Some Models Are Just Better Naturally Nude

Though Some Are Not

I can tell by the title of this post, I better tread lightly, but “as a photographer,” just because a girl is willing to take her clothes off, doesn’t make her a great nude model. However, there is photographic beauty in every person, nude for the camera or not, just some female subjects project “photographic nudity” better than others and the end goal in my photography isn’t a nekkid chick in front of my camera, but a fine-art masterpiece.  That is one reason I’m picky about who I photograph nude and it’s not uncommon for me to “not” photograph someone nude, even if they are willing to take their clothes off for my camera.

"Kels" is one of our newest nude models for upcoming Moab and Virgin islands photography workshops.

In fact, as photographers, we should never make nudity a priority in any photo shoot. Sure, who doesn’t like a pretty, sexy, nude girl in front of their camera? However, that doesn’t make it a “must” for every photo shoot and even if a model has qualities about her that make her perfect for a nude photography shoot, that doesn’t mean she’s the “right model” for every location.

As an example, a busty, curvy, blue-eyed blonde, the stereo-typical Playboy type, might be great for “glamour nudes,” or “cheesecake nudes,” but not for fine-art nudes in the Moab area of Utah. Moab is filled with beautiful landscape opportunities for outdoor nudes and the idea is to have a model that can “balance” with the beauty of the Moab environment but not take away from it—as mother Earth’s beauty is just as important as nature’s beauty of a living being.  It’s this critical balance that provides a true contrast between natural things and nature itself in a photograph. However, that doesn’t mean the model for a place like Moab has less beauty qualities either, it just means she’s better “cut” for landscapes and not man-made objects.

On the other hand, if I’m looking for a nude model for a Playboy style shoot, say featuring a muscle car, then I might go for a more “curvy” model type verses a less curvy model. Like using the right tool for the right outcome when it comes to photographic equipment, it’s the same with models, the right model for the right setting or intended result, especially when working in the editorial nude photography genre.
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