Bella... Creatively Provocative

 

Bella likes to combine three themes in a shoot, and this appears very successful. She wanted to play with the sensual secretary trope, working through more provocative, erotic themes. I let her lead the concept and shot these at F1.8 using natural light and a 50mm prime lens. This gives a nice depth of field, sharp image quality, and appropriate physical distance between model and photographer.     

 Art nude and other genres are open to interpretation. The hard and fast rule being that full frontal, exposed genitals should not feature.

However, others would consider concealed and implied nude as artistic nudity. Therefore, it's very important to be crystal clear about the content and terms before shooting. Some models would be very happy being bottomless and using a camera body to obscure their pubic triangle, others feel this a step too far. 

A model might be happy to reveal their breasts but conceal their nipples. Either way, never assume and never push someone's levels. Modela and indeed photographers should never be expected, or cajoled into doing something they are not entirely comfortable with. Aside from being deeply unethical, this will always tell in the images.

Bella Casual Sensuality

 

Bella took a break from modelling during the last trimester of her pregnancy and a year later reached out to me with a desire to return to modelling. She feared a loss of modelling mojo and was a little self-conscious about her post-pregnancy body. However, as the images Illustrate, she required but a few frames to regain her stride and confidence. 

We’d discussed a blend of themes, one a homage to Cindy Crawford, with a further two mixing lingerie and implied nude.  For this shoot, we’d elected to capture her with natural hair. Bella is very creative and engaging. Traits that make the rapport, comfort and conversation flow easily.  I shot these using natural light, a simple reflector and alternating between 33 and 50mm prime lenses and hope to work with her again, soon.   

Down By The River With Elle

 

Elle and I had last shot together at the close of January, so I was pleased when she suggested a location themed shoot. The directive was a little loose but a mix of swimwear, lingerie and some topless. This required a fitting location that was within mutually convenient travelling distance.

I suggested a couple and both resonated with her. Suitably discreet, where were unlikely to encounter dog walkers and young families. Children and nudity don’t mix, yet not too secluded that either party might feel uncomfortable. The entrance I had chosen wasn’t as picturesque as we’d hoped but sometimes it’s about thinking laterally and making best use of your environment. 

I had defaulted to the Sony A6300 and 50mm 1.8 prime. 50mm primes are often referred to as the “nifty fifty” given their versatility and they are a great choice for portraits and headshots. Though she wasn’t overly taken with the immediate surroundings, the use of bokeh ensured she was the main focal point. Ultimately, we were happy with the images captured during our two hours. 

Blue: Tattooed Dancer

 

Blue has a dance background and approached me regarding shooting a range of themes, from lingerie to full-frontal nudes. Themes I am comfortable shooting, provided they tell a story and where appropriate, capture something of the model’s personality.

Blue was very personable, warm and engaging, which makes my job that bit easier, although I always make time to cultivate rapport before and during the shoot. I took these with a single lens-mounted reflector and using only window light.

Thankfully there was ample, negating need for slow shutter speeds and tripods, allowing me to weave about seamlessly taking frames while the conversation flowed, and Blue wasn’t overly aware of the camera- a technique I practiced while getting candid shots of people in industrial contexts. We achieved a pleasing amount well within the allotted two-hours and have agreed to shoot again at a mutually convenient time.  

Rose

 

Rose is a very experienced model from a performing arts background. I’d seen her work and was very aware of her professionally for a few years. Serendipity and closer geographical proximity saw us arranging a shoot. This had to be rearranged on a couple of occasions, due to bereavement and other, unforeseeable events.  

We discussed themes beginning with boudoir and culminating with art nude.  

The graduation is part narrative but on a very practical level, respect for the model. While experienced photographers and models can quickly find rapport, especially if pre-shoot communication is of a high standard and conducted properly, gentle, tapered progression is always preferable. Basic decency and respect aside, it makes for a more comfortable, relaxed and fluid shoot-which ultimately tells in the images.  

Rapport quickly established; our shoot extended the two hours scheduled. I shot the mono images with my Fuji XT100 and 50mm 1.8 Viltrox lens. The colour were taken with my Sony A7 and 35mm 1.8 and A6300 with 23mm 1.4 Viltrox .  

Bella Almost Bare

 

Bella and I had been discussing a few implied nude themes. The sort that showed enough to be suggestive and sensual but within the boundaries of what would be acceptable to family and friends were they seen in the public domain. She and I often say an air of suggestion and sensuality is harder to capture, but more pleasing than gratuitous nudity. We had discussed a theme ranging from the “Sunday morning” white blouse and lingerie to something closer to the matrix and then some bolder implied nudes using flowers. I had expressed a desire to capture a mix of colour and monochrome. Bella has very even skin tone which helps, but the contrast was further accentuated by using contrasting pale white lingerie.