Nude Series
1. Introduction
2. Finding a nude model
3. Posing your model
4. Artistic nudes
5. Implied nudesIt is no good securing a nude model without a plan, and when you are first talking to your prospective nude models having the ability to convey what poses you are thinking of is a very good idea.

Having a plan will give confidence to your nude model and show you have put some thought into the process. If you are looking for inspiration check out some books on the subject, have a search on-line for some known nude model photographers and see how different photographers use light, poses and backgrounds to achieve different results.

Relax and make sure your model is relaxed

To achieve the best results both you and your model need to be relaxed, a good way to start the day off it to shoot some shots with clothes on, this can be a way to test out some of the poses and see what is going to work and what might not.

You will find some poses suit certain models better than others, experiment see how they look, stop and take the time to print off a contact sheet or display them on a computer screen. Site down with your model and go through the results he or she may have some valuable input into the process.

Once you have gone through the initial shots you can then move to shooting your nudes or implied nudes and have the confidence you selected poses are going to work.

Below is a selection of poses

(click for larger View)

Top tips for posing your nude model

1. Have a plan before you even start contacting prospective nude models. Investigate techniques and ideas from other photographers and have a complete plan of your photo shoot.

2. You want your model to be relaxed, shoot some shots with clothes on; it will warm both you and the model up while also giving you the opportunity to test out some desired poses.

3. Talk to your model, show him or her your plan from the beginning, agree with what you are expecting and stick to that plan.

4. A warm room is not always the best room, a slight chill in the air will give better skin tones and texture. Have a blanket handy for in-between shots.

5. Remind your model before she / he arrives to not wear any tight clothing especially underwear it takes some time for those elastic marks to disappear. 

6. Learn how to draw well enough to show them sketches of what you are looking for in advance and let them keep the sketches over night to practice the poses in private (or in front of a mirror).

7. Learn to shoot from the hip so that you can maintain eye contact with them throughout the shoot and keep the energy alive.

8. Experiment with light, experiment with light, experiment with light!

In the next tutorial on nude photography we will begin covering the three main categories, implied nude, artistic nude and male nude.