Erotic Digital Photography - Part 1

1. digital cameras are now approaching and surpassing the quality of 35mm film cameras. A quality 3.3 mega-pixel camera will support high-quality printing on paper up to 8x10 inches.

2. the price of these cameras has dropped significantly in the last two years. Last year in North America over thirty-nine percent (39%) of all cameras sold were digital.

3. what you see is what you get. Most, if not all cameras include a small LCD screen so that you can see how your pictures are turning out as you take them. This allows you to make corrections to your photographs or delete the photos that don't turn out.

4. the operating cost of a digital camera is low to nil. There is no need to buy film -and for some cameras rechargeable batteries are included in the package. If you are just downloading photos to email to your friends and family, it wont cost you a cent. Those requiring prints need not rely on a photo lab for processing,

5. the user can make a variety of corrections or apply effects to the photos once they are downloaded into the computer. With some basic computer knowledge and the included software a photographer can use the computer to adjust the exposure, correct the color, change from color to black & white, eliminate blemishes, and so on...

6. the photographer controls the entire process from picture taking to picture printing. Digital cameras are discreet. You can take pictures of anything kinky without the embarrassment of walking into the photo-lab to pick them up afterwards. You have to realize, any time you take film in for developing, at least one person gets to take peek at what you have been up to with that zoom lens!

By now you're probably wondering what this has to do with sex, right? This is where the discreet nature of digital photography comes together with your steamy sex life. You must have imagined taking erotic photos of your girlfriend at some point in your life. And what better way to heat things up than to grab the camera, lose the clothes and let your inhibitions get the best of you both. Interested? In part one of a two part series, here's how you do it:

Discussion
If you haven't already done so, bring up the idea with your girlfriend. When you do this be sure to explain how sexy you think she looks and how much fun it would be to take a few photos of her in lingerie. This is probably the most important thing you can do in order to ensure a successful shoot. If your girl is the least bit self conscious (and we all are) about her body, you may have difficulty getting her to pose in anything less than a turtleneck sweater. Furthermore, it's probably not a good idea to ask her to spread eagle for you initially. You should start her off slow and then see if she will be comfortable with the juicy stuff later on. I'll show you how to get her into it in Part 2.

Inspiration
If you find that she's into it, grab that Victoria's Secret that you stole from her magazine rack last month. Look together and check out what kinds of lingerie the girls are wearing, what types of settings they are in and how they pose for the camera. Keep an open discussion going on what you each think is sexy and try to determine how you might want your own photo shoot to turn out. If you feel like kicking it up a notch, try an issue of Playboy or Penthouse magazine. Both of these publications are renown for images of the world's most beautiful women taken by top photographers in interesting settings. These magazines are sexy and erotic without being vulgar and pornographic. Most of us girls have checked out Playboy on occasion, in fact some of us enjoy checking out the other girls. But proceed with caution - if she isn't into it you may ruin your chances of getting her in front of that lens completely. If she loves erotica of all forms, consider checking out the work of Natacha Merritt. Natacha is a pioneer of erotic photography and even has had a book of her work printed by a major publishing house. Check out some of her work at www.digital-diaries.com.

Wardrobe
Choosing the wardrobe can be fun and exciting for both of you. Just remember, you should have some input into what she wears, but she should make the final decision. Trust me, her comfort level can change from good to bad when deciding between something as simple as bikini or thong panties. To make a good start of it, suggest purchasing a new bra and panty set for her at the local lingerie store. He will appreciate the gift and probably be happier showing off something new than wearing the old stuff she has tucked in the top drawer. So go together and choose a sexy bra & panty set that match in both color and style (nothing looks worse than a bra and panties that don't match). Also, be sure the fabric color compliments her skin tone and the shape compliments her figure. Remember, there is going to be more skin in the picture than anything. So choose something that compliments her body but will not be distracting to the eye. I recommend classic colors such as black, white or deep red for your first attempt at erotic photography.

Makeup
The secret to applying makeup for the camera goes back to the old saying "less is more". I recommend soft makeup that appears natural in nearly any type of light. Tell her to concentrate on her eyes and lips, as they will be the most prominent facial features appearing in the photos. For the eyes, a moderate amount of mascara combined with a dark but natural colored eye shadow will make her eyes seem bigger and enhance their overall appearance. For her lips, recommend a classic deep red color that has a high gloss to it. Be sure she avoids lip-liners that contrast her lipstick color - it just ends up looking clown like. Cover-up should be minimal (only covering blemishes) and she should avoid using powders over her entire face. I have seen some horrible photos taken where the girl's body is nicely tanned and her face is nearly white with powder. This is not attractive and it looks even worse on camera than it does in real life. Can you say Charlie Chaplin?

As you can see, these seemingly common setting can be spiced up with only a few additional items. Work with what you have and come up with something that is creative and exciting together.

Now you're ready for the big shoot! You have the girl, the lingerie, the makeup and the location. She's looking hot and you're nearly ready to toss that camera and jump all over her. But hold on, you haven't taken any pictures and we're not even finished yet! Next week I am going to introduce you to some technical aspects of erotic photography that will have you taking pro-style pictures of your new found playmate using inexpensive household equipment. Lights, Camera, Action will complete our kinky scenario and leave you with a skill that will have her (and perhaps others) wanting to hire you for a session, whether it be photographic or sexual-OR BOTH! See you next week...