You have a wide variety of choices when it comes to photography equipment. Tools such as cameras, lenses, and tripods (just to name a few) come in a vast array of styles and variations. And when it comes to lighting, your choices are even more varied. This may sound a bit overwhelming; however, by the end of this article, I guarantee that you will be significantly more informed regarding the topic of lighting.

In the strictest sense, there are only two different sources of light: natural light and artificial light. While this may seem fairly straightforward, the reality is that these two sources offer an infinite amount of lighting variations.

The idea of natural light is easy to grasp. Simply raise your eyes and take a look at the sun. It gives light to us down here on planet Earth. However, in a photographic sense, it’s not quite that simple. In reality, the sun offers an unlimited amount of lighting variations. The most basic of these variations is the fact that while the sun moves across the sky each day, it provides drastically different types of light.

For example, when the sun is high in the sky at midday, it provides a harsh and very direct kind of light. However, when the sun is low in the sky (very early and very late in the day) it provides soft side-lighting that can be used beautifully. In fact, serious photographers refer to the one hour after sunrise and the one hour before sunset as “The Magic Hours”. Chances are, if you see professional photographs taken outside, they were taken during one of these two times (if not, a lot of equipment was probably used to duplicate the lighting that occurs at these two times). It’s impossible to overstate the importance of using “The Magic Hours” when shooting nude models outdoors.

I can only imagine how many people have been inspired to try photography after seeing the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. In a scenario such as this, I can see the aspiring photographer finding the most beautiful girl he can and heading off to the local beach to give it a try. Chances are, he’ll go sometime around midday so he’ll be sure to have “plenty of light”. He’ll do his best with the composition and the girl will do her best with the poses. Unfortunately, he’ll likely be confused and disappointed when he looks at the finished work and finds that his pics look absolutely nothing like the ones in the magazine.

Obviously, there are many reasons why the images will look nothing like the ones in the magazine (lack of experience, lack of proper technique, and lack of professional stylists and makeup artists are just a few of the reasons). However, I would venture to say that the single biggest reason would be due to the time of day that the pics were taken. Every photographer, at every level, can immediately improve their work by simply taking advantage of “The Magic Hours”.

This is especially true in nude and erotic photography. At these two hours of the day, the lighting on the faces and bodies of subjects will be soft and complimentary (rather than harsh and directional). Additionally, skin tones will take on an attractive golden hue. By simply shooting very early or very late in the day, you will dramatically improve your shots. I can guarantee that the photographers for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues adhere tightly to this guideline. I discuss this topic in more detail in my ebook, “Money Shots: The Insider’s Guide to the World of Nude & Erotic Photography” (available at http://moneyshotsbook.com).

I don’t want to imply that a glamour photographer should, without exception, only shoot during these two hours of the day. In fact, there are many lighting methods and techniques that can turn the light of the sun – at any time of day – into very good photographic light. As a photographer, you must learn how to get good shots in a wide variety of situations.

Author Bio: Michael Charles is a professional photographer based in Los Angeles, California. He is the author of \”Money Shots: The Insider\’s Guide to the World of Nude & Erotic Photography\” (this book is available for purchase at http://moneyshotsbook.com). For over a decade, Michael has shot exclusively in the world of nude, erotic, and adult-oriented photography. His work has been featured in hundreds of national and international publications and appears on a wide variety of prominent websites.

Category: Arts and Crafts
Keywords: nude photgraphy,nude models,freelance photography,glamour photography,erotica