Female Form Photography

Female form photography is about creatively capturing images of women for artistic, commercial, or any other conceivable issue.

Whether you are driving on the highway, browsing a magazine, surfing the internet or watching television, you will inevitably come across advertisements depicting the female form.

The closer you inspect your environment, the more you will realize how pervasive the idea of beauty in the female form is entrenched.

Before there were cameras, artists used canvas, clay, paper or any other medium to express the beauty and joy they beheld while looking at the female form.

Societal expectations of women are different from that of men. Women are thought of as symbols of truth, purity, delicacy, softness and, yes, sexuality.

Artists who are enamored by female form photography seek to capture certain moods, feelings and nuances that only the female form can elicit.

Please read about the female body in photography for some examples of how answers to specific questions captured certain moods and feelings!

Female Form Photography Tips

The female form is shaped differently than the male form. Men are straighter, sharper, harder whereas women are curvy, soft and gentle. The process of female form photography is to ensure that the artist's vision is maintained.

There are a few considerations to keep in mind when shooting the female form:

• Clothing
• The model herself!
• Lighting
• Background
• Distance

This list is by no means exhaustive but it is a good starting point for your creative considerations.

Clothing

Clothing, or various states of lack of clothing, are creative and suggestive ways to share a concept. What is your idea for your photography?

Do you want to showcase a smart, business-like, agressive attitude or something soft and sensual?

Do you want to "morph" the female form into something more "modern" and masculine?

What features of the female form do you wish to emphasize or highlight?

These are only a few questions you need to ask yourself before deciding on the kind of clothing that is appropriate for your model.

Depending on your concept, it may be far more effective to be suggestive with your choice of clothing instead of nude or non-nude.

Regardless of whether you will be shooting nude, non-nude or implied, it will take patience, and a bit of skill to get that exact expression, mood and ambiance that you seek to express in your creative photography.

The Model Herself!

The model herself is most crucial to the final composition of your creative vision. Again, we return to previous questions about what you wish to convey.

If you are shooting for a stock agency, they will tell you what their concept is, what model to shoot and what items they wish you to shoot. If you are shooting for yourself, then you just have to capture photographs that express your vision.

If you are looking to capture other concepts for female form photography such as smiles, teeth, fingernails etc., anyone who is willing to pose for your camera will do.

Sometimes it can be quite difficult to get an idea of what to express. After shooting a few frames, however, you will find that things just click!

Once you have an idea of what kind of model would suit your vision, your next goal is to find one! Perhaps, it will be necessary to hire one. Most often, it is beneficial to talk with the model previously and have her bring some accessories, clothing etc. that she wishes.

By working with and cooperating with the model, you will find that your creativity is more readily released.

Lighting

Lighting is an important foundation of photography including female form photography. The idea here is to ensure that the light travels softly over form and highlights and hides as appropriate.

Perhaps your shoot is commissioned by an agency. Even though they want a business-minded concept, they still want the essence of the feminine to shine through your photography.

For most people, including women, soft light is the best. This is to ensure that hard shadows are minimized and that soft, curvy, female qualities are emphasized.

Please do not use your on-camera flash for lighting. It is very harsh and creates regular, boring photos!

This is not what you want!

Use reflectors, soft boxes, side and angled lighting to convey societal (and client!) expectations. I find it best to work with at least two light sources.

In most cases, work with the existing ambient light like sunlight through a window, and supplement it with an off camera flash. This way, you can minimize the amount of shadows that will be seen and is ideal for female form photography.

Background

Backgrounds used in female form photography are very important. They can either add to or detract from the mood you are trying to convey.

In most cases, plain, uncluttered backgrounds work best. Black backgrounds are great in that they are very flattering.

I find that green backgrounds are very nice to bring out youthful, creamy looks. If this is your intention, I highly recommend this for female form photography.

White is good to convey purity, truth and fairness. This type of background is ideal for corporate ideas.

Red is quite passionate and is probably best for soft, intimate photography.

Please remember that the background is to enhance your vision and thus bring attention to your model. Try to keep your backgrounds of a uniform color and pattern to ensure quality results from female form photography.

Distance

Your model's comfort is paramount to getting a great photo! The more you can make your model comfortable, the more easily your creativity will flow.

As I mentioned in the portrait photography tutorial, it is a good idea to work with a telephoto lens so that you can be at a comfortable distance from the model.

As you get into your creative flow, you will find that you and your model cooperate more readily and you get shots, moods and emotions that you wanted!

For me, this is the magic of female form photography.

Summary

For a lot of artistic photographers, female form photography is a great way to bring new expression to your creativity.

Whether it is to suggest a mood or feeling or whether it is to showcase gender issues, there is plenty to learn about in female form photography.

The trick is to practice as much as you can and develop your skills as an artist and photographer to the best of your abilities!

Good luck!

Love your camera. Love yourself. Love your photos.

Related Reading

• Photography Backgrounds
• Lighting 101
• Female Body in Photography
• Portrait Photography Tutorial