Milli wrote:
Many reasons...

1.  my parents would not approve
2.  my boyfriend would never let me
3.  I don't think I have the right body to do it

1- You can`t live for their approval. Most parents of models don`t know all of what their son/daughter poses for, especially when it comes to art nudes which are not always done for big time publication,etc.

2- Have you talked with him about it seriously? Shown him examples? Told him that some photographers would even let him be there?I have talked to quite a few boyfriends who said their girl couldn`t pose for nudes and once they talked to me personally, they changed their mind. A lot of boyfriends are just scared the photographer is doing nudes out of perversion or oggling their girl or trying to get in their panties. Once they see this is not the case some do change their mind.

3- Hog wash!There is really no right or wrong body type for true art nudes of any medium from drawing to photography.

Milli wrote:
Many reasons...

1.  my parents would not approve
2.  my boyfriend would never let me
3.  I don't think I have the right body to do it

I can take care of #3. 1&2 are on you.My experience is that Parents will love you no matter what and if the guy is that fickle, maybe now is the best time to find it out. Before it's legally binding. Doe he approve of you doing "Implied nude"? Doe he realize you are nude in front of the photographer when you do that? IF the answer is yes then the main objection he would have against full nude would be that it was sexual or demeaning in nature. Fine Art Nudes are neither.

Primal Lens wrote:

1- You can`t live for their approval. Most parents of models don`t know all of what their son/daughter poses for, especially when it comes to art nudes which are not always done for big time publication,etc.

2- Have you talked with him about it seriously? Shown him examples? Told him that some photographers would even let him be there?I have talked to quite a few boyfriends who said their girl couldn`t pose for nudes and once they talked to me personally, they changed their mind. A lot of boyfriends are just scared the photographer is doing nudes out of perversion or oggling their girl or trying to get in their panties. Once they see this is not the case some do change their mind.

3- Hog wash!There is really no right or wrong body type for true art nudes of any medium from drawing to photography.

Hmm...I think maybe he can be convinced.
But the thing about my parents is...well my mom is a pastor...so, ahhh she would kill me if she found out.  I don't know I guess I'm paranoid that some one in my family will find it online one day if I do it.  I found one of my sister who models and I had no idea she was into that (it wasn't artistic).
For some reason, don't ask why, my brother decided to google my name a while ago and found some random stuff that almost got me in trouble, very silly story, but the point is I would not want them to stumble upon it.

Mike Walker wrote:

I can take care of #3. 1&2 are on you.My experience is that Parents will love you no matter what and if the guy is that fickle, maybe now is the best time to find it out. Before it's legally binding. Doe he approve of you doing "Implied nude"? Doe he realize you are nude in front of the photographer when you do that? IF the answer is yes then the main objection he would have against full nude would be that it was sexual or demeaning in nature. Fine Art Nudes are neither.

He almost did not want me to do implied nudes, but I convinced him because nothing would be showing.  I haven't done a shoot yet but I have a couple set up for the beginning of next year.

Ransom J wrote:
I've never understood how an adult can say that another person won't LET them do something.

Okay so maybe not "let", but approve.

Milli wrote:

Okay so maybe not "let", but approve.

So what if he doesn't approve?  You're grown.

Milli wrote:
But the thing about my parents is...well my mom is a pastor.
For some reason, don't ask why, my brother decided to google my name a while ago and found some random stuff that almost got me in trouble

I have to say you might need to give mom more credit. I come from a Christian family, my father has been a pastor ever since I was a baby. Mom and dad love my work and even requested prints of a couple.
As for googling your name, there is the use of a stage name that is possible. I for one either offer the model the option to use a stage name or leave her name out entirely.There are also faceless nudes,shots where your head is turned, face is obscured,etc.

Master wrote:
I wonder how many black model's parents are pastors?

Um??

Why??

Primal Lens wrote:
I have to say you might need to give mom more credit. I come from a Christian family, my father has been a pastor ever since I was a baby. Mom and dad love my work and even requested prints of a couple.
As for googling your name, there is the use of a stage name that is possible. I for one either offer the model the option to use a stage name or leave her name out entirely.There are also faceless nudes,shots where your head is turned, face is obscured,etc.

Good idea...I need to use a stage name.
Edit:  and you're right, it is art after all.

Primal Lens wrote:
As for googling your name, there is the use of a stage name that is possible. I for one either offer the model the option to use a stage name or leave her name out entirely.

I've never condoned this.  Not for the sake of concealing your actions due to shame at least.  I'm more of the mind that you shoot what you want to be shown.  period.  Understand that if you shoot it it MIGHT get in the hands of the last person you would want to see it, so if you aren't comfortable with that then don't shoot it.  Saves  lot of drama on both sides of the lens.

