YOUR first nude shoot

[briancmo]

SO I've been shooting now for about 2 years and want to try my hand at some nude artsy photos (yes, maybe I'll just use contrasty lighting, convert to black and white and submit them to some art gallery).

I'm wondering how you approached getting your first model to do this kind of work? I'm not shy, but it seems like a bit of a hard thing to ask "Hey friend, or person I barely know, wanna strip to the buff or close to it and let me snap away? What? No no, I stopped running that porn site years ago, I swear!"

:) suggestions are appreciated.

[Ken Robertson]

They have to want to do it for a start. Send them some shots that align with your ideas and let them make the suggestion - then you know where the rough boundaries are.

Good luck

[briancmo]

But where do you find these people? DO you use modelmayhem and just show a portfolio and say 'here's an idea I'd love to try"?

[Ken Robertson]

But where do you find these people? DO you use modelmayhem and just show a portfolio and say 'here's an idea I'd love to try"?

MM is a start. Send a selection of styles and they can choose

[GRODY]

if you get on MM alot of girls are more than willing to pose nude for their own expierence and for some portfolio pieces. Just keep it professional and try not to freak out when you have a pair of nipples staring at you..

my first nude shoot was with Bang Bros.. so i got it easy..

[aram535]

One note on MM and really more for Craigslist. There has been a lot of crime lately with people getting invited to a session and them showing up with 4 other people. Which could be kind of scary if you didn't know about it and if you're alone. Make sure if you are going to go through it only with with people with a lot of feedback and make sure you bring up the subject of others coming along.

[woodsters]

I've been on MM for about 6 months and really only have any active stuff with it the last 4, but there are some girls on there that are willing to do some nude shooting. Of course they want it tastefully done. And then there are some that give an attitude of they don't care what it is. I would try to find someone on there who is an exotic dancer. The ones on MM that I've talked with have no trouble doing nude.

Then you could also fork out the money that some of the girls want that I refuse to even talk about..

[Mark_Cohran]

In general, if you have a concept you can pitch to the model and can describe or show examples of what you plan to shoot, then you'll have a much easier time of finding a model willing to shoot nudes with you. For example, bodyscapes are an idea you can pitch. You can describe what is meant by the term, show some examples from books or art magazines, and then propose the idea to the prospective model. That will get you started. As you develop your portfolio with your own examples of nude work, you'll find it easier to get models. Sometimes it's worth it to pay a reasonable modeling fee to build your portfolio - especially with experienced models who can show you the ropes and provide you with some good poses.

[charlesu]

If you're a guy you can relate to this explanation. Before you have any good nudes to show, you can't find a good nude model to save your life. After you have some good work, they will seek you out.

It's kinda like when you don't have a girlfriend it's impossible to get a date. Then you get a girlfriend and women come out of everywhere interested in dating you.

At least, that's how it has seemed to me.

MM, OMP, Craigslist, etc. are all OK way to find models. However, some of the best I have ever worked with were personal contacts who saw my portfolio and wanted to model. Start off slow. Build a port with bikini, lingerie, implied, etc. taking small steps toward nude. Don't be shy about showing your portfolio. I have found models in restaurants, WalMart/drugstores (getting a few prints done for another model), parties, etc. Show your book and discuss your work seriously. Most people won't be interested but more than a few will inquire about posing even if they are not models.

[painful100]

whats mm stand for?

[aram535]

ModelMayhem in this case, Millimeter in others.

[Addicted2Shooting]

Don't get your hopes up on doing this too much. Just work your way up, talk to the right people, I don't know if you plan on doing male or female nudity, but I'm assuming you plan on female, so go out meet some females, talk to them about your job. See if they might want some modeling photos done, (Don't you dare mention the word nude to them or else they might freak out) and if they do it, while your shooting them, see how far you can push it. Talk to them make them feel like they're beautiful and sexy, the more comfortable they feel in front of the camera the more they'll feel comfortable around you, and if you can talk to them just right they'll take their clothes off. Good luck

[FiloBilo]

Most women would love to think they are beautiful enough to do nude photography. And most of them are. Many would like to have some pictures of themselves taken before time takes over and things start to *aherm* move around and such.

If you can explain that this is not simply a way to see them naked but really for art and\or posterity (theirs), you would be very suprised how many women are willing to bare it all in front of the lense.

Just make sure the photos stay with them or in your portfolio. Never ever dish them out to anyone who might make ill use of them. Especially if the person you are shooting has a career that would frown upon them having nude photos done. Stress the fact that these will not get into the wrong hands and make damn sure they dont.

[woodsters]

I would imagine in Toronto there are probably some new members to MM that would do nude or semi nude...it would be a start...then others would be willing to do it...or you could *gasp* pay a model...lol

[imagine]

Definately use one of the model sites for your first go. Paying an experienced model who has worked with other experienced photographers will make your life easier. You will be surprised at how relaxed the nude models are in their own body and they will also already know a few poses which "work".

[Bippa1]

A lot of girl do not think they are attractive enough for nude photography, but they may like to be asked. (the right way) Some will come around.

[chrisvl]

Talk to them, talk to them, talk to them.
Respect them, respect them, respect them.
Tell what you want and why, then send them samples.
It's that easy if they're interested.
Never insists or push. If they're on the fence give them some time and them re approach.

[mobius55]

Here's an quote from an article that you might want to check out:

"REALITY CHECK: Put yourself in your model’s position – how would you feel standing in the nude in front of a stranger? A stranger with a camera, no less? And knowing that photographs of your body – wrinkles, bumps, bulges and all – might appear in print or on a gallery wall?

Think about that for a bit.

Now thank your lucky stars that you have actually found someone who will pose for you."

Honesty is the key, I think. If you can convey to your model, or a prospective model, that you are serious about what you're trying to accomplish, it will go a long way towards building a sense of trust that you really can't function without. If your model trusts you, you're halfway home. If he or she is uncomfortable, it will always show up in your work.

If you wanna just be a creep with a camera, you'll never be able to hide that fact for long! However, if you believe in your work, people will believe in you.

BTW, the article I referenced is at Figure Photography Magazine (http://www.figurephotographymagazine.com) - you might enjoy reading it - called "How To run a Nude Figure Shoot Like a Pro". Good luck!

[dovaka]

my first nude was someone that had already done lots of nude work so i just told them that was what i was trying to do and it was treated as any other shoot would of been from then on

[pearts]

put a casting om MM and ofer the girls $50/hr for 2 hours for a playboy stlye shoot, and then pick the best looking one from the ones that repond.

if they don;t have nudes on their profile, then they must mail you a nude photo of themselves, otherwise you may be in for quite an ugly surprise....

oh and study up on the important GWC techniques at this shrine site www.wronkled.com

[sdsanta]

I have posted castings on Craigslist and MM for lingerie shoots. It's a TF shoot except I offer to buy the model one or two outfits she can keep. The models love this idea and I will ask them to send me pictures or web links of lingerie they are interested in modeling. As part of the converstation we will outline parameter of the level of nudity they are comfortable with. I abide by those rules but I find that once the shoot is in progress and the model gets comfortable with me, often times she is more willing to move to more risque shots. If not I've done a nice lingerie shoot for the cost of an outfit or 2.

[thekid17]

if you get on MM alot of girls are more than willing to pose nude for their own expierence and for some portfolio pieces. Just keep it professional and try not to freak out when you have a pair of nipples staring at you..

my first nude shoot was with Bang Bros.. so i got it easy..

lol nice how you get that job lol