I've been photographing weddings and family type portraits as well as a few events for many years now but would very much like to become more involved in fashion and glamour photography. Some of the images I've seen here are truely inspirational, in particular what I would call, Fine Art Nude. I appreciate all of you posting these.

My question is, what do you say to these young women when you ask them to pose? "I'd like for you to come to my studio where I'll turn off most of the lights while you take off all of your clothing and squat down on the floor and spread your legs?" Probably not.

I'm thinking there has to be a reason these ladies, and men, will agree to do this. What do they think is going to be done with the images you as the photographer capture? Are you paying them some amount of money for their time? What exactly DO you do with these pictures once you've put all of this time and effort into the shoot?

Now I understand that there is a market for this in some areas of the country, but I don't think there's much of one where I live, in Georgia. Maybe I'm wrong.

I'd love to try this type of work, and I have absolutely no problem talking with people, but I just don't know where to start.

"Hi! Can I take pictures of you... NAKED?"

I've done tons of nudes....and in my experience that's exactly how I've gotten models. If you see someone that you think would be a terrific model for your nude photography, just walk up to them, introduce yourself and say "I'd really like to have you come over to my studio so I can shoot some nude pictures of you". Trust me, you'll be surprised at how many of them will decide to do it.




Ok, forget it, the only thing that would get you would be a big red mark on the side of your face......

I've always wondered this too.

I'd say most people get them from sites like Model Mayhem. They usually state wether they'll do nudes or not and some require payment. If you're good enough they will usually shoot for images TFP - Time for prints (well images anyway).

Thank you all for your reply. I'm still struggling with this, and how to properly approach the issue, even if it is mostly with me.

Your advice is most appreciated.

Here is what I did to acquire many of the 32 models for my book / gallery exhibit...

Approach prospect with your family (or with a female friend) if at all possible. Right or wrong, the potential models immediately let their guard down. I have a fine art nude on my business card which I handed them while stating:

"I am a fine-art photographer working on a project and I may have a gig for you. Take a look at my website and contact me if you want to know more."

I also work in, "I normally charge over $400 for a shoot, but since this is for a specific project, I am waiving the fee and releasing the images to the participants". BTW, that is not a "line"... it is true.

If they show interest, I will ask for their contact email and / or phone number.

From there, it is just a matter of building your credibility and rapport.

Always let them know that they are welcome (and encouraged) to bring along anyone they wish.

It was easy once I had the gallery exhibit, since that was an incredible credibility builder, but this may not apply to you.

Let me know if you have any specific questions and good luck.

Check the specialized site like Model Mayhem, for isntance

Thank you, gentelmen. Your advice is most appreciated.

I do have an account with Model Mayhem, but have nothing to post there to show what I can do. Assuming, of course I have the necessary talent to produce the fine art image.

I have recently taken on a younger, I am 59, apprentice, if you will, who is excellent with people and has a good many friends, young ladies, which have expressed a desire to have photos taken. I am looking to use this opportunity to practice and hone my skills, and eventually build a portfolio to show. I just find it awkward to ask to shoot this type of image when I have nothing to show.

Seeing what all those here have done is a great help. Perhaps one day soon I'll have something for those who have helped so much to see and critique.

I thank you.

Hmm "Hi, can I take picture of you... NAKED" that probably not gonna work unless you're handsome or... :S hmm

I would ask if they wanna shoot "glamour". The model will probably know what you mean by that you could take example of...


Hi, are you interested in taking glamour pictures... umm playboy theme, Moore magazine theme or whatever... but you probably want someone that have done it before.

Download some great pictures from the web, print them as if they were yours, make a small booklet of said pictures, show these to prospective models as examples of what you'd like to do without revealing that those are not your particular pictures...once you have some examples of your own you can make your own portfolio up...in other words, fake it till you make it!

Steve Wan wrote:
Download some great pictures from the web, print them as if they were yours, make a small booklet of said pictures, show these to prospective models as examples of what you'd like to do without revealing that those are not your particular pictures...once you have some examples of your own you can make your own portfolio up...in other words, fake it till you make it!


Haha good idea until they caught you There are experience models that might have seen picture somewhere before... and knew that might not be yours.

SEAyers wrote:
"I'd like for you to come to my studio where I'll turn off most of the lights while you take off all of your clothing and squat down on the floor and spread your legs?"


