Matt Granger – Implied Nude Portraiture

Steph and I teamed up in this series to create a practical, hands on guide to artistic implied nude portraiture. We show you dozens of poses and lighting combinations that will have you up and running in no time. We take you from easy poses and available light options, through to complex and advanced posing and lighting set ups.

Steph has worked as a professional model, including nudes and implied nudes for over 5 years, and I have worked as a professional photographer shooting the same for over a decade. Together we walk you through the process on both sides of the camera; from the photographer’s perspective as well as the model’s. No matter what your experience or role in the creative partnership is, you are sure to learn a lot from this series.

We have included a dedicated segment in which Steph answers viewer questions from the point of view of the model.

POSING

One of the hardest aspects of portraiture is knowing what poses look nice, and this is especially challenging with Implied Nude Portraiture, as you need to carefully position everything to ensure the final image remains ‘implied’.

Throughout the series you will learn over 50 different poses – including tips on how to get into the pose, make adjustments and guide your model.

HOW TO ‘REVEAL AND CONCEAL’

Learning which elements to ‘Reveal and Conceal’ and your options to do so, is fundamental for crafting great Implied Nude Portraiture. Giving the illusion of nudity, without including nipples or genitals in the final image can be difficult at first.

We walk you through all of the options including posing, lighting, camera angle, obscuring accessories and more.

SURPRISINGLY EASY POSES

Some poses yield beautiful results and give the illusion of nudity whilst allowing the model to be completely clothed. Both images to the left demonstrate this.

In photo 1, Steph was wearing a strapless bra and panties, and in photo 2 she was wearing a complete 1 piece bodysuit.

Knowing the requirements of each pose before you shoot takes out the potentially awkward trial and error, and allows you to confidently direct your model.

PHOTOGRAPHING MEN

Shooting with men presents its own challenges, especially those without experience as a model.

We shoot with a non model, for his first time posing nude, and talk you through the different challenges and options that it presents. We show several poses that work well for solo men, that are not too challenging for beginners, and show tips on how to effectively keep his ‘bits’ out of the final images.

We also have a debrief after the shoot where he shares his experience and insights from the other side of the camera.

DIRECTING THE MODEL

It takes confidence, trust and professionalism to create artistic Implied Nude portraits. Knowing the result you are aiming for, the lighting options and the nuances of the pose will give you the confidence to direct the model and develop a trusting relationship.

Throughout the series I show you what to do, as well as what to avoid, to direct your model and create a comfortable vibe on set.

Seeing Steph and I go through the process to create each image, will give you a fast track to creating your own stunning images.

ADVANCED POSES

Working with an experienced and confident model opens up even more posing options. Be aware that some of these will challenge you as photographer almost as much as the model, as precision of the pose, and the exact camera and lighting angles are required to ensure things remain tasteful and implied.

We walk you through several complex poses, the steps to get in and out of the pose, as well as the best lighting options to craft the final images.

WORKING WITH COUPLES

If you plan on making this into a business, you’d better learn how to work with a couple! Shooting a beautiful implied portrait with a partner is a great thing, and the results can vary from fine art to risqué.

Having two people on set ups the ante – you have 2 people to direct, light and put at ease. That requires confidence and a clear vision. Two people also provides more options in terms of posing, ways to conceal and in most cases a sense of safety and intimacy for the models.

For this section we have Steph and her real life partner pose nude together for the first time.

AVOID COMMON PITFALLS

Knowing what to avoid and what not to say or do is just as important as knowing what to do.This kind of knowledge is invaluable, and is built up over dozens of shoots through trial and error.

In a dedicated segment Steph and I will talk you through the issues we have encountered and lessons we have learned, so you can skip the trial and error process and start creating with confidence.

THE MODELS PERSPECTIVE

I can’t emphasize this enough – Implied Portraiture is a collaboration between model and photographer and it requires a great deal of trust. Depending on the concept, the process of shooting it may be more challenging than the final image conveys. And as photographers, it is vital that we earn and keep the trust of the model.

In a dedicated video Steph shares her insights as an experienced nude and implied nude model, and answers a series of questions from photographers starting out in Implied Nude portraiture.

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