Posing nude?

I had an interesting discussion on Facebook with a photographer recently. He posted on a Singapore Freelance Models page with this question:

Julien Atomick "how come no ladies wanna do nude or implied nudes here? even if its artistic shoots."

It garnered quite a bit of responses that went like this:

Hker Insg it's one's limit. should well consider rather than rush into it.

Sam Tan It's still a conservative society mate. I also have the same problem 

Sam, in my opinion, is a newbie photographer who doesn't seem to have reached anything of credible standards yet. I have seen his portfolio...bleah!

Julien Atomick haha conservative society much... more like a every girl is aspiring to be a model society. maybe should do a chinese opera theme or traditional malay dance theme where everyone is covered up.

Julien's condescending attitude to wannabe models was a little uncalled for. Although I don't completely disagree with him, there is no need to belittle the aspirations of these girls.

Alexia Giesen not all ladies are comfortable in doing so.
i myself will not do it until i join an agency. Where things and all work will be kept confidential. Where as you do it as a freelancer, you can never be to sure of the confidentiality

Grace Poh maybe because there's clearly a lack of professionalism & photography standards in our local industry?

Makiyo Jaz Because they know what you are up to behind your so called "artistic shoots" ?? oh im sorry i had no idea, hmm every girl aspiring to be a model well u mean theres something wrong with that?

I liked Makiyo's response...totally dripping with caustic sarcasm. Hehe! Then here is my contribution to the thread:

If u r a good photographer, u can make the best of any theme. What's the obsession with nudes? Voyeurstic pleasure?

Julien Atomick 

Thank you Alexia for a clearer view from a models perspective.
And also Grace for that important point. i dont know about other photographers but i practice a contract basis for all the legal and liability issues for all the do's and do not's for both parties which both parties agree on and also a print release form for the model if the photos are to be used for prints or exhibitions and this i mean gallery exhibitions. 2 copies in balck and white for both the artist and the model. And being a fine arts photographer i think "THEME" doesn't come much into play but more the "SUBJECT" which most amateur photographers here lack of. with the situation being - no creativity for a shoot? oh lets just choose and follow a theme why don't we all and maybe use an ipod for props... or Oh, lets shoot inside a sleazy hotel! ~weeeeee... yup love themes.

Someone was clearly a little upset with my little interjection. At that time I had a profile pic of myself in headphones and holding an ipod. (see below) My first reaction was to pack off a nasty retort about how come only nudes were "artistic" but I decided to hold my horses and come up with a level-headed, and objective reply:

With all due respect, there is a very fine line between art and pornography. And i think there should be equal merit given to other genres like fashion and beauty shoots etc, and there is no shame in girls aspiring to be models. (Incidentally i am not speaking of myself here. )

Julien, u have a credible port so i can't speak for u but there are many perverts out there armed with a camera shooting under the guise of an "artistic" theme, legal contract or not. Can u fault models trying to protect themselves by refusing to pose nude?

I think Julien got my point there...

I understand Glynis. After this discussion on the threat i've already come to understand from the model's perspective. Yes, you are right you can never know what sly motives one has hiding behind his camera lens. i hope we don't get off the wrong foot here. but honestly (not relating to nude modeling) i dont think art photography gains equal merits here in the whole photographic society in singapore at all.

Thank you Glynis and every ones views and points in this.
I think the photographic community here is still in its maturing process. i guess there is much we can learn from each other (models and photographers) to heighten the professionalism of both parties like i have.

I am posting this up on my blog because I realised that recently with the growing popularity of DSLR cameras, there is a pool of men with big lenses who specialize in shooting girls in various states of undress. It is really disturbing how many ask for these kinds of shoots. I am not prudish and I can appreciate the art and beauty of a nude or lingerie shoot. However, from what I hear, some photographers shooting in (seedy) hotels even bring along condoms for "part 2". One model got harassed and blackmailed with her own nude shots. 

So if you are an aspiring model, beware of who you shoot with, and don't shoot anything you are not willing to expose to the world.