Nude Photography Styles

TYPES & STYLES of NUDE PHOTOGRAPHY

Nude isn’t just naked. There are many forms of nude photography ranging from demure, glamorous and romantic through to pornography. Each style has a name but for various reasons, these labels are often confused or misunderstood. This becomes confusing for the photographer when people confuse erotic with porn, for instance, or models refusing to do 'nude' work when their portfolio clearly includes implied nude images!
Many styles are sexually suggestive but others have virtually no sexual content at all. In fact, partially clothed glamour models who are not nude but are revealing a great deal in a suggestive way are often far more ‘sexy’ than a simple nude – think brief swimwear and lingerie for instance, the open shirt or the low cut dress that…almost reveals. That’s sexy.
There is a lot of pretentiousness about the ‘art nude’ but all types are technically demanding if done well and almost anyone who is photogenic can model nude in some way. Some photographic nude models are also life models for art classes but the rules and requirements are quite different. A drawing class expects a pose to be held for a long time, while a photographer wishes to experiment with poses and will ask for constant adjustments and changes of set-up. Unfortunately, life modelling is also more far accepting of different body types – the convention in photographic art is still for an idealised body shape but photographers should be prepared to experiment with a range of body types and sizes if they wished to be considered artists. The classical period of ancient Greece and Rome concentrated on the perfect, ideal form but modern artists have moved on well beyond that.

All images © by Andrew Fildes, storeHouse Studio®

So what do the terms and styles actually mean?

Implied
The model is obviously nude but is covered discretely. This can include those shots with a sheet held against the body, bare back shots and so on. Usually no more is seen than can be seen on a beach any day but they are appealing because of the actual nudity implied. They can be artistic, romantic or glamorous, depending on the pose or attitude of the model. For instance, a soft shot with a bare back, showing the curve of a partly covered breast would be soft and romantic and might even be used in an advertisement in a women’s magazine. On the other hand, a suggestive pose by a topless model holding and pushing up her breasts with her hands or arm can be pure men’s magazine territory. Most male nudes are implied and usually involve little more than a bare bum.
Models who are happy to do swimwear or lingerie shots should have no trouble with implied nude, so long as good studio behaviour rules and protocols are followed. Set ups are usually fairly static – the model composes herself and does not move much.

Pin-Up
More a popular style than a type. Pin-ups have been with us since the late nineteenth century (the Gibson Girls, for instance) and possibly earlier but were often painted or airbrushed as photographs of sexually assertive and confident women were unacceptable. This led to the grotesque ‘hourglass’ body shapes depicted in the 1940’s and ‘50’s. The images were designed to be perfect in every way, literally dream girls.
Types of pin-ups range from demure, cute girls ‘accidentally’ revealing their stocking tops and suspenders through to implied, sheer and romantic nude (see Vargas). Body proportions are always extreme and poses sexually suggestive. It is possible now to manipulate digital images to mimic the style but as the model will be ‘Barbiefied’ usually to achieve the unnatural and almost ridiculous body shape, it is reasonable to ask permission to do this manipulation.

Natural
A style that concentrates on the unmodified beauty of the model and is usually shot in a soft or romantic style. It uses minimum make-up and hair styling, models should look like normal, attractive young women and men – ‘girl next door’ types – and they are often shot outdoors in a natural setting. The model is usually smiling, happy and pretty, completely nude and there is little sexual component if any. Typically female models are topless but the groin is not emphasised and may be partly covered. The ideal model is pretty and/or fit, well proportioned uninhibited but not necessarily ‘sexy’ – ‘sweet’ is the preferred look. Shoots should be relaxed, friendly and enjoyable.

Art Nude
The classic style that concentrates on body form and texture and the play of light across the body shape. The style is minimalist – plain background, often black and white and emphasising shapes and line. Little or no make-up. It is a very demanding form of photography as there is nothing but the figure and pose – no distractions. There is (usually) no element of overt sexuality although the viewer may see it as sexual. They can range in style from implied to explicit and lighting is often moody. Sometimes only available light is used, such as window light.
A good model should be well proportioned (not necessarily slim), athletic and able to hold a pose, even one that feels awkward or uncomfortable. Art shoots tend to be slow, well planned, demanding and sometimes still use film and large format cameras. The tone is professional, detached.

Anonymous
The classic headless nude shot! Art Nudes would often obscure or crop the face out of the shot, sometimes claiming that this was to direct attention to the body form, rather than the distraction of the person or personality. In fact, it simply made models easier to find as many would model nude if their identity was concealed. This is still a good reason and many excellent nudes are shot where the face is unclear.

Environmental/Outdoor
Technically ‘environmental’ is any photograph taken outside the studio in an everyday setting and would include a nude in an office setting, bathroom or hotel room, for instance. However it normally refers to an outdoor, natural setting such as a beach or forest. The nude in a natural setting shows a sense of freedom which is compelling.
But this presents its own difficulties, not the least of which is the possibility of attracting an audience. A confident model may have no difficulty with this but some might, not to mention some of those spectators, members of the community or the local authorities. There seems little point in asking anyone for permission as the answer will always be ‘no’ - those with a little power always play safe and in the words of the old and wise, in this case ‘it is better to ask forgiveness than permission.’
The best technique is to find a secluded area; scope it out at the sort of time you’d like to shoot some days beforehand to make sure it’s quiet; have a beach robe handy at all times; use assistants to police it if you can by blocking access temporarily and working quickly. Remember also, there are fewer people around during weekdays rather than weekends and holidays. You can try shooting at a nude beach and the model would feel more comfortable there but the other visitors may not appreciate someone with a camera hanging around so let everyone around know what you are doing and make sure that it’s OK with them.

