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True Confessions of Nude Photography: A Step-by-Step Guide to Recruiting Beautiful Models, Lighting, Photographing Nudes, Post-Processing Images, and Maybe Even Getting Paid to Do It. (second edition) [Paperback]

A. K. Nicholas
4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)

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Book Description

May 15, 2012

This is the book that started the A. K. Nicholas series. Time for an upgrade to the newly revised second edition. With tons of additional pictures and text, the new edition of True Confessions of Nude Photography is three times better than the popular original.

Learn to photograph beautiful nude female models by reading this book. 

A step-by-step guide to recruiting beautiful models, lighting, photographing nudes, post-processing images, and maybe even getting paid to do it.

Prior experience with nude models is not required to benefit from this how-to guide. This guide can be enjoyed by anyone, but is written for two main audiences: the accomplished photographer wanting insight from a peer, and the serious amateur wanting a guided introduction to the field.

The female body has been an inspiration for artists since before the invention of photography. Naturally, nudes were one of the first subjects of photography as well. Although the guide covers the basics of nude photography, it is assumed that you have a digital camera that is more advanced than a point-and-shoot and that you already understand the basics of operating your camera. This book deals with female models. You won't find male models or advice on photographing non-models in this book.

Finding Models. Nude photography entails more than just photographic technique, there is a huge interpersonal element; much more so than in any other kind of people photography. The guide addresses everything from finding models, to working with them long term. Most guides on photographic technique assume you've already found a willing model. This one assumes that you're having trouble - or at least having trouble finding a model that you feel takes your work to the next level. It contains techniques for finding and recruiting models.

Techniques. A range of processes are explained step-by-step. You'll find more than just a selection of photos and a dissection of each; you'll see full lighting diagrams as well as frank discussions of techniques and pitfalls in the days and weeks leading up to making a nude image. From finding your first nude model to selling your first nude photo, the guide presents complete, concise instruction on lighting, posing, and-post processing with Photoshop.

The second edition is a major update. It is printed in a larger size than the original edition, and contains twice the amount of text (approximately 55,000 words.) Includes 126 pages, 221 nude photos, and 8 detailed lighting diagrams.

Frequently Bought Together

True Confessions of Nude Photography: A Step-by-Step Guide to Recruiting Beautiful Models, Lighting, Photographing Nudes, Post-Processing Images, and Maybe Even Getting Paid to Do It. (second edition) + Lights, Camera... Nude!: A Guide to Lighting the Female Nude for Photography
Price for both: $44.61

Buy the selected items together


Editorial Reviews

From the Author

I hope this book is unlike any other you will read. It is not about mainstream techniques or expensive equipment. It's not written by a world renown photographer. It is written by an unconventional photographer who wants to help you advance your nude photography. It contains everything I wished I knew fifteen years ago.

From the Back Cover

  • Learn and Master the Techniques of Nude Photography
  • Spark Your Creativity with 150 Inspiring Poses
  • Composition and Visual Pathway
  • Control Light to Sculpt the Figure
  • A System to Recruit and Interact with Models
  • Market Your Work
The female body has been an inspiration for artists since before the invention of  photography. Naturally, nudes were one of the first subjects of photography as well.


This illustrated how-to guide can be enjoyed by anyone, but is written for two main audiences: the accomplished photographer who wants insight from a peer into the genre of nude photography, and the serious amateur who wants a guided introduction to the field.


The processes are arranged step-by-step. You will find more than just a selection of photos and a dissection of each. You will see full lighting diagrams as well as a frank discussion of the techniques and pitfalls in the days and weeks leading up to making a nude image. From finding your first nude model to selling your first nude photo, the guide will take you through lighting, posing, and post-processing with Photoshop.


You will learn from the author's twenty years of experience photographing hundreds of nude models.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 126 pages
  • Publisher: Double Ink International (May 15, 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0985026413
  • ISBN-13: 978-0985026417
  • Product Dimensions: 0.3 x 8.4 x 10.9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #654,854 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

A. K. Nicholas is an American photographer with a passion for collaborating with models and sharing knowledge. His vision is colored by growing up abroad, traveling to dozens of countries, visiting museums, and experiencing a variety of cultures. In the Middle East, he observed how women hid their bodies from public view; in most of Europe, there was little prudishness. In his youth, he put in his dues clerking and staffing the darkroom of a camera store. His background includes an art degree, a long stint as a freelance artist, and a career as a professional photographer.

His first camera was hand-made from an oatmeal box for a middle-school project. His first nude shoot was a complete surprise to him when a classmate in college assumed that his invitation to model meant for her to be nude. In the decades since then, he has photographed hundreds of nude models for publication in books, articles, as framed prints, product advertisements, stock agencies, and gallery exhibits. His exhibit work consists mainly of photomontage, sometimes printed life-sized. These days, when he picks up a camera, it is to fulfill a personal calling and not the agenda of a client. He is happiest when working on creative projects and devotes as much time as possible to new ideas. His second favorite thing is helping others further their artistic endeavors. He writes to help you learn from his experience, including how to avoid some common mistakes and to encourage your creativity.

