How to Photograph Implied Nudity

In this article, you will learn how to shoot the genre known as "implied nudity," where a model may be nude, but no actual nudity is shown in the final image.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Photographic equipment (camera, lights, reflectors, etc.)
• A model (or models)
• Props, clothing or a location conducive to occluding nudity.

1. Be clear on your goals! Often, the purpose of an implied nude shot is to create a sexy image that can be used someplace where a nude would be inappropriate. Magazines such as Maxim and Stuff define this genre in that they are filled with sexy images, but never have actual nudity.
   
   Images destined for advertisements are often shot as implied nudes. Face it, sex sells, but you can't show full nudity in most magazines (well, most American magazines).

2. Ensure your model is comfortable, knows the intent of the shoot, and is prepared to take direction. Only you, looking through your lens, can tell if there is too much showing or not. Your model should trust that you will tell her if too much is exposed and not be constantly looking nervous!

3. 
    
   Occlusion of breast with arm. (Model: Jessica Ashlie)

   Occlude breasts with hands or arms. It is to note that making the "hand bra" is often seen as very cliche in some photographic circles, so try to be a bit more creative. Have your model use an arm to occlude a breast instead of simply covering it with her hand. Keeping the nipple and aureole fully-covered takes the image from a nude to an implied-nude.

4. 
    
   Occlusion of model with a prop (Model: Joelle)

   Often, a completely nude model can be occluded with a prop to make an image much more compelling than if the model were in plain view. In this image, the snowboard covers the model enough to keep the image non-nude, but makes it clear that she is nude behind it, leaving everything to the viewer's imagination.

5. 
    
   Silhouettes eliminate detail, but retain form (Model: Carlise Lamb)

   To capture the beauty of a figure nude, but avoid the image actually being a nude, shoot in silhouette. Meter your shot for the light background and the model will be cast fully into shadow.

6. 
    
   Hair, if long, makes a perfect way to occlude detail (Model: Carly Spence)

   If your model has long hair, use it to occlude breasts and nipples. Even moderately-long hair can be used in this manner with proper posing of the model. In this image, I had the model lean into the camera and allow her hair to flow down to occlude her breasts enough to take this image from topless to implied-nude.

7. 
    
   Clothing need not cover everything (Model: Celeste Von)

   Magazines such as Maxim, FHM and Stuff make it their main device to use clothing for occlusion. Shirts taken-up such that the come just below the nipples keep a photograph from being topless. Bottoms are often pulled aside as much as possible to expose as much skin as possible without actually showing anything that would make the image a nude. In this case, the model's top is riding up about as much as it possibly can while keeping this image clean-enough for non-nude use.

8. 
    
   Turn the model to the side as much as necessary (Model: ShirleyAnn)

   In this image, the model's top has an open weave such that if she were turned into the camera, her breasts and nipples would be clearly visible. Having her cover herself with her hands or arms would have detracted from the texture of the garment, so I had her simply turn to the side until her nipple was occluded by virtue of being out of view.

9. 
    
   Occlusion with a garment (Model: Kate Whipple)

   Often, a simple garment like a scarf, belt or other accessory can be used to occlude anything that would make an image nude. Clearly, the scarf is used as a device for this purpose, as most models aren't in the habit of going around topless with only a scarf for cover! :-)

10. 
     
    The use of natural elements to occlude (Model: Vienna Le Rouge)

    Some very creative effects can be achieved by using natural elements to occlude. In this frame, the leaves from a tree were close to the camera, and the model placed farther away. The angle was then adjusted to position a leaf in such a way as to occlude the breast of the model.

Tips & Warnings

• Ensure that your model understands the intention of the photos and, if the model wishes to have no "oops" shots shown, that you respect that wish. Your reputation should be important to you.

Resources

• Christopher Ambler Photography

[newmansa]

on 10/28/2009 I imagine it's beneficial to have the models remove pubic hair, via waxing, etc., since that allows much greater lattitude with respect to pulling down bikini bottoms and the like. Many of the photos that show up in Maxim, et al, look like they would probably be showing at least a couple of inches of pubic hair were the models not shaved down there.

[ashleykaryl]

on 9/5/2009 I know many photographers and models like to shoot so called implied nudity, but I tend to think that unless it's done extremely well it often looks forced and could better be described as desperately trying to cover up the nudity.

Although I've shot countless nudes over the years, I've never really done implied nudes as such and feel it's better to adopt an approach of photographing whatever looks best. Just because something is nude doesn't make it sexy or even attractive, but equally I find that images with forced positions where the sole point is to ensure that nothing is visible can be something of a let down. After all isn't the whole point to produce something that is both natural and beautiful? I wrote a book on this subject recently which you can see at http://www.nudephotopro.com