Tips for Taking Erotic Pictures

Contributed by Kelly Jones, Lavalife

So you've decided to take some sexy photos. It could be a steamy solo effort for your boy/girlfriend or a couple's combined enactment for both of your viewing pleasures.

Whatever you have in mind, a little thought beforehand will ensure rewarding racy results.

What's With the Chicken Costume?

It's a good idea to think through or discuss your ideas on theme and approach before you start snapping. That way you won't feel awkward when the camera starts flashing. Do you want the photos to be innocent? Romantic? Sexy? Kinky? If this is a joint endeavor, make sure you're both on the same page. Take some time to look at an erotic website or magazine. It will help you envision what you're getting into and head off problems before they arise.

Set the Scene

You must feel comfortable before shedding those layers and baring all to the lens. Choose a setting that you find relaxing. Naturally, this is likely to be somewhere in your home, so look at it with a critical eye before you begin. Remember that it's the backdrop for your photos, so tuck away any dirty socks, cat litter boxes and framed pics of your nephew that you don't want to be caught on film. Dress the set to make it visually appealing -- flowers, candles, pillows. Consider what other props you might need (sex toys, lubricants, handcuffs) and have them nearby.

See the Light

Ikea has it nailed: Lighting is everything. Natural light is the best option for taking pictures, although if you live within sight of other homes and your windows face onto your neighbors, you might opt for Plan B. Because you likely won't have access to a professional lighting system, simply arrange all your household fixtures to provide as much light as possible. Favor incandescent over fluorescent lighting as the latter will give your photos a greenish cast. Avoid using a flash as this washes out photos instead of giving you the natural tone you're looking for.

You Are the Canvas

Since this is a permanent record of yourself and -- possibly -- your lover, look your best for the sometimes-unforgiving camera. That might mean some primping and preening beforehand. Men, shave your face, trim your junk and remove any other body hair that invites comparison to the missing link. Girls, you already know what