The Art of Glamour and Nude Photography

Creating nude portraits has long been an element of art - instead of capturing these portraits with the brush on canvas; today they are captured with the pixel.

Since the invention of photography the naked human body has been a natural subject for photographers and there has always been a large audience there for it.

What is glamour photography? Glamour photography covers a wide range - from the partial nude body, which you may see an a billboard advertising ladies underwear to the erotic images or the full nude body you may see on Page 3 of some papers or adult magazines.

There are no special elements to photographing glamour; all the standard photography techniques remain the same. Care should be taken when photographing models, nude or partially nude because some may find a sexual element attached to it.

Finding a market: Glamour photography remains one of the most lucrative areas of freelance photography. For a student trying to break into the glamour photography market, he would be well advised to use a film camera over digital. Film will give you warmer skin tones and give you a greater chance of being published.

When trying to find suitable markets for your glamour photography, the same principles apply as in any other photography field. You must study "Glamour Photography Publications" to find out what sort of material they use.

Where to shoot: If you don't have your own studio, don't worry. Most of the great glamour images are shot on location. Shooting in the natural environment will be rewarding - use the early morning light to give extra warmth to the skin. Try different places - your neighbours hay barn can make an effective setting for a glamour image or if you have an attractive garden - perfect.

Choosing a model: One of the basic elements of glamour photography is a willing model. If you are having trouble finding one try your local art classes. People with an ambition to be a model may let you do test work. But if you are serious about being a glamour photographer you should work with a professional model.

Nude Photography - The Art Behind It

The human body is the most beautiful and perfect art form ever created. For centuries artist have tried to capture its mysterious allure and very few have done it justice. Sculptors have spent years chipping away at a piece of stone, or delicately forming clay in the hopes of immortalizing a simple smile or the gentle curve of a hip. Painters have labored over their canvases trying desperately to bring life to the portrait of a beautiful woman, and very few have succeeded.

Nude photography is the latest of these artistic endeavors attempting to inspire a connection between the observer and the subject. This art form is a very flexible medium and through the use of light and shadow it can weave a very complex tapestry of eroticism and attraction. It also has many shades of seduction that it can portray from playful to demanding and the casual voyeur cannot help but be drawn in to its siren call. The models used for nude photography sessions are artists as well and are able to connect with the observer through the camera lens and convey a sense of intimacy and seduction few other art forms can accomplish. When it's done right, nude photography can elicit feelings of carnal attraction that can be overwhelming.

Another advantage that nude photography has over other similar art forms is that it can deliver the final image in a wide variety of styles. A simple choice between monochromatic or color for the film will give the viewer a different level of access. Lenses and lighting can amplify the subject and draw the observer in even deeper. Positions of the body as well as the level of nudity in the image all play into delivering the perfect enchanting experience. Nude photography has matured into a well-respected art form, appreciated by millions the world over. The variety of styles, subjects and settings make this medium a very dynamic and creative experience for the subjects and observers alike. The magic it creates when the subject, photographer and settings align can leave you breathless.

Nude Photography - How to Photograph the Nude

Nude Photogrpahy is not what many people think it is and I don't feel like writing more than I have too in defense of it.

Nude photography has been around since the invention of the camera, even longer, nudes have been portrayed in well known works of art. Portrayal of the human body is also as old as the Greek and Roman civilizations and their very well known marble statues.

Nude photography is not erotic photography where the intention is to suggest sexuality. Nude photography is also not pornography, where images are meant to show explicit sexual acts. Nor is nude photography the same as glamour or boudoir photography, although they can sometimes intermingle. Both glamour and boudoir emphasize the model.

In its essence, nude photography is a medium in which the form and shape, line and texture of the humna body is the main element and its main emphasis. In most types of photography, the model or the subject are easily identifiable, most portraits show the model's face, in opposition, most nudes rarely show the model's face or at least the face is not clearly recognizable. The emphasis is, again, on the form and line of the body itself.

A search of photographic nudes will yield ample results in which you can see nudes portrayed as unrecognizable entities, under extreme or with very creative lighting, and on artistic poses which emulate the artists of old.

The market for nude photography is geared or aimed towards the production of images to be used as artistic impressions, the same as it would be with standard paintings. There is also a market for nudes in the calendar, poster and greeting card industry, although they are not easily found, and no you can't get them at Wall-mart. Book publishing is also a lucrative arena for nudes. The key is to represent them in tasteful poses where the form, shape, line and texture are the main points.

Contrary to other types of photography, most nudes do not emphasize the typical model persona or body type, instead most use models that are regular everyday people like you and me, most nude photos show parts of the body or just enough to hint.

Nude photography is well suited for the studio although nature offers very suitable forums to showcase it. Creative use of light adds an exciting venue which lends itself quite well for this type of photography also.

Nude photography is very adept for black and white photography as this type of medium has the characteristic of highlighting shape, line and form more than its color counterpart. Plus as many would say, black and white photography adds charm and intrigue to any photograph and any subject.