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars True Confessions of Nude Photography July 31, 2012
Format:Paperback
"True Confessions of Nude Photography" by A.K. Nicholas is much like a primer for those just getting started in the world of photography. With great advice like the importance of a great lens, (and no, five mediocre lenses are not as good as one really good one), to marketing your product and building a name for yourself, any photographer will find something of value within these pages.
Nicholas offers plenty of photos in the book, along with boxes that depict specific elements of the text as well as highlighted terminology for look-up in the appendix, if necessary. All of these things make it very easy to read and flip right to exactly what you want. The author recognizes the importance of actually taking the photos and gaining the experience rather than getting bogged down with a bunch of reading.
There are great recommendations for portfolio-building, especially for a portfolio of nudes; mainly, take it slowly and build gradually. A portfolio doesn't happen overnight and any photographer has to build the confidence of his or her models. Aaron Nicholas shows you how in "True Confessions of Nude Photography".
How do you advertise? How much do you pay a model? Where do you shoot? What about a web page? It's all in here. There are also tips for the models so you get the best photos possible, without anxiety and tell-tale tan lines.
The book focuses on digital photography and electronic communications. Many areas would still be valuable to old-schoolers, but be aware the emphasis is on the use of current technology.
Learn what to do if you need a color chart but can't afford one, or maybe just misplaced yours. Learn about props, how to cover tattoos and the components of a model release.
Like a great lens, using the proper lighting is critical to capturing the best images. There is a whole section on different types of lights for a variety of needs and budgets. Just like starting slowly with your portfolio, the same is said for the equipment you use. Build on what you have as time goes on. Nicholas even includes information on simply using available light, translation: no special equipment.
Fantastic examples of a wide variety of poses are included accompanied by graphics to demonstrate how the viewer's eye is drawn, based on the model's pose. The use of furniture and props, or lack thereof, to enhance the pose and the mood is discussed and expanded on.
Do you need more than one model in a shoot? The topic is touched upon.
Learn about composition with a very basic mathematical equation that the greatest artists used, including Leonardo da Vinci. If you want to spend more time doing actual photography than touching up and refinishing, learn how here. In fact, my favorite quote from the book can be found on page 107, "... Do not allow post-processing to become a crutch or substitute for a disciplined approach to lighting,
correct exposure, and attention to composition." Don't fear, though; there are still a lot of tips for perfecting the shot after it's been taken.
Maybe you have been taking great photographs of comfortable, expert models and know everything you need to about Photoshop and other software programs. Maybe all you need to do is market your material to gain an audience and start making a living. Suggestions for that are also included.
"True Confessions of Nude Photography" by A.K. Nicholas is a great guide for the novice, and covers a lot of territory in a brief, concise and easy to understand manner with plenty of examples. It will not disappoint novice or professional photographers. There is something here for anyone who wants to do or is currently doing nude photography. Many pointers can be used for other types of photos as well. This book is as important to photographers as a thesaurus is to scholars.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Learn from a Master... June 29, 2012
Format:Kindle Edition
The best way to learn any subject is to apprentice under the guidance of a master and when it comes to learning the techniques of nude photography, A.K. Nicholas is a master. However, he doesn't have room in his studio to house the thousands of prospective students who want to learn his techniques. So he has done the next best thing.
In the greatly expanded second edition of True Confessions of Nude Photography Nicholas translates complicated technical terms and techniques into easily understandable language for the novice photographer. Even skilled amateur and professional photographers in other photographic fields will find his explanations, diagrams, and examples of the female nude expertly rendered.
But True Confessions is more than a photographic thesis. Nicholas has taken the time to highlight the pitfalls most amateur photographers make when approaching prospective models. He walks you through the first approach to a prospective model; what tools are needed to let the model make the decision to pose; how to vette the model; when to set up the shoot and how to negotiate compensation.
And as most novices have no idea how to set up a studio or what equipment to use, Nicholas explains, not only what to buy, but how his twenty years experience has helped him determine the bare minimum equipment needed as well as what a fully equipped studio should contain in the way of backdrops, props, lighting, and camera equipment.
In addition, Nicholas has made the effort to accelerate the photographer's mastery of the nude female form by including chapters on how and why certain poses work, the nature of composition, and how post-processing of images can enhance the photograph through contrast, cropping, isolating, and retouching.
But what good is the skill to create a perfect image without the ability to sell your work? Nicholas has also included a chapter on how to market your work thorugh art galleries, online websites, to game companies, and by creating published works of your photographs.
And, finally, in addition to the reference material, Nicholas has provided private online links to his own work (password required), a sample nude model release, suggested areas of further study, and a list of what every model should be prepared to have with her during the photography session.
In True Confessions of Nude Photography A.K. Nicholas has provided a complete blueprint for a photographer interested in expanding his techniques beyond available light landscapes and rigid portraiture into a world of classic beauty as old as Greek and Roman sculpture.

Steven W. Johnson
Author: Not Much of a Crime
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars From Start to finish, a great book January 13, 2013
By Rick
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book covers everything, from recruiting models, to camera gear, to composition, to lighting. It even has a downloadable posing guide that comes with it. I would purchase it again, and will reference it in the future. Great book!
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