class very experienced nude model - pay her. Tell her it's an early shoot for you and that you'd appreciate help / guidance then watch and listen very very closely. I learned more from my first couple of shoots this way than I did from many many more hours of internet surfing / book reading. May 31 14 07:42 am Link John Rougeou wrote: Sorry - this is the plot of "I was young and needed the money vol. 3 from Vivid Video" I particularly like the double anal scene which come next... May 31 14 07:44 am Link Virtual Studio wrote: LOL,,,, 10000000xLOL May 31 14 07:47 am Link I'm lucky that I am 0ver 40 so there isn't much I have not already seen so there is never a moment of noticing anything other than a model being there. Experienced nude models will show up not wearing a bra or likely panties. They know that bra and panty lines are rather difficult to edit. Most of them bring a robe to slip into during breaks, some just like being naked. Either way their nudity is their wardrobe. Build trust with them by letting them know when more is showing than is wanted....it happens. I shoot a lot of outdoor nudes now so it takes someone with courage and experience. They show up, strip down and we shoot. I do start with longer shots till i sense they are comfortable before switching to a 50mm lens. If you are paying attention to your composition and light and making camera adjustments as you go, you won't feel different than any other shoot. May 31 14 07:59 am Link -JAY- wrote: +1 Jun 01 14 09:55 am Link J Jessica wrote: Of course. You're from Florida! Jun 01 14 10:11 am Link Isis22 wrote: The models that I work with just take their clothes off. Jun 01 14 10:13 am Link Noah Russell wrote: No!! Jun 01 14 10:14 am Link |