Ransom J wrote:

So what if he doesn't approve?  You're grown.

Yes, but I really do respect his approval.
He has not done many things because I didn't approve, and vice versa.
I think if I fight it enough though, he might relent.

Ransom J wrote:

I've never condoned this.  Not for the sake of concealing your actions due to shame at least.  I'm more of the mind that you shoot what you want to be shown.  period.  Understand that if you shoot it it MIGHT get in the hands of the last person you would want to see it, so if you aren't comfortable with that then don't shoot it.  Saves  lot of drama on both sides of the lens.

Very true...and exactly why I probably won't do it.

Thanks to all for the feedback though.

Milli wrote:

Yes, but I really do respect his approval.
He has not done many things because I didn't approve, and vice versa.
I think if I fight it enough though, he might relent.

Respect is a two way street.  If it's something you want to do and it doesn't hurt you then he'd be RESPECTING you by not making it an issue.

Ransom J wrote:

Respect is a two way street.  If it's something you want to do and it doesn't hurt you then he'd be RESPECTING you by not making it an issue.

I never thought of it that way....
hmm...good point.  I am going to use that argument, thanks.

Ransom J wrote:

So what if he doesn't approve?  You're grown.

that's not the point. if she did a nude, maybe they would feel dissapointed, or upset that she is exposing her naked body to other people and strangers.

Danella L. wrote:

that's not the point. if she did a nude, maybe they would feel dissapointed, or upset that she is exposing her naked body to other people and strangers.

Again, So what?  She's grown.

Milli wrote:
I think its an artform....I might actually do it.

Its not like its porn or anything.  Besides, the human body is beautiful!  I'll tell them that.

Seriously, don't do it until you just don't give a fuck what they think one way or another.  If you go into it trying to get their acceptance than no matter how beautiful the pics come out, if they don't accept them you WON"T be happy with the result.

Ransom J wrote:

Seriously, don't do it until you just don't give a fuck what they think one way or another.  If you go into it trying to get their acceptance than no matter how beautiful the pics come out, if they don't accept them you WON"T be happy with the result.

Yeah I was thinking of waiting much longer, further down the road in the future to see if I still want to do it.

Danella L. wrote:

that's not the point. if she did a nude, maybe they would feel dissapointed, or upset that she is exposing her naked body to other people and strangers.

Being grown up means you are responsible for your own decisions - and those decisions may lead you somewhere that someone else may not approve of.  Such is life. You are ultimately responsible for You and no one else. If you spend all your time trying to please everyone else, the only person who ends up displeased is you.

The decision to pose for suggestive and/or nude pictures is yours and yours alone.  As someone said here, Respect is a two way street, most especially when you are an adult.  You have to do what is Right for you.

As for the boyfriend, if he can't understand and support you, he's not the right boyfriend for you.

As for the family, well....they saw you nude before any of us

As for the pastor in the family...yeah, I can appreciate that aspect - but remember, God gave you what you have.  As long as you use it and don't abuse it....and remember, Time flies. Life is short.  Carpe Diem!

As for photographers willing to work with you....well, ummm....there's a lot of us around these parts.  I know I've certainly seen a lot of great photography on here!

-R

Rowen wrote:
As for the family, well....they saw you nude before any of us

lol.

Rowen wrote:
As for the pastor in the family...yeah, I can appreciate that aspect - but remember, God gave you what you have.  As long as you use it and don't abuse it....and remember, Time flies. Life is short.  Carpe Diem!

Another good point.

Milli wrote:
more I see artistic nudes, the more I want to do them. But I can't

Ms Milli, of course, nudes, artistic or not, are not for everyone. you may decide to do a maxim-style image, one that is very tasteful & suggestive without being flagrantly nude. afterwards you might decide you like the resulting image, you might not, but you would have an idea whether you wanted to shoot any further.

may sound like a cliché ... but stick to your beliefs. if the "right" time comes, you will know; likely will involve a photographer with whom you feel very comfortable.

g'luck to you! hang in there!

~ F

Frank M. Lopez wrote:

Ms Milli, of course, nudes, artistic or not, are not for everyone. you may decide to do a maxim-style image, one that is very tasteful & suggestive without being flagrantly nude. afterwards you might decide you like the resulting image, you might not, but you would have an idea whether you wanted to shoot any further.

may sound like a cliché ... but stick to your beliefs. if the "right" time comes, you will know; likely will involve a photographer with whom you feel very comfortable.

g'luck to you! hang in there!