Commercial
A style of restrained nude, often implied, which is used for commercial work such as magazine advertisements. Very popular for perfume and jewellery shots. Also some nudity may be usedd in fashion work, usually implied or partially topless.

Candid
A style designed to look unplanned and not posed. It is usually faked but the model is caught in everyday tasks such as dressing or bathing. It appeals to the voyeur in all of us and the model may look unaware, surprised or unconcerned at a minor intrusion on privacy.

Glamour
A clearly suggestive category. The model is depicted as sexually alluring and available. This is often achieved by a mix of nudity and lingerie or clothing used to both conceal and reveal. Consequently it is often a sub-category of Implied or Topless nudity. Very good examples can be seen often in the lingerie advertisements in high class women’s magazines and it’s a popular way to have yourself photographed in shopping centre studios although most go no further than coy implied nude for that.

Boudoir
Usually a style of glamour that is set in a bed or bedroom and so has quite distinct sexual overtones, although a sleeping or disrobing nude can be soft and romantic instead.

Sheer
The body is glimpsed through transparent clothing, cloth or underwear.

Topless
One that separates the boys from the girls. Male topless is often referred to as ‘Shirtless’ for obvious reasons. Topless usually refers to an overt revealing of the female breast although implied shots where the nipples are obscured by hands or arms are also included. If a topless session had been booked, then it is expected that the breasts will be openly displayed. However, there may be some discussion as to whether there will be a high level of sexual suggestiveness – holding or pushing up the breast with arm or hand for instance – or the level of contact if a second model is involved.

Erotic
For some reason many people assume that erotic is the same as pornographic. This is absolutely wrong. There is a long tradition of erotic art. An erotic photographic is one with a clear sexual component and may involve no nudity at all, so long as it invokes a sexual response in the viewer. The model is shown as aroused or assertive, rather than merely available. Obviously this is popular and usually involves partial nudity as that is more alluring. The setting is also important. It may be classy, as in a good lingerie or ‘boudoir’ shot with some nudity, or it may be highly suggestive or fetishistic, such as gentle bondage shots.
Erotic shoots can be a lot of fun as it allows the model and photographer to use their imagination – a model should be uninhibited and able to act ‘bad’ or sexy for the camera.

Comic
Yes, it is possible to have humorous nudes. The pin-up style allows for this and the nude in an awkward or unusual scenario may be very funny. However, it is as difficult to shoot a funny photograph as to be funny in any other way, so this is not a common style.

Couples & Groups
Paired nudes are tricky. There is more possibility of the image being ‘read’ erotically. Some implied work will be seen in magazines as ‘loving couple’ shots and they are usually implied nude in style. However any style can be shot with a pair, or even group. The master of the group at present is Spencer Tunick with his mass environmental nudes involving thousands of people at times (although some of his best is of small groups).
If the people involved are strangers, models who haven’t met before, then strict working protocols should be discussed beforehand and every pose discussed with all involved to make sure that everyone is comfortable with the pose and image.

Fetish
Any image that plays on a sexual fetish and involves nudity. This could be some element of bondage (and usually is) or something as innocuous as nudity involving corsets, smoking or high heels (or perhaps all three!). In fact, anything that someone, somewhere finds sexually stimulating even though it is not usually associated with sex will qualify as a ‘fetish’.

Explicit
This is a term used to indicate that the genitals will be shown. In a female, the inner labia or vulva may be visible or open and in a male, the limp penis and scrotum. The general style may be an art nude which is representational and without much sexuality. On the other hand, the sexuality itself may be explicit and involve implied sexual acts and physical contact between models.

Porn
The ‘elephant in the room’ – that is, the idea that cannot be ignored! Some people regard any nude image as pornographic and so the term is used loosely and inaccurately. Any image that shows actual sexual acts explicitly is pornographic. This does not prevent it being artistic – some excellent ‘art porn’ has been shot over the years and most actual pornography could do with being more carefully shot (and more interesting for that matter!).
The ‘adult’ industry is a whole different area with its own rules and problems, far too complex to be dealt with here. What is important is to be non-judgemental about what models are prepared to do or not do.

Soft Porn
A very loose term that indicates that intent of the image is to trigger a sexual response in the viewer but there is no actual sex act shown. Most of it is merely erotic and some dates to a time when actual porn was illegal. Also referred to as ‘soft core’.

Art Porn
A style that became popular in the 1990’s. This may involve images of erect genitalia, actual sex acts or simulated sex but the principal purpose is to produce art images of a confronting nature rather than mere pornography. Sometimes the ‘art’ is in the intent to shock and it may be presented in contexts that challenge or comment on mainstream porn or create a parody of porn and our attitudes to it.

Lensbaby Torso

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Guest 25-Sep-2014 17:23
How nice shot, am come with you

Wm. Rettig 26-Jan-2012 04:46
Gah, enough text. This is an image site. Boring.....

OurPhotos 23-Dec-2011 18:28
Thank you.

arif 16-Oct-2011 15:38
beatiful picture very nice and sexy

krishan 02-May-2011 13:20
good shot.... so beautiful..... so nice....

krishan.

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help	private comment

Wm. Rettig		26-Jan-2012 04:46
Gah, enough text. This is an image site. Boring.....

krishan		02-May-2011 13:20
good shot.... so beautiful..... so nice.... krishan. www.krishan.co.in