Another shot of Julie who is Ms. Dec 2012 in our 2012 Native American Glamour Calendar…. cooler tones and color… w/ a touch of innocence.

MUA: Freakishly Beautiful

Nudity in photographs affects the viewer [or client] in a way that probably nobody else would experience in the same way.  Some are receptive to it, some are turned off, some are threatened while some may embrace it.  What drives these reactions are feelings and emotions that come from the very core of our being. A person’s insecurities can influence their behavior and reaction towards nudity; the opposite can lead to openness and willingness to accept it. There are just so many variables that can make up a person’s opinion on the topic – culture, age, race, gender, religion, morals… you name it and there is probably is a link.

Personally, the nude body is one-of-a-kind, beautiful, natural and I celebrate this fact every time I photograph a client or model in that capacity.  I have learned that my attitude, as reflected by my mannerisms, can truly impact whether the nude person in front of my camera will walk away with a positive experience.  For example, if during a nude session I am glaring at the client or feeling nervous myself, this will of course make them feel uneasy as well.  Professionalism is extremely important and I always adhere to it, never deviating.  Unfortunately, there are a few in the industry that give the rest of us credible and legitimate photographers a bad name.

My friends and family sometime joke with me and ask how I can shoot sexy and alluring women all day and not be aroused or “turned-on” – am I gay?  No, I am not gay and it is really easy actually to not have these feelings.  The professional shooting environment is setup so that I can capture the best images possible of my subjects.  I have no time nor interest in even considering something other than the main task before me.  Who has time for that? Not me, I am more concerned with making sure the lighting is set right, client posed in the most flattering way and ultimately having my client walk out of my studio feeling confident, empowered and beautiful.  A lot of women have commented to me that they initially had a pre-conceived idea about what it might be like to pose nude.  However after a few minutes, those feelings of uncertainty ebbed away and were replaced with comfort and sometimes even a sense of being liberated.

One of the biggest challenges I face with shooting the full range of glamour (including nudity), is that people sometimes make the wrong assumptions about me and the business.  For example, I would be a rich man if I had a quarter for every time a client assumed that they would be required to pose nude.  They made this assumption based solely on the fact that I had nude images in my portfolio.  If they had only asked the question, they would learn that every client passing through my door is in complete control of what we shoot.  If they want to pose in a winter coat and scarf, with ten layers of clothing on, I will shoot it – though it might strain my creative process.   A similar misconception is that if they work with me and the studio, they will have to have their images posted publicly on the internet.  In fact, by default, a client’s privacy is always protected and extreme discretion is adhered.  The ONLY way I can or will post an image on my site is if I have the express written consent, via model release form, from the client ahead of time.  All of the photos on my site are of models or clients that either requested or were asked by me (we got an exceptional shot) to have them displayed publicly.

I could go on and on, as this topic is truly never-ending, so I leave you with two of my favorite quotes on the subject:

• “To see you naked is to recall the Earth.” – Federico Garcia Lorca (1898-1936, Spanish Poet, Dramatist, Musician and Artist)

• “In the NUDE, all that is not beautiful is obscene.” – Robert Bresson (1907-1999, French Film Director)

In my line of work I have seen probably thousands of naked breasts over the past 15 years – big, small, medium, perky, saggy, disproportional, real and fake.  I have been asked by my clients numerous times whether I think they should get breast implants.  My answer is the same every time: “if you are considering getting breast implants, you should do it because YOU want them and NOT because you’re being pressured into it by someone.”  I have found that roughly 75% of the reasons given for wanting implants is related to a husband, boyfriend, girlfriend(s), talent agent etc. putting pressure on them.  The remainder are doing it because they are very insecure about their chest and its affects on how they interact socially and personally.  Myself, I always gravitate towards natural breasts on a woman, regardless of size or shape, and can’t see myself ever changing my opinion.

What makes me sad is a lot of times, the woman asking me whether she should go under the knife, actually has beautiful and shapely breasts [not flat or saggy by any definition]!  In that situation I will add, ” you have breasts people are PAYING for when they go to get implants.”  You should see their reaction, usually one of enlightenment, because nobody had ever offered this observation to them.  Of course, not everyone takes my advice, but I would like to think I was responsible for keeping a few from parting with their money for the procedure.