There is certainly a part of that query which would be better omitted I feel!

re: shooting nude - I take my clothes off and start shooting just as I would when I'm clothed. Oh, did I misunderstand the question?

three observations:

1. Am I the only one who thought the OP wanted to try his hand at photographing IN THE BUFF when reading the subject "shooting nude"

2. If you don't have anything worthy of posting on ModelMayhem, why don't you work on that first. You could work your way up... start with straight modeling, then shift to more revealing photos, and once you have a nice portfolio of those you could suggest to a model you've worked with before and who has done nude before if they'd do implied... and finally move to nude.

3. The "I have taken a young apprentice and now I plan on praying on his young flesh friends" ... sounds a wee bit creepy... in a funny way . Of course when I'm 59 and my wife's not far behind I'm sure I'll be much more interested in shooting nudes than I am now too

lisy78 wrote:
three observations:

1. Am I the only one who thought the OP wanted to try his hand at photographing IN THE BUFF when reading the subject "shooting nude"

2. If you don't have anything worthy of posting on ModelMayhem, why don't you work on that first. You could work your way up... start with straight modeling, then shift to more revealing photos, and once you have a nice portfolio of those you could suggest to a model you've worked with before and who has done nude before if they'd do implied... and finally move to nude.

3. The "I have taken a young apprentice and now I plan on praying on his young flesh friends" ... sounds a wee bit creepy... in a funny way . Of course when I'm 59 and my wife's not far behind I'm sure I'll be much more interested in shooting nudes than I am now too



Dude... YOU are funny


1. I Definatly thought He was asking about shooting while being naked. I thought it was some sort of "Key to great Photography" he wanted to share. Maybe the sensation of a breeze on your bare bum inspiring him lol..


2. +1 +1 I was going to say. Maybe it would be easier if you created a gallery where-in you were shooting provocative poses fully clothed? That would give your potential Nude models an idea of what you are trying to do at least?

I would say it is the same as any other style of photography. You need to show your photos have a value. I do a few nude and sexy style but get paid by the client. Again they see a value in the photo. Then as Gheller said you could offer a trade if doing a special projest because the value was already established. From what I have seen start with lingerie and before you know what is happening they will be totally nude and wanting more explicit shots than you want to do. Think to model sites would be a source for free and very low cost models to get started.

As others have mentioned, "if you build it they will come". Once you have some nice "implied" and more explicit shots in your portfolio it will open the door for inquiries from clients. If you are in a smaller "word of mouth / tongues will wag" market, the implied style would probably be more marketable than the more explicit genre and not affect your image as a wedding / family photographer.

The simplest and quickest way to build a portfolio of nudes from ground zero would be to stop thinking in terms of ways to do it on the cheap and instead hire an experienced nude model and a good make up artist. It would eliminate the awkwardness of approaching strangers with a solicitation to pose au natural with a release allowing you to display the work, and you'd benefit from her experience and from looking at her portfolio for posing and lighting ideas which have worked for her in the past. It might cost you a few hundred bucks, but the results will be better than you'd get with less experienced "talent".

cgardner wrote:
As others have mentioned, "if you build it they will come". Once you have some nice "implied" and more explicit shots in your portfolio it will open the door for inquiries from clients. If you are in a smaller "word of mouth / tongues will wag" market, the implied style would probably be more marketable than the more explicit genre and not affect your image as a wedding / family photographer.

The simplest and quickest way to build a portfolio of nudes from ground zero would be to stop thinking in terms of ways to do it on the cheap and instead hire an experienced nude model and a good make up artist. It would eliminate the awkwardness of approaching strangers with a solicitation to pose au natural with a release allowing you to display the work, and you'd benefit from her experience and from looking at her portfolio for posing and lighting ideas which have worked for her in the past. It might cost you a few hundred bucks, but the results will be better than you'd get with less experienced "talent".


Excellent advice. +3

I have been shooting the figure since 1966. I gave up asking strangers to pose many years ago. It embarasses them, and the answer is no most of the time. I get models from art schools, classified ads and online sites such as model brigade.

I never approach strangers for models. I contact my models through a Swedish model site that is similar to modelmayhem and onemodelplace.

If you have no experience with shooting models nude, then I suggest you find models on those sites that are clearly comfortable with nudity and then offer them a portrait/fashion or whatever kind of shoot that you have experience with and that may be of value for their portfolio.

If you work well with the model and she feels comfortable with working with you, then you can try discussing the possibility of a nude shoot at a later date.

Once you have them on your portfolio, then it gets easier and easier to find models.

The other alternative is to find a model who does nude and offer to pay.