~ F

Thanks

Vance wrote:
NOTE>>I AM not being mean..

You will be doing nudes in 2007. You have already decided. You are building couraqge right now. AND good for you! Expand into something you are drawn too, that is the nature of art.

I have one suggestion for you. LOOK within...All of this advice is fine and dandy..but in the end you know what drives you and what you are drawn too. Run towards passion, not away.

Best wishes..

Vance

Oh no, I'm doing IMPLIED nude in 07.  Sorry I guess I wasn't clear on that.  But you are right about knowing what drives me.  Thanks.

Vance to Milli wrote:
You will be doing nudes in 2007. You have already decided.

(*looks into Magic 8 Ball*) no, i dunno. says nothing definite here. we can't read her mind & don't what she'll do.

(*reaches for Tarot Cards*) hmm,..., no, still dunno.

hang in there Ms Milli! hang in there!

~ F

Frank M. Lopez wrote:

(*looks into Magic 8 Ball*) no, i dunno. says nothing definite here. we can't read her mind & don't what she'll do.

(*reaches for Tarot Cards*) hmm,..., no, still dunno.

hang in there Ms Milli! hang in there!

~ F

I'd put 100 on it....any day...

No cards needed...LOL.

I've seen this a hundred times before...those little baby steps to doing nudes. She wont make it to 2008 without at least on artistic nude.


LMAO

RanIan wrote:
Sadly America is the most sexually repressed society west of Saudi Arabia... Most women I have met here have been brainwashed about sex being a high priced commodity i.e given in ultra small doses for a lot of effort on any guy's part.

In terms of artistic work no wonder globalization means also tons of foreign actresses or models have the edge... not because they are "easy" nudity wise, but simply don't consider it a big deal or a symbol of degradation. I mean when you're in that bikini you're already 97% naked... so big friggin deal if you show the nipples or that bush (or lack of it).

Very true.  Are Americans obsessed with breasts, nipples and genitalia...or are we a country obsessed with hiding them behind even the skimpiest scraps of fabric.

Scribe of Souls wrote:
I'm 53 and my Dad passed away 10 years ago and my Mom passed away 4 years ago.  When us kids were going through the estate we found some nude pics, pinup style, taken with a poloroid in the late 50's or early 60's.  They were beautiful and the pics were very tasteful and artsy (more Marilyn Monroe type) and to our surprise, when I looked closer, being the photographer in the family. they were of our Mother. 

All but one of my siblings (my oldest sister who is married to a preacher) also thought they were beautiful pics of Mom in her younger years (she easily could have been a model).  We set them aside to think about what to do with them. While sorting through more family pics, my oldest sister went to look at them again and when she picked them up she shredded them into tiny pieces, much to our horror.  She said she was not going to let pornographic smut of HER mother exist to tarnish her memory.

Mom had kept those pictures for almost 50 years.  To me that says she liked them and appreciated having those pics of her "younger days".  Mom & Dad always had nude paintings (old masters) and statues around the house when we were growing up and taught us to appreciate the human form in art.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that my sister tried to make the photos dirty and slutty and even made the comment she couldn't belive that Mom would pose in such a slutty way and that in the pictures was acting like a whore.  It made the rest of us sick to think of what she had done and destroyed.  There was no way to salvage them, but we at least still have the memories of what a beautiful woman Mom was and will always be in our hearts.

If you want to do Artistic Nudes, I say go for it.  The only question you have to answer to yourself is, "Later in life will you look back and regret having done Artistic Nudes or will you regret not having done them?"

Aww thats sad that she did that.
And to answer that question...I don't think I would regret doing them, but I can't be too sure as of right now.

Milli wrote:
They're very intriguing...and there are so many exceptional ones on this site!

The more I see artistic nudes, the more I want to do them. 
But I can't

Just a random thought.

Creating exceptional nudes does not mandate sharing of same. That which is created in private has the luxury of staying private. 

bt

Bruce Talbot wrote:

Creating exceptional nudes does not mandate sharing of same. That which is created in private has the luxury of staying private. 

bt

you cannot live your life thinking that you can live hidden. Everything you are is exposed... one day. "all those things which are in darkness will come into the light."

Milli wrote:
But the thing about my parents is...well my mom is a pastor...so, ahhh she would kill me if she found out.

Perhaps no one bats an eye about it today, but your mom has brooked convention by being a pastor.  How many disapproving people did she turn a blind eye to when they told her she shouldn't/couldn't be a pastor.

A woman should not have spiritual authority over a man...and all that.  Brooked conventional interpretation as well.

So mom is do as I say not as I do?