Nude session

[mikeboy]

Hello, I am a long time reader of DPS, great job guys, really good tips and pointers.

I am scheduled to have a nude session with a model in about 3 days, we are going to work on b/w high contrast pictures. We have several lighting changes during the whole thing:
1- Black background, 2 lights pointed from the back.
This should give a nice white outline of her body, without showing much detail
2- white background, 2 lights aimed at the BG
This will show only her silhouette in black. Sort of like a Bond girl :p
3- light from behind and 1 light from front (soft)
Showing some very light detail of her next to the white outline.

Now that I have that set, I was hoping you guys could give me some tips regarding the taking of the pictures. I am not experienced in photographing people (specially not nude models), and if I manage to concentrate on the pictures (that will be hard, the model is gorgeous :rolleyes: ) I want them to be good.

I will be the only one there with a Digital Camera, I have a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50 10.1MP camera. I have been told that doing this with an analog camera would be the best, but, I don't have am old SLR camera I could use, so I have to optimize my digital.

What would you recommend?

[Gunsotsu]

and if I manage to concentrate on the pictures (that will be hard, the model is gorgeous :rolleyes: )

That right there brings me to the only advice I can give you, don't even attempt this endeavor. The first rule of good nude photography is to be detached from the subject. If you are sexually arroused, then you run the danger of ruining what you were attempting to achieve.

Find a photographer in your area that has been at it a while and ask to apprentice with him/her. Learn all you can under their tutelage, take some shots under there care, and then embark on it.

Nude photography is the single most difficult style of photography there is in my opinion. It is beautiful if done correctly, and and eyesore when not. If you do choose to go forward, good luck. I highly recommend you pick up a copy of Lighting For Nude Photography (http://www.amazon.com/Lighting-Nude-Photography-Rod-Ashford/dp/2880465710/sr=8-2/qid=1168881476/ref=sr_1_2/104-5934502-5017554?ie=UTF8&s=books) and study it religiously.

[mikeboy]

I was making a joke there about the model... Of course I can control my hormones and detach myself from any sexual attraction to her.

do you have some examples that I could look at?

edit: I'm googling some examples, I still would like to see what you guys can find

[Nicole]

do you have some examples that I could look at?

edit: I'm googling some examples, I still would like to see what you guys can find

Hi guys, let's make sure to keep this a family friendly forum :) Talking about the subject tastefully is fine, but for this topic let's keep the photos out of the forum (just trying to preempt any problems). Thanks!

[mikeboy]

I mean art nudity, and no, do not uplaod the pics on to the forum, just link to them... or pm me with the link if you consider it convenient

[henryscat]

I wouldn't mind seeing the results either. There is a big difference between porn and art and this sounds very much like the latter.
Not something I have ever attempted either so good luck to you.
Is this a personal project or a paying job?
If it's a favour then there is no reason not to go ahead with it.
For more examples try looking at http://www.deviantart.com/

[Darren Rowse]

Hi all.

I had a feeling the nude photography thing would arise sooner or later (and so it should as it's a legit part of photography).

I've had a few emails and PM's from people expressing opinions on the topic so far (they are wide and varied) and I don't really want us to make a big thing of it.

As we do have a number of kids using this forum I would like to keep pictures out of it but am more than happy for discussion to happen.

DPS is an all age forum and has people from a large variety of ethnic, religious, family and ethical backgrounds and I'd love for it to be a place that everyone could feel comfortable and at home.

There has been a suggestion that we start up a private section of the forum for this sort of discussion where the sharing of tasteful and artistic photos could be shared between adults. IF we were to set this up it would be heavily moderated (ie I don't want it to become a place for the sharing of porn) and we'd need to find a way to limit it to adults. It would need a pretty switched on mod to do it too.

I'm giving it some thought and would be open to suggestions from anyone who would like to give them.

In the mean time - if we can keep pictures depicting nudity out of these forums I'd appreciate it while we come up with a better solution.

thanks for your patience on this.

[mikeboy]

Ok, so to be clear, no posting the pics here on the forum. What about a link to the image with a "discression advised - under 16 should not view" label?

example:
Session 1 - Discression Advised, partial nudity (http://digital-photography-school.com/forum/showthread.php?t=545)

[Nicole]

Ok, so to be clear, no posting the pics here on the forum. What about a link to the image with a "discression advised - under 16 should not view" label?

example:
Session 1 - Discression Advised, partial nudity (http://digital-photography-school.com/forum/showthread.php?t=545)

I've asked for the official word on this, so watch for that answer soon :) Thanks for your cooperation with all this.

[Darren Rowse]

We're going to start a private area of these forums for adults only for this type of discussion.

It will be an area that will only be accessible to those given access by it's moderator/admin (at their discretion).

It'll be an area where you're welcome to post images and links to images - as long as they are tasteful/artistic in nature rather than porn.

I know this is a fine line for some and a touchy issue for some - but as this sort of discussion is going to happen somewhere on these forums I'd like to keep it contained to one area where it can be monitored and where there can be some safeguards.

NaturesPixel will set this up tomorrow. If you want to have access to it simply PM her and we'll go from there.

PS: This will be a trial to see how it goes. Lets try it for a month, maybe two and then make a call on how well it's working and whether we'll continue it.

thanks all for your patience on this.

[mikeboy]

Sounds like a good idea.

Ill wait for it to be ready

[NaturesPixel]

Ok i have set this up.. if you are over 18 and would like to join this group please PM me thank you