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The more I see artistic nudes...
Bruce Talbot wrote: Very well said... Dec 15 06 07:21 am Link Milli wrote: #1: You're right, they might not approve, but if THEY are not living your life and fulfilling your dreams, whims and or fantasies.. you are. You live your life to meet YOUR approval, not that of your parents Dec 15 06 07:49 am Link You'll never ever make everyone happy. What you have to decide is whether you want to make yourself happy. That, at least, should be achievable if you spend a little time each day working on it. Dec 15 06 07:53 am Link Milli wrote: You have a lingerie shot with a CFM look in your portfolio. To me those are always "dirtier" than tasteful art nudes. Dec 15 06 10:04 am Link Scribe of Souls wrote: I'm so sorry! Your sister should seek professional help. That's not healthy behavior. Dec 15 06 10:06 am Link Milli wrote: Thou shalt not kill...she's stuck! Dec 15 06 10:11 am Link Milli, IF you decide to do artistic nudes (and yes, you DO have a bodystyle that would work well in that arena) then give us a shout, we'd love to help you out. All our work is tastefully done. Dec 15 06 10:13 am Link Ransom J wrote: C'mon! Having a relationship sometimes means not doing something for no other reason than it'll make the partner uncomfortable. Relationships are give and take. In my 25 year relationship (married for 18) both my wife and I have bent for the other many times. Dec 15 06 10:17 am Link Scribe of Souls wrote: Your sister who was married to a preacher, and the OP's mother is one. Dec 15 06 10:22 am Link If you aren't comfortable going directly to nudes in photography you could consider modeling for life drawing artists at a local college or gallery first. This will get you comfortable with being nude in front of others, and when you see some of the artwork resulting from your efforts, you will feel better about it. Also, you might want to use artwork to break the ice with your family. A drawing or painting of a nude model is usually better accepted by others than a photo is. I have model extensively myself for artists over the years, and currently specialize in creating sets of reference photos for artists to work from. I can assure you that artists or art students are very accepting of every size, shape, and age. Dec 15 06 10:28 am Link Ought To Be Shot wrote: Yeah and if you would be the type that would stop your wife from doing something SHE wanted to do that DIDN'T hurt her just because it made YOU uncomfortable then you aren't doing much giving and all taking. Dec 15 06 10:30 am Link I can give you my take on numbers one and three... My papa is old school. The man would never, and I mean never, be happy to find out that his oldest daughter has nude photographs all over the internet. When I considered seriously doing art modeling (which is almost always nude), I had to think long and hard about that. If you do this, assume that at some point the person you least want to see the photographs will come across them. Just presume it's going to happen, despite your best efforts. Even if you're embarrassed, or it's uncomfortable, can you stand by your decision and be proud of what you've been part of creating? If the answer is no, then you shouldn't shoot them, period. For me, the answer was, "Well it would be excruciating, but I am still damn proud of the body of work I've created, so I can stand by my choices and feel that I've made them with integrity." So, I became an art model. But that's just for me. You really - really - need to spend some time with the question before you make a decision, because once you've gone down that path, you can't go back. There's no recalling nude photos once they're on the internet, so be as sure as you can be that it is the right choice for you. There's always, as Bruce said, the option of privately commissioning photos just for you and your sweetie. (That's what got me into this in the first place!) As to body type, well, if I can model nude, anyone can. Seriously. Art modeling is the most forgiving genre of modeling there is, because literally anyone has the potential to do it. Good luck with your decision.  Dec 15 06 10:32 am Link Ransom J wrote: Sometimes that's not the reason at all. Sometimes a person feels something is morally wrong (I'm not saying this is or isn't) within their own heart, and use others as excuses why they won't/can't do something. Dec 15 06 10:34 am Link I make nude photographs almost exclusively -- hopefully, they qualify as "artistic". I am a little surprised by the responses on this thread. Seems to me that the vast majority of the responses were intended to help you decide to pose nude; many folks have adopted different strategies to help you change your mind (or original post said that you don't want to pose nude). So, speaking for the silent art photographers (or for just myself, perhaps), I'd say that nude modeling just isn't for everyone, for various reasons. You mention three good reasons. Yes, many nude models create uncomfortable (or even damaging) situations with family & friends, and for many folks, those difficulties are simply not worth the hassle. Many models are not sufficiently comfortable with their bodies to expose it all, and speaking for myself, if the model is uncomfortable with her posing, the resulting images are rarely worthwhile. I, for one, will accept whatever decision you make. You don't have to pose nude if you don't want to. Dec 15 06 11:10 am Link Scribe of Souls wrote: I grew up in Germany and thus have a different outlook from many as far as nude art goes. My sister is also a photographer, in Germany www.foto-amling.de. At her studio she has three display windows overlooking the market square of her town. One window is exclusively dedicated to nude photographic art. If I were do display my nude photographic art in the same manner here in Minneapolis, I would probably get arrested. Dec 15 06 11:19 am Link Conflicts of this nature with parents can break a relationship. Especially when there are moral objections, regardless how wrong they may be. You need to ask yourself âIs this worth the consequence?