Sketch legend:
At my last nude and erotic photography workshop in Ibiza, I had to make an experience due to a mistake that should never have happened to me as an "old hand": On a free morning (because we always had the photo shoots for the entire workshop in the afternoon), I wanted to take the models back to a location that we had visited as part of the workshop the day before. I wanted to photograph a few more motifs here with the models.
The location near the beach had proved to be ideal the day before, and I was particularly taken with the wonderful lighting mood as the rays of light flooded through the treetops and bathed the models in a great backlight. But what did I discover to my disappointment? The lighting mood in the morning was completely different and less atmospheric than the previous afternoon!
It was actually completely logical, and yet I had forgotten that you should always choose locations at the time you want to take the photos later. In other words: If you want to take photos at a certain location at 9 o'clock in the morning with available light (i.e. without the help of a flash system as the main light source determining the image), then take a look at this location at the same time of day beforehand (and from the same perspective; a location search with Google Earth is useless).
It is completely uninteresting how stunning the location in question looks at other times of day - only the time of day at which the photos are to be "shot" later is of interest!
So you can see that the choice of location, i.e. the shooting location, should be made with care. This has a not inconsiderable influence on the image statement and effect.
Let your imagination run wild when it comes to choosing the location. In addition to the studio, farmsteads, empty factory buildings, old stairwells, flower meadows, cornfields, car graveyards, studio apartments, cafés, futuristic office buildings, mountain streams, quarries, car repair shops, forest clearings, medieval ruins and much more are all suitable locations. An interesting environment also helps the model to master the unfamiliar situation with the appropriate impartiality.
When shooting outside the studio, however, care should be taken to avoid unwanted public traffic: Shoots at well-known excursion destinations or bathing lakes at the weekend should be avoided if possible.
Especially new locations that are unfamiliar to the photographer should be seen as an opportunity and a challenge, as such places usually offer great potential for images and are a source of inspiration that should be used with confidence.
When shooting outside the studio, it is advantageous if the travel time is not too long, as the model and photographer may be tired from the journey, which will certainly have a negative impact on the result. Besides, as the well-known girl photographer Michael Boys once put it: "Travel time is lost photography time." It should also be noted that not all locations have a power connection, which makes it necessary to use a mobile flash unit with battery operation if the picture idea is suitable.
Fortunately, there have been great technical advances in this area in recent years, so the choice for photographers has increased while prices have fallen and the devices have become more powerful and convenient.
In the photo studio
For the reasons just mentioned, the photo studio is probably the place where most nude photos are taken, alongside the home. The opportunity to work undisturbed, in conjunction with the always available and variable studio lighting, offers ideal conditions for implementing existing concepts in detail. The equipment corresponds to that of a portrait or advertising photo studio, with light trays and large umbrella reflectors providing soft, flat light.
Experienced models like the model pictured here only really feel comfortable in a well-equipped photo studio with impressive lighting equipment and really blossom there for the duration of the shoot.
Experienced models are usually very versatile, know their weaknesses as well as their best sides and thus help the photographer to achieve the desired result.
Nude photos in the studio are ideal for creating expressive portraits - in the broadest sense. The absence of a distracting background, independence from wind and lighting conditions and the ability to work in pleasant temperatures, even for hours if necessary, allow the photographer to concentrate fully on the model in order to achieve the desired result.
Depending on the equipment of the flash system, it may even be possible to take photos using the modeling light alone, provided that the image quality of the camera at high ISO values allows this with optimum image quality and without image noise (for example, with the Nikon D3, shots at 6400 ISO are possible with almost no loss of quality!) - a way of working that makes it easier for inexperienced models in particular to act more confidently in front of the camera.
It is commonly believed that posed shots in front of a neutral or specially created background are not always the case in the studio.
In some cases (such as the example shown here), even the studio interior can serve as an effective backdrop for an (unposed) erotic shot.
Shooting in apartments
As already mentioned, a model who does not yet have much experience in acting in front of the camera can easily feel insecure and self-conscious when shooting nudes in the studio due to the unfamiliar surroundings. In this case, it is a good idea to stop shooting in the studio and continue in the model's home.
The model is familiar with her own four walls and nudity is usually perceived as something natural here - in contrast to a photo studio, where some people feel like they are on a platter. An apartment, on the other hand, offers the model many familiar places, concentrated in sometimes very confined spaces: bed, shower, bathtub, couch, balcony, desk, kitchen, ...
There is a couch in every apartment, no matter how small. Such a piece of furniture is the ideal backdrop for a nude portrait when otherwise crowded rooms offer no opportunity to create a free space for shots. This photo example shows that such conditions do not necessarily result in embarrassing and undistanced photos. Normal and light telephoto lenses are ideal for this. These are normally very fast and therefore ideal for available light photography and can also be used in confined spaces.
