Learn to take nudes as perfect as that aesthetic black & white instagram model you follow
The main message that was constantly reiterated to me throughout middle school and high school was that once something is posted or sent, it can never be deleted. Of course not; the internet is a permanent portal for everything, and now people text faster than ever expected. It is almost impossible to hide something completely once it’s been sent to someone. That thought is often frightening, because people we once trusted and soon became of such little importance in our lives can hold something on their four-inch, shiny devices: our naked bodies.
Sending nudes is no crime. We are entitled to send pictures of whatever we want (with some barriers). However, many struggle with two main parts of the whole “taking a nude” process, at least the first time they take or send one. It usually comes down to taking the picture and then finding the willpower to send it. It is easy to let the stigma shape our decision on whether to take it or not.While both are completely rational concerns, they can be easily eliminated, because taking the perfect nude depends on the power possessed by the individual taking it.
When taking nudes and more risqué photos, there are a few things to always keep in mind: the first is that our society is made up of individuals with a variety of different body types. While it is easy to compare ourselves to those that we aspire to look like, it is imperative to understand that not one singular body type is the “ideal type.” Being able to value one’s body for what it is is such a vital characteristic if one is going to be taking a nude.
There are some parts of our bodies that we are more fond of inherently. It is okay to focus on that area. Being confident is the most important part. Not one part of someone’s body is more “important” than the other. It is hard to be comfortable with every part of our body, since we are usually our harshest critic. It is easy to find flaws, especially when experimenting with things, naked.
Use an angle that you are familiar like or are familiar with. If a certain angle is something you are more comfortable with when taking a picture, use it. There is no rule that says that one angle is better than another. It comes down to your personal taste and what you are more confident with.
Focusing too much on the stigma of being nude in a picture will set you back. Times have changed. Taking nudes is a new way of dismantling previously created notions that once implied women should usually be dressed in photos, and that if they are naked they are trashy or easy. As a culture with an increasing usage of social media, we have consistently shamed the idea of taking nude pictures, showing disapproval and utter disgust for the idea of putting ourselves in such a vulnerable position. Deciding to go against previously created ideals isn’t a sign of someone being any less of a person, it shows that it is okay to challenge your worldview. This does not degrade your integrity or morality as a person, it simply expands and proposes new perspectives.
It is extremely easy to go onto Google and just look up how to take a “good” nude. Good, however, is a subjective word that usually caters to preconceived rules for what makes someone “pretty,” “hot,” or “beautiful.” Realistically it would be impossible for everyone to agree on the same characteristics that make someone pretty or hot, because beauty takes so many different forms.
One owes it to themselves not to hold themselves to a certain standard. While it is hard, it’s not productive to be so critical of yourself when taking nudes is supposed to be empowering. It is important to have fun and to be safe when taking these types of pictures. When choosing to send them or not, think about who will be getting them and who you want to see them. It is hard to trust someone with these pictures because we’re naked, but it only is such a frightening thought because as a society we place this large weight on nudity. It really is not that big of a deal.
Nudes should be taken for personal satisfaction. No one has control over our bodies except for ourselves, and that is the way it should be. Taking the perfect nude means that one understands that they are in control of this liberating experience. Being confident with who you are when putting yourself in the front of the lens is what is meaningful. It is about finding your own confidence in a society that is constantly shaming people for not looking or being a certain way. Being able to defy these standards and express yourself in a vulnerable way is what makes a nude perfect.
Emma Rothschild, contributing writer, is a third-year Sociology major who leaks her own nudes @mshpotatolvr. You can reach them at [email protected].