For the ones that still plan on going to get the work done, my only input to them would be to make sure you ask around and get many references from other women that have taken the same path.  Granted, most women are not going to be models or ever pose nude, but still you don’t want to be on the wrong end of the knife.  I have seen some amazing breast jobs and some major train wrecks.

The really good ones are the results of a surgeon who can make those fakes sit on your body in a way that they look almost natural.  Even the perkiest natural breasts droop slightly on the chest and good results can mimic this look.  Surgeons that approach their work almost as artists can even hide the scar tissue in a way so that it is completely invisible, unless you know where to look.

Unfortunately, I have seen some real train wrecks and the women who are pretty much scarred for life.  I have seen lop-sided breasts, asymmetrical nipples, hard breasts, breasts spread too wide, scars that would put a war veteran to shame.  Even with clothes on, a bad job can still be detected – for example sometimes breasts look like a shelf sitting on the chest.

Fake breasts can look ridiculous on a woman, when they are not proportional to her body shape and size.  I blame the surgeon again for not dissuading a patient from getting breasts that are way too big for her.  For example, one of the criteria that defines a great breast job is the size of the breast / cup as they relate to the size and height of the woman.   In my opinion, a petite woman (say 5,0″) will almost NEVER look good with fake breasts that are 38DD, for example.  However, if she opted for breasts that match her frame, say for example going from 32A to 34C they can look amazing and very natural.

I know some reading this will say this is all subjective, and I agree, but I am just saying there is a point where the breasts look stupidly freakish.

I get a lot of inquires about I how I met London Levi.  So, here it goes….It was May of 2008 and my photo assistant Kevin Luster, and I had hopped on a plane to shoot four models over the weekend in Dallas, TX.  I had booked the best suite in the house at the W Dallas – Victory Hotel because I wanted to ensure I had enough room and the best floor plan available.  These models were all relatively amateurs and I was looking forward to getting some great, non-contrived shots.   Honestly, I can’t remember the details too well, but I know that two of the originally booked models showed up and the other two were “flakes.” All par for the course when it comes to working in this industry.

London was actually a last minute alternate, thanks to the make-up artist I had hired.  She said she knew a woman that was probably available and was always looking to add images to her portfolio. She called her up, gave her the details and a few minutes later I met London down in the lobby.  Upon meeting her, the first visual impression I had of her was that she was stunning and had such beautiful skin, not to mention those amazing eyes.  Since my time was limited, my assistant got the legal formalities out of the way, such as checking her IDs (to verify she was at least 18 years of age) and having her read and sign the model release.

She then went into make-up and hair, while I sifted through some of the wardrobe she had brought.  After about 75 minutes, we started shooting in the great sunlight hitting the balcony.  It was a hot afternoon in Dallas and boy was I sweating from moving around to get the shots I wanted.  I had London in a white, spaghetti-strapped silk blouse and black skirt.  London was great, very composed and casual about the whole scene.

The nude component was not planned, but more of an optional direction we could take – based on how London was feeling.  If it makes sense, I will generally offer it to the model / client and let them decide.  She had never posed nude before, but after working with me for a while she obviously felt comfy enough to give it a whirl.  She was overall confident with her body, though I could tell one particular area she was a little self-conscious (which I made sure to not focus on too much).

A few months later I learned she had been selected to appear on Tyra Banks‘ America’s Next Top Model (ANTM), Cycle 12.  I was so happy for her, considering the odds, she kicked ass!

Below is one of my two favorite nude shots of her, interestingly neither one was of interest to Playboy Magazine because both breasts were not exposed – hmm, I guess they know what sells.

London Levi - America's Next Top Model ( ANTM )

This next one was shot over her shoulder, capturing the reflection in the mirror.  I decided to keep the round magnifying mirror in the shot to add a little intrigue..

London Levi - America's Next Top Model ( ANTM )

London Levi - Playboy Magazine ( NYSE: PLA )

This shot above is the one that Playboy Magazine decided to publish.

London Levi - Playboy Magazine ( NYSE: PLA )