Wide-angle lenses, on the other hand, enlarge the angle of view and therefore increase the risk of capturing the model's personal furnishings and the ubiquitous power sockets (!) on the chip - which in most cases is neither desirable nor attractive (see the explanations in the chapter "Disturbing background"!).
When preparing, however, make sure that your model is protected from the unwelcome glances of curious neighbors, as the use of flash units, visible from outside through non-darkened windows, generally arouses great interest!
In addition to a couch, the bed is also one of the furnishings that can certainly be found in every home. The bed is particularly suitable for erotic photos in two respects - it suggests to the viewer a touch of naturalness and eroticism at the same time due to its most common uses.
The role of the photographer is not quite so simple when the camera is positioned above the model, as is the case here. In such cases, either a sophisticated tripod system or a certain amount of athleticism on the part of the photographer is required...
The advantage of shooting in a private home is that the room temperature can usually be controlled very quickly and in a controlled manner - a circumstance that is usually not readily available in a studio due to its size. Furthermore, the (hopefully well-stocked!) fridge can be used for short breaks without spending a lot of time, which experience has shown is not unimportant for a successful continuation of the photo session.
Another advantage is that the apartment can be used as a prop store, where the model knows her way around and thus contributes creatively to the image idea.
The fact that most apartments are not only too small, but also hopelessly cluttered and therefore unsuitable for nude shots, is only partly true; apart from the possibility of moving individual pieces of furniture, even the smallest apartments offer enough space for shots, as this photo proves.
In a café
Cafés, bars, pubs or restaurants are synonymous with places with a lot of public traffic. They are therefore particularly suitable for nude photographs that are intended to surprise or shock, but above all provoke the viewer. In preparation for such a photo, however, a few organizational matters need to be taken care of in advance.
First of all, a location with the desired atmosphere must be found. Then you need to convince the owner of this location of your plans - which in most cases is less difficult than is generally assumed. To make things much easier for the model (and for you) and to avoid disturbing the café, it is a good idea to hold the photo session before the café is open to the public.
During this time, the landlord is busy with his usual preparations and does not have to be in the café because of you. After you have familiarized yourself with the lighting conditions prevailing at the intended time of the photo session a few days beforehand, you can actually start taking the nude photos.
This photo was also taken using the method described above. Finding the location was made easier by the fact that the model knew the owner of the café personally and made contact with him. Although the café was deserted two hours before it opened in the afternoon, it looks as if the photo was taken during normal business hours.
This was achieved on the one hand by the symbolism used (coffee cup in the foreground) and on the other hand by the tight framing with the focus on the model alone, whereby the café atmosphere is further enhanced by the restless (but blurred!) background. The model's relaxed but self-confident facial expression in combination with the open blazer sets the intended provocative accent in this erotic shot.
Modern architectural buildings
Architectural masterpieces, such as those often found in public buildings, museums, bridges, "temples of consumption", skyscrapers or modern office buildings, have a very special appeal in combination with nude photography. The often seemingly cold (mirror, glass, steel or concrete) facades form a sober counterpoint to the soft forms of the human body.
When choosing a building as a suitable setting for your nude photos, you should bear in mind that architecture always reflects the spirit of the times, which is why you need to check whether the architectural style harmonizes with the message you want to convey. As the working method for architectural photography is generally different from that of nude photography (e.g. when working with a tripod), it is not always easy for the photographer to find a compromise in terms of working style. It is necessary to decide what should be the focus of the image idea: the architectural object or the human body.
This shot thrives on the pictorial effect of the low shooting position, the contrast between the concrete and the human figure and the atypical arrangement of the composition. If the model is looking to the right, she is - normally! - to the left of the center of the picture for harmonious reasons. However, I chose this composition based on a spontaneous "gut feeling".
This photo is intended to encourage you to let your "gut feeling" guide you more often and to break the usual rules once again in order to give room to your own perspectives.
Once you have found a suitable building or property and decided on an image idea, it is generally necessary to obtain permission (preferably in writing) to take your planned erotic photos in front of or inside the property. You may be asked to pay outrageously high location fees - a bad habit that has become increasingly widespread since the 1980s, especially in major cities such as Düsseldorf, Hamburg and Munich.
Disused factories, dilapidated walls and ruins
Old and dilapidated houses and walls, ruins, stables, bunkers, quarries or disused factories form a completely different setting for erotic photos than the one just described. Here, the contrasts between old and young, i.e. between decay and flourishing youth, can be excellently depicted. Photographing (nudes) in such surroundings is the domain of black and white photography, as old, dirty walls in particular provide an almost unbelievable variety of shades of gray.
