photo by belovodchenko via iStock
Nude photography is a fantastic way to exercise our creativity as nude photographers, to hone our skills, and to try out new things. In order to shoot nude photography, it helps to look at it as an artistic expression coupled with an opportunity to learn.
The education opportunity also comes from reading and viewing others experienced in how to shoot nude photography. So many articles, videos, and books cover how to shoot nude photography and all the variables involved. Here are my top 3 tips on best to shoot nude photography.
Exercise Your Creativity
When you shoot nude photography, it’s beneficial to approach it differently than simply as pictures of people with no clothing. Many of the same skills apply as in portrait photography, or even still life photography, but we have an opportunity to really get adventurous.
One way to explore your creative side is to shoot nude photography in back and white or monochrome. What this can do is to narrow down the subject to the interplay of light vs dark, shadow vs brightness, high key vs low key.
By constraining ourselves to only looking at the lighting aspect of the nude photography image, we actually widen out our scope of what’s available for us to control. B&W imagery isn’t limited to low key, high contrast imagery, play with high key, low contrast, and subtle patterns, too.
This same approach can be realized with focus and depth of field, composition, and posing, too. Take any aspect of your photographic skills and knowledge and concentrate on that one thing as you shoot nude photography.
The resulting images may never be seen by anyone but you and the subject, but you’ll be glad you took them, exercising your creative muscle as a photographic artist.
Hone Your Skills
photo by Leedsichthys via iStock
As you open your photographic thoughts up to different ways to create an image, use some sessions to get better at the photographic process. As you shoot nude photography, perhaps concentrating on one aspect of the art, you can deepen your appreciation of the craft skills you’re using.
Perhaps take this step one aspect at a time, too. If you want to get better at lighting for portraits or even for product photography, this is a good time to see how well you understand light placement and contrast ratios.
Other skills you can hone, with a willing subject, are composition and posing and depth of field effects such as selective focus or deep depth of field.
An additional skill to hone as you nude shoots photography is post processing. If you’re shooting RAW for your image files, you have to use some sort of post processing program to get shareable images, so take some time to check out what your program does.
Adjust all the sliders, use masks and layers, adjust luminosity and contrast, change color depth, and so on. The more you are familiar with the controls, the better you’ll get at operating the program, just like with your camera.
Try Out New Things
photo by Sergeeva via iStock
As you shoot nude photography, be sure to try out something new as often as possible. If you are new to this particular aspect of the art of photography, it can really help you grow all across the field as a fine art nude photographer.
If you’ve never tried monochromatic high key or low key imaging, this might be a good time to try it. If you have wondered how you might make abstract images, try it out as you shoot nude photography.
Everything you learn in one form of photography transfers over to the other styles and genres of our art and craft. Shoot nude photography for the fun of it and with an eye on improving your photography in general. You’ll enjoy the process.