Almost every serious photographer, whether you sell or make a living out of your photography skills or not, have a keen interest in fine art photography and especially fine art nude photography. Like any other professions, this too is an interesting niche and over the years I have learnt a lot through experimentation and created a simple yet very effective work process to produce widely appreciated (nude) fine art prints.
The tips, for fine art nude models as well as for fine art nude photographers, and experiences will differ from one photographer to another, one shooting style to another, so feel free to challenge and even better, enhance some of these fine art modeling & fine art nude photography tips I am sharing here.
[su_spoiler title=”Content Rating: Adult” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” anchor_in_url=”no” class=””]Images used for demonstrations contains artistic nudity & may not be suitable for all viewers. Adult supervision required for some content.[/su_spoiler]
The Basic Modeling Tips for Fine Art & Nude Photography
Tip 1: Know your Artistic Talent & Strengths:
Leave the comments from friends and families out when it comes to preparing yourself for professional modeling & do not be flattered by their compliments but take their feedback as support & encouragement. Too often I have seen models apply & step forward as having experience in professional fine arts & nude modeling when all they have done is pose for their friends and families for Instagram & Facebook pictures. While that shows you do not have ‘lens aversion’, it may not be good enough to draw attention from prospective long term, high paying clients.
Evaluate your own strengths and find out your own weaknesses and put in a plan to enhance your strengths and overcome your weaknesses. I always advise new talents who wish to grow their experience in nude modeling for fine arts photographers to keep a chart of the Strengths & Opportunities & decide on which ones to tackle in what sequence.
When you interview for a project, the best thing you can do during the interview process is to share information from your chart! I always take that as a very positive approach by new talents, which shows both confidence in themselves, honesty (& often humility) in their character and respect for the profession.
[su_spoiler title=”Image Contains Artistic Nudity – Inheriting a Fine Art Concept” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” anchor_in_url=”no” class=””]One of the key strengths that successful models have is to inherit a concept & turn it into a pose. Courtesy: Model Tuki
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Tip 2: Understand the nature & business of Fine Art Nude Modeling:
Not all types of fine arts photography & fine art nude modeling are glamorous & exciting like many are led to believe from pop videos. The relationship between ‘exciting projects’ and ‘high paying projects’ are often not in the same proportion. Some fine art photographers could be paying a very high rate for, which could appear to be, a very boring multi hour session where the model may be asked to silently walk around an area!
One of the common mistakes new talents do early in their nude modeling profession is to say yes by just looking at the pay amount. The right thing do do here for the model would be to understand the sort of fine art and fine art nude modeling is of their personal interest & focus on them at the beginning.
Tip 3: Get to know the photographer’s composition style and creative depth in fine arts photography:
One main reasons why some fine art nude photos become very successful is because there is a very strong relationship and understanding between the model and the photographer across the art, the visions, the concepts and the profession.
In such situations the working relationship becomes more consultative in nature rather than directive, leaving much room for the model to explore their own personalities through the camera. What comes out in the winning prints are thus very unique and often spontaneous, leaving competitions far behind!
I always provide a lot of information in the first interaction with a new model for them to understand my styles & preferences. I encourage a lot of questions and curiosity, which in term helps me to get a better understanding of my model’s personality & conviction. I recommend new talents getting into fine arts nude modeling to be inquisitive about the photographer’s work & ideas.
The following 4th tips is the last one in this part.
[su_spoiler title=”Image Contains Artistic Nudity – Inheriting a Fine Art Concept” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” anchor_in_url=”no” class=””]The best talent spontaneously feels the emotion for the right pose. Courtesy: Model Amel
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Tip 4: Ask & schedule trial photo sessions with the photographer:
This is something I’ve learnt from the industry leaders & has become a mandatory thing for me, scheduling discussions and extensive trial shoots with my modeling talent. Sometimes I do this even with fine artists who has worked with me in the past, especially when I am embarking on a completely new & challenging fine arts concept.
If you are able to schedule time for trial shoot, prepare very well, like your life depends on it but be very honest with what you can do and what you cannot. You must prepare for 3 aspects that a professional fine arts photographer would look for in these shoots:
- Whether you are able to anchor a frame all by yourself or you need any kind of support from your ambience. Support could be in the form of props, makeups, location etc.
- If you are naturally able to create & hold a pose & have that natural inclination towards artistic modeling. This is where your practice comes in very handy – even the hard poses should appear like a breeze! If you have to try too hard during these trial photo sessions, it is an indication that you are not ready yet and need more practice
- Whether your general physical structure is conducive for the type of the fine arts project. There is no need for any extensive makeup and almost always very mild makeup suffices. If you have any illness, medical conditions or physical deficiencies that may jeopardize the project at a later date, its best to discuss those during these sort of trial sessions.
After these sessions, which can span over a few days or weeks sometimes, have candid discussions with your photographer on your performance. This has always been a critical part of the process that helps me to choose the right artist for my projects. These discussions give great insights into the models mindset, artistry, thought process, creative aspects and personality.
Be aware of the risks of such conversations too – do not get cozy or give into flattery or start getting too comfortable. This is very early in the process to get comfortable. I personally get inspired by new talents who can hold a good conversation because most of my projects’ success depends heavily on my model’s personality and mannerism.
In the next update I will continue with 3 additional tips from my experience as a nude fine arts photographer & tried & tested ways in setting up new talents for success in (nude) modeling in fine arts photography:
Next post: Fine Art (Nude) Modeling – 10 Essential Tips for Beginners: Part 2 of 3