When looking for such locations, it is usually enough to drive through the side streets that you would normally avoid. Once you have found a suitable (background) object, you should obtain a photography permit even for easily accessible properties: you save yourself and the model unnecessary trouble and also have the certainty that no bad-tempered security guard will disturb the shots.
This wide-angle shot thrives on its incredibly wide range of tonal values, without sacrificing strong contrasts such as the dark part of the wall and the model's shiny, sweaty skin. The photo was taken in an old attic on a summer evening. The low evening sun provided a very nice light, which shone into the room through a window to the right of the model.
The side of the model facing away from the light was brightened with a California Sunbounce reflector, resulting in the bright line on the arm, thigh and upper body. To heighten the dramatic effect, the model was smeared with cooking oil (it shines brilliantly and is cheaper than other oils!) before the photos were taken.
Disused factories offer a huge variety of interesting locations. Here, it is often sufficient to define the basic parameters of the image idea, such as the photographic style, and then to be inspired by the light, the surroundings and, of course, the model on location. However, it is up to the photographer to decide whether he or she prefers this or a completely different way of working - there is no universally valid "royal road". This photo is an example of how inspiration in conjunction with the prevailing lighting mood is enough to produce aesthetic nudes.
I actually discovered this soot-blackened, dark corner on the way from one location to the next. The fair-skinned, blonde model formed a strong contrast to this, so that the last thing that needed to be decided was the pose. The crouching posture and the casually supported arms form an optical triangle and appear to the viewer like a calming influence in this dark and threatening environment.
Nevertheless, this photo is not without tension, which results from the face turned towards the camera, but which cannot be recognized because it is hidden behind the hair. In order not to destroy the gloomy impression of the background, I set the camera's exposure compensation to minus 1 (equivalent to underexposure by a whole f-stop).
The location for this photo was a former knight's castle, the ruins of which are now preserved as a historical monument.
Such places are often "desecrated" by signs of the times, such as the placement of garbage cans or the installation of railings, due to the high level of public traffic. As a photographer, you constantly have to be careful not to photograph unwanted details. Just as annoying, however, is the garbage lying around (handkerchiefs, cigarette butts, bags of potato chips, etc.) that ignorant people leave behind and which the photographer has to laboriously sweep aside before starting the photo session.
In and by the sea
The sea is particularly suitable as a backdrop for photo shoots for three reasons: Firstly, the combination of beach and water offers a huge wealth of styling options, which is why this location is regularly chosen by fashion photographers for productions. Secondly, the photographer and model, together with the rest of the team, are put in a vacation mood, so to speak, which creates a relaxed atmosphere and thus enables efficient creative work.
And thirdly, nudity on the beach is more natural than elsewhere, so that the models generally behave and pose more casually, despite the camera. In short: the beach and the sea are locations that every nude and erotic photographer should try out!
This black and white shot, which I took a few years ago on the beach on the Dutch North Sea coast, shows that seaside shots are also possible beyond the usual beauty shots with their strong colors.
Wet yellow-grey sand, reduced to grey tones, led to an increased brightness contrast in this shot, which also emphasizes the hard-soft contrast.
For this freehand shot, I used the Nikon 2.8/300mm telephoto lens at Blender 4 and 1/1000 sec. shutter speed (at 100 ISO).
Completely different shooting possibilities arise when you have not just one, but four beautiful models running through the water and the spray splashing up around them.
The glaringly bright water in the sunlight can provide the automatic exposure system with incorrect values, which is why the photographer must intervene to correct the exposure in such cases, unless only the silhouette of the models is to be depicted. This photo was taken on a beach in Ibiza during one of my erotic photography workshops on a sunny day with the Nikon 2.8/80-200mm VR.
The fast shutter speed of 1/1000 sec. froze the foaming spray.
When taking photos on the beach, it is advisable to place the model directly at the water's edge, as this allows the waves to blur the inevitable footprints of the model in the sand.
That's why it also makes sense for the model to take a "detour" through the water to get to the spot where the photos are to be taken. I always make sure that neither I nor other people enter the small area of the beach where the photos are being taken in order to avoid disturbing footprints.
With a cloudy sky and the resulting beautiful soft light, it is easier to control the contrast range.
In this photo, a small ray of sunlight suddenly emerged from between the clouds, creating a very peculiar lighting mood with glittering water and a dark cloud front in the background, which only lasted a few seconds.
In public
Public places are not unpopular with nude photographers, as they are actually the most unusual backdrop for daring shots. They require a great deal of courage from both the model and the photographer. The allure of the forbidden usually plays a major role here, which is why this type of photography is often perceived as provocative.
