Normalizing Nudity

When people I know talk about my photography, frequently focus on the perceived sexuality in my images. I know that it’s because I do a fair amount of nude photography, but I find it bizarre because I don’t typically consider my images sexualized or erotic. 

For me, photographing someone without clothes removes all artifice. All the trappings, symbols and meanings we assign to clothes is gone. All that’s left is the person, literally laid bare. 

So nudity for me represents a certain truthfulness, vulnerability, authenticity, and honesty.

For most people in American society, nudity represents sexuality and eroticism. The only time the average person sees another naked is when they are having sex, so it makes sense, but it is a distorted view of the world. 

There are few times when we see naked people in non-sexual contexts, so I applaud those who “expose” others to nudity in a more holistic, healthier way. We are all naked under our clothes. It’s a natural state of being. 

On a recent shoot, my model brought in her young daughter. There were multiple models at the shoot and we planned to do nudes. But I have to say that I was a little shocked. Unless I’m at a a nudist resort, I don’t think I’ve had many experiences of parents exposing their kids to nudity in a healthy way. 

Her daughter has obviously been to shoots before and for her this seemed normal. She was involved in the process peripherally and when her mother was having difficulty putting on a bracelet for a shot, her daughter nonchalantly stepped in to help her out.