Creating nudes you’re proud of

Your camara roll is full of shots of your dinner plate, your cat, and that one selfie moment where your hair just happened to look great. But that one photo of yourself that really makes you happy? That’s missing. Yet, a good nude has nothing to do with drawing attention and everything with how you see yourself. So, here’s how to take that one shot you can be proud of.

Start with why you’re taking the photo

Are you taking it for yourself, your partner or someone you’ve just starting seeing? The answer determines how much you show and how recognizable you want to be. A photo you like, is always better than one taken because someone asked for it. Consider it a personal photography project where you are the director, the model and the sole judge.

Light does ninety percent of the work

Soft, warm light makes your skin look better than any filter ever could. Stand by a window on a cloudy afternoon or just before sunset, or place a lamp with a flame-toned bulb at an angle next to you. Overhead lighting casts shadows in all the wrong places and the camera flash makes everything flat and harsh. A sheer curtain filtering the sun acts as a free softbox. Turn your body slightly towards the light and see what happens with your shoulders, hips and collarbone.

Flattering angles

Don’t hold your camera too close, so the lens won’t cause distortion. Instead, place your phone about a meter away, on a stack of books and use the timer. A position just slightly above eye level elongates your face and neck, while a side view beautifully highlights your curves. A subtly arched back, a hip shifted forward or an arm resting on your chest instantly adds a dynamic tension to your frame. Try using a mirror, as it provides a frame which you can easily adjust.

Suggestion beats showing everything

The most provocative photos leave something to the imagination. A sheet draped just over your hip, a strategically resting hand, a bra strap slipping off your shoulder. The brain fills in the rest, which is more exciting than revealing everything. Play with what you cover and what you reveal, and don’t hesitate making twenty shots just to pick the best one.

Safety, so you stay in control

Don’t skip this part. Turn off location data for your camera, as photos can reveal exactly where they were taken. Store your nudes in a secured folder on your phone. On an iPhone, you can use the ‘Hidden’ album, which is locked behind Face ID or your passcode. On Android, use the ‘Locked Folder’ in Google Photos or Samsung’s ‘Secure Folder’. Also check if your camera roll automatically syncs to the cloud, or otherwise your nude might suddenly end up on an old iPad or in a shared family album.

If you don’t want to be recognizable, keep your face out of the frame and check whether tattoos, a distinctive necklace, a poster or view might give you away. Only send a photo to someone you truly trust and who has specifically asked for it. Photos that disappear after viewing aren’t safe, as a screenshot on another phone can capture them in an instant. Distributing intimate images without consent is a criminal offence in the Netherlands. Should things ever go wrong, StopNCII.org can help to prevent further distribution.

You decide what happens to it

Taking a photo doesn’t mean you have to send it to anyone. Sometimes, the feeling of looking at it and thinking “wow, that’s me” is the whole point. Save it, delete it, or keep it for your eyes only. A nude you’re proud of, has already served its purpose the moment you like it.