The times at which photographs can be taken undisturbed should be clarified in advance of the shoot. If you decide to take erotic photos in public despite passers-by, self-appointed moral and morality watchdogs may turn to the police to press charges. Shortly after completing this photo on July 31, 2007 in Düsseldorf on a pedestrian bridge over the Rhine near the state parliament, two police officers appeared to take my personal details and those of the model because someone felt disturbed by what we were doing.
And indeed, I was almost fined for violating §118 of the Administrative Offenses Act ("grossly disorderly conduct"), but then the case was dropped without giving any reasons. Presumably, the clerk at the public order office himself had recognized the ridiculousness of such a procedure, because why should it be "grossly improper" to take an aesthetic photo of a beautiful woman, besides the spectators (the passers-by) were all - probably except for one - very enthusiastic about our "live photo shoot"...
However, this must be distinguished from (nude) photo shoots that are carried out (or rather staged) by the photographer solely for the sake of attracting attention. Some time ago, for example, nude photos were taken of a couple in Cologne Cathedral - although the photographer must have been aware that he would never be allowed to publish the work. In this case, the photographer was no longer interested in a good photo, but solely in publicity. Such photo sessions can only be attributed to marketing - but they no longer have anything in common with serious erotic photography.
Public places are for passers-by, spectators; but at certain times of the day they are not busy, for example early in the morning, on Sundays, or when the German national soccer team is in the (semi-) final of the World Cup.
Even without spectators, such a photo is still perceived as a provocation. This photo was taken on the campus of a university. However, as research and teaching do not come to a complete standstill even at weekends, it is advisable to take nude photos in the early hours of the morning to ensure that you are largely undisturbed. If this is not possible, the model should leave her clothes out of the camera's view, but still close by so that she can change quickly if necessary.
In nature
Nude shots in nature can be realized without much additional effort, but this should not tempt the photographer to simply set off with camera and model "on the off chance". If possible, you should scout the location thoroughly a few days before the shoot in order to capture the image potential of the location and to familiarize yourself with the surroundings. When I have found an interesting location for erotic photos in nature, I go there several times before the actual photo shoot.
In order to get to know the different lighting conditions, I try to make my "visits" so that I can observe the location at different times of day in order to determine the optimal time of day for the photos.
When shooting nudes in nature with models who have sensitive skin, it should be noted that contact with nettles, blades of grass, straw, earth, etc., for example, can quickly lead to skin irritation and redness. In plain language, this means that once a position has been assumed, it may no longer be possible to vary it significantly, as otherwise skin irritation would be visible on the areas of the model that were previously in contact with the ground and are now exposed in the new pose.
Even the use of a make-up artist can only provide inadequate relief in such cases. It is better to take preventative measures to prevent marks from forming in the first place, such as using appropriate underlays (polystyrene board, cardboard, a gathered piece of clothing, etc.) to protect the model in the relevant areas.
When shooting outdoors, the morning or evening hours are likely to be the most suitable in most cases, although it should not be ruled out that the midday hours may also provide the ideal light for the image concept. But you can't always choose the time of day; I'm also one of those photographers who, once I've started, don't put the camera down so quickly just because the position of the sun is no longer "optimal".
You can help yourself by looking for shady spots and using reflectors to direct the required light onto the model. This shot was taken in Ibiza at around 3 p.m., when the sun is actually - according to the textbooks - still too high in the sky.
Everywhere
Even though various interesting possibilities for shooting locations have been mentioned in this chapter on locations, it should not be forgotten that nude shots can also be taken with minimal resources, especially in terms of space.
This means that even if any problems arise during the planning stage and the planned shoot threatens to "go down the drain", expressive photos can still be taken even under the most unfavorable conditions. Especially when it comes to the location, there can be no restrictions for the dedicated photographer: Great results can be achieved almost anywhere, even if it's just targeted crops of the model when full-body shots are not possible.
It is not always possible to find out about the conditions on location before the photo session. This is especially true if the location is too far away to look around beforehand. In these cases, the only thing that helps is to get an idea of the location using existing photographic material. Regional illustrated books, in which sights are not only described for tourists, are well suited for this purpose.
Once on location, the photographer has no choice but to scout out the most suitable place for the photos together with the model.
This photo is proof that in terms of space, expressive erotic photos can be taken anywhere in the world (and especially in small apartments). However, such photos are only successful if the model is sufficiently photogenic and has a certain degree of acting ability.
Otherwise, you may end up with a result that is perhaps beautiful for the person in question, but otherwise irrelevant. In addition to nude portraits, many other partial views of the body can be photographed in a confined space, which is dealt with separately in the chapter "Erotic details".
A sample contract for a model release is available as working material.
