Maybe you and your girl are looking to record a few "memories" for posterity. Or take some sexy shots for some alternative V-Day fun, saving money on an expensive dinner out. Or maybe you're just trying to get that fitness hottie from the gym naked.
Whatever your motivation, taking a sexy nude photo doesn't have to be rocket science. With some simple tips, and a decent digital camera (no embarrassing trips to the one-hour photo), you and your girl can create some hot pics for your private viewing pleasure.
I asked New York City based model, Isobella Jade, to share her insights and expertise, and a few of her personal photos, all by photographer, Robert Milazzo, who also lends a helping hand. (And they have been censored, so I don't piss off my advertisers, and lose the few I have left. But it's all about the "art" anyway, right?)
You can see more of Robert's shots of Isobella in the current issue of
NUDE Magazine, and also catch her in an upcoming episode of
Life on Mars on ABC, where she plays, surprisingly, a stripper.
Here's Isobella:
When it comes to being able to take a sexy photo you don’t need to have the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue on your resume credits, but you do need good lighting, the right angle, and a few handy accessories.
Talk First, Shoot Later
First and foremost, let the model talk. I like it when the photographer asks if I have any ideas to bring to the shot, and I can bring out my creative side and put my personality into the shot. (For example: I made the artistic looking peacock and beaded bikini bottoms in the shots here.)
Map it Out
A photo shoot usually brings better results when the model and photographer are on the same page. When shooting for an editorial in a magazine or an ad campaign, usually there is already a set concept that needs to be done, but the model will be a better model if she understands the concept behind the shoot (not just, "I wanted to see your tits"), no matter if you are in a professional studio or your own man-made one. Especially if she is half naked.
Stroking is Important
Some models might need a vocal ego boost to get in the model mood, but I feel sexier and more confident when the photographer compliments not just my curves but my eyes, cool hair style, or my smile before we start shooting. It lets me
know he wants to take a stunning shot, not just stare at my ass.
Keep it Simple
Even if you are not in a professional photo studio, sometimes the sexiest shots don’t involve a lot of production value. A good shot to start with only involves a piece of red or black or sheet silk and some jewelry. Let the model wrap her self in the fabric, and play with it, and have her lean against a white wall. I like natural sheen fabrics and a white wall, some shadowing in the lighting can make the mood sexy and mysterious. A model will be better able to give you the shot you are seeking if you give her a concept to think about while she shoots, or a mood to focus on. For example tell the model to think about a jewelry ad campaign or a lingerie catalog when shooting.
I also love shooting against a brick wall, a stairway, or simply a wood floor. A vintage chair or couch can also make a simple shot look glamorous and intriguing.
Little Things Help
Having an interesting prop is great but if your model is a little nervous or not in the “model mood” I suggest that she puts some lotion on her legs and pampers her self a little before the shoot. Usually rubbing lotion on my legs and arms warms me up and makes me ready for the shot quickly. Modeling is also about story-telling through imagery and I also think fake eyelashes can do the trick, when it comes to getting excited over a shoot and in the model mood.
Lights, Camera...
To get a good photo you need a confident model, and to get a confident model she needs to feel that you care about how she looks, and the styling, and for this you do need good lighting.
Anyone can look sexy under the right lighting.
So, when it comes to getting better lighting, even without professional lighting equipment, I turn to one of my favorite photographers, New York City based celebrity portrait photographer Robert Milazzo, who says, “One of the sexiest lights you can use is an ordinary table lamp. Let your model get close to it on a couch or on the floor and let the shadows hide parts of her. She can be completely naked without exposing everything (to the camera). Just set your camera to ‘manual’ – many point and shoot cameras have this feature- and adjust the exposure so you have very dark shadows. If your camera doesn’t have a ‘manual’ setting, try pointing the lens at the brightest part of her body, pressing the shutter button in halfway, and then moving the camera to compose the picture the way you want. Try some pictures where you don’t see her face- girls sometimes feel they can be even sexier if they’re anonymous. But either way, your pictures will be very sexy.”
(Which one looks sexier?)
Music Sets the Mood
I agree, some hair in the face is sexy; I love wet hair and a simple black bikini is on my top ten of favorite model props. When it comes to creating the mood to match the lighting, remember that it is also a good idea to play music that goes with the vibe of the shoot. Music will help the model relax and her body will not be so tense, and she will have a better facial expression. Music is better than silence that stiffs the room. If the style of the shoot is “bad ass” then I want to hear rock music. If the style is sex kittenish then I want to hear something more seductive like Janet Jackson’s “That’s the way love goes.” If you have a nervous model have her turn on her favorite song, and suck it up, -you might have to listen to some music you might not like, but the shots will be worth it.
When it comes to positioning the model Robert also says, “To get a good shot you need the right angle, so you should be prepared assist with positioning the model or the girl that you are shooting.”
Strike a Pose
When I am stumped on the pose and how to position my body to get an interesting shot, sometimes I like a real visual from the photographer, this can mean that the photographer has to actually get in the pose to show me - yup you might feel stupid bending your body and lifting your arms - to show her what to do sometimes.
Listening is as Important as Shooting
The biggest part of taking a sexy photo is really being considerate of your model. Robert says, “First, listen to what she’s sensitive about. 99.9% of the girls in the world dislike some part- or parts- of their bodies. At least at first, you want to focus on the parts of her body she’s proud of and avoid the areas she dislikes. This will make her more comfortable.
Second, whatever’s closest to the camera will look largest. If you like the ‘urban’ look, let her stick her butt in front of the lens. If she thinks her butt is too large, don’t. If she thinks her breasts are too small, shoot up at her face from under them- they’ll look huge.
Whenever I shoot a girl for the first time, it’s trial and error. This means I don’t know in advance how her body will look under the lights. So I just try different angles and lighting. Sometimes it can take some adjusting of the lights and her poses to find her look, but I just keep complimenting her and trying different things until something works (and I never show her the bad shots). Eventually, I find her look, she finds her confidence, and we have- most of the time- a great shoot.”
Naked Does Not Always Equal Sexy
Remember getting a sexy shot isn’t just about having a model paint her eyes dark and have her bite her lip or something, the sexiest shots can be simply a girl in a white tank top and jeans laughing on the couch or flipping through a magazine. Sexy isn’t just naked, actually a sexy shot could be the model getting dressed, putting heels on or standing before the mirror showing her curves, while putting on some lip-gloss.
Keep the Moaning to a Minimum
Also remember, not all models like to be moaned at during the shoot, I feel more sexy when the photographer isn’t yelling about how hot I am, but rather, making me laugh. Sexy to me is a girl not trying too hard to pose, and just being herself. Maybe lying in a bed or on a couch and simply showing her backside curve, or standing in lingerie looking out of nearby window showing her silhouette, both are a sexy start to taking a sexy photo.
Robert Milazzo’s Photo Favorites:
Favorite photo accessory: Baby oil
Favorite prop: A small piece of fabric or a silk scarf
Best way to get a girl naked: Make her laugh.
Second best way to get a girl naked: Have her bring a friend to the shoot. (And then, sometimes, you get two girls naked)
Isobella Jade’s Model Favorites:
Favorite photo accessory: Powder. A shiny nose is no fun.
Favorite prop: A pair of high heels can make the shortest model look taller, leaner and more proportioned for the camera.
Best way to get a girl naked: Show her photos first that are similar to your idea. A model will be more comfortable taking it off if she can visualize the shot you are going for first.
www.isobelladreams.com
www.robertmilazzo.com