â. It is not really any of the boyfriendâs business. Artistic nudes are a personal choice for many. What BT said. I have taken a lot of nudes that have never been seen by anyone other then myself, the subject and those they wish to share them with. Dec 15 06 11:25 am Link Milli wrote: Some great points have been made here, so I will make mine brief. Dec 15 06 11:44 am Link I have been shooting figurative art for probably as long as you have been alive and show a large number of them on my web site. They have been exhibited in art galleries throughout the US, in Canada, in New Zealand, in Italy and Germany. They sell to art collectors and to others for use as home decor. With that having been said, I have never tried to convince someone to pose nude. Over 90% of the ladies on my web site were not 'models' at all, instead they came from all walks of life and frequently travel substantial distances to pose. My last session was with a lady who traveled from the Denver area to Atlanta for her session. They come from all occupations and all ages, ranging from 18 into their early 60s. There is no right body type for the artistic nude. If you look at my site you'll see everything from the very skinny to the very heavy. They all found posing for B&W nude art to be interesting to them and wanted to get it a try and to have the images for their own use. Take a look at my web site, http://www.distinctiveimages.com, and tell me if you can pick out the corporate executive, the airline pilot, the military officer or the pastor (Yeah, I said pastor, one of them is a working minister.) Can you pick out a couple of models who "do not do nudes"? No you can't because we made simple agreements to the effect no image would be used on the internet which showed the face and no true name would be used. That's easy because in most figurative art the intent is for the model to be anonymous. Art collectors prefer a photograph of "woman" rather than of a woman. Many of the ladies in their 40s and 50s commented that they had wanted to pose nude while in their 20s, but didn't do it because of fear of family reactions. As they grew older, they no longer looked the same, but were mature enough to make their own decisions. Find a photograpehr you feel you can trust and whose work you like, make a written agreement to the effect that your face will not be shown and your name not used, then if if you want to do it, do it. Dec 15 06 12:14 pm Link There's nothing wrong with appreciating artistic nudes without doing it. It's like appreciating fine food without wanting to be a chef. Everyone has boundaries, and the opinions of friends, family, and SOs *do* matter. At the end of the day, they're the ones who will support you, not the photographers shooting you. Your relations are the ones who will help you out in times of need, not the photographers. If you continue to be intrigued by artistic nudes, I suggest finding a photographer whose work you really like and is very tasteful, then show it to friends/family/BF and see what they think. If you get their support, you'll likely feel more comfortable. But if you personally feel uncomfortable doing nude work, you shouldn't! Dec 15 06 12:29 pm Link Never let your boyfreind tell you what to do....Ever. Dec 15 06 12:31 pm Link Go read Shyly's post again because she's right on target and it bears repeating. I've worked with models who email me after the shoot to tell me grandma loved the pictures, and others who want to make sure I use their stage name so they can't be googled for whatever reason. Personally, if you think about going down that path, you have to assume they'll see them sooner or later. Use a stage name to defer that, but don't do it unless you're willing to have that conversation at some point. Once the shots hit the net somebody's going to save them. Heck, I just had some idiot copy my pictures to put in "their" portfolio - if I'd deleted those pictures off my site your parents would be asking how you worked with a photographer in another state. :-) At some point I had to "come out" with my in-laws - I had a little set of pictures ranging from implied nude to full nude, and kind of set them out one at a time figuring I'd stop if their heads looked ready to explode. Thank God mother-in-law appreciates art and she got to the very end. Think about doing that. If the pain of doing it would be more than the joy of creating the art, don't do it. If you're not sure, don't do it. The world isn't going to end if there's one less nude model in it. Edit: I should also add, this is why I do a pretty good business in nude portrait work. Folks want the experience and a couple of prints without the risk of the pictures getting out there. So it's not just you! Dec 15 06 12:39 pm Link Milli wrote: Family or friends googling my name can cause problems too, and it has in the past. That's why I don't use my first name on any site where I have my nude photography anymore. I use my middle name, which no one in my family would associate with me, because I don't use it otherwise. Dec 15 06 12:39 pm Link Bruce Talbot wrote: ravens laughter wrote: I disagree. Private â Hidden. Dec 15 06 12:42 pm Link They are in many cases, beautiful artistic works. That said... The more I see artistic nudes... the more they all start to look the same. Kinda boorish. At one time it was really on the forefront of what I wanted to create. So I googled artistic nudes and looked at many photographers websites with countless beautiful works of art to gain inpiration. After awhile, I started to question if I had seen the same pose, lighting, etc. on someone elses site just with an elbow here instead of there or perhaps a bit more cropping on this side, etc., I started to think.... not only am I bored with it (just looking at it) but can I really create something where somebody will think any different than what I am thinking right now. At this very burned out moment? Dec 15 06 12:44 pm Link If you are curious to experience modelling for art nude images, you should do so. As other people have said, you could keep the pictures for your eyes only. As for modelling for others to see the art nude images, that is a different matter. Of course you have the right to do it, as you are an adult and live in a society that does not prohibit women from modelling. Whether you should do it is a matter for your careful consideration. We don't all have to exercise every right we possess - it is also your right not to have to do it [gentle smile]. I come from a very traditional Japanese background and work in a very conservative academic environment. Most people would not expect me to also model for art nude images. However, it has been my experience that most people who really have any claim to comment on my activities know me well enough to respect my decision. The few who express negative opinions tend to be the ones on the periphery, who do not know me well enough to understand the thought behind the action. It is worth remembering that once a picture has been published it may well be around for ever, so be prepared for the pictures of your twenties to be seen in your fifties. Dec 15 06 02:07 pm Link Milli wrote: Number 1....you stated your mom was a pastor.....So what she has religious beliefs.......before Adam and Eve ate the fruit of life they were naked....point this out to her if she has a problem with it. God was displeased when Adam and Eve became ASHAMED of their bodies and hid them with fig leaves. Dec 15 06 02:51 pm Link Milli wrote: 1. Dont tell Dec 15 06 02:54 pm Link Milli wrote: 1. Parents are more forgiving than you think. I wouldn't let them find out from a secondary source as it is the feeling of being the last to know that hurts them more than finding out you posed naked. Dec 15 06 03:20 pm Link Milli wrote: For 1 & 2 consider the proverb that goes," It's easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission" Not that you need anybody's permission... Dec 15 06 03:27 pm Link Kimberley wrote: Hum...i wonder if you feel you have the right, then, to tell your boyfriend what to do and expect him to do it. Dec 15 06 04:22 pm Link NovaG wrote: Of course one can have that right. They also have the right to be disappointed when an adult makes an independent adult decision. Dec 15 06 05:00 pm Link Turn your head. Lots of art nudes don't include a face, or head. Dec 15 06 05:25 pm Link reason number 2 is often cited & i cannot believe it. is this 1890? or 1950? what happened to independent women? my wife & i are nearly 60--college in the 60's. if i were to tell her that she could not do something, she would immediately do it to show me that she is independent. we are mutually respectful of each other's autonomy. i've been shooting artistic nudes for 40 years and every time i hear this weak excuse from a model i'm dumbfounded. i do not understand why any woman would want anything to do with man who thought he had the right to make decisions for her. end of rant. hook em horns! UT '69 jack Dec 15 06 05:26 pm Link Milli wrote: Milli is going to show the Vanilli..Whooooo! Dec 15 06 05:27 pm Link Milli wrote: 1. They had their turn. Now it's yours. Dec 15 06 05:28 pm Link Milli wrote: Move to Canada, we're naked here all the time and no one makes a big deal out of it Dec 15 06 05:30 pm Link RanIan wrote: I agree. Dec 15 06 05:30 pm Link Bruce Talbot wrote: I agree. Your port is for photographers and related profesionals to see. Should not be for your Mom and Dad. High quality artistic nudes is a sign of a state of profesionalism. Dec 15 06 05:36 pm Link Milli wrote: Do it for yourself. Not portfolio. Not publication. Just a private photo album for yourself. Dec 15 06 05:42 pm Link did your boyfriend purchase you? and to think i thought that feminism had come farther than this... "I'm not allowed to do this because my boyfriend say so" are some words no modern woman should have to say. consider why it might make him upset and take his opinion seriously, but don't let him dictate your actions. Dec 15 06 05:44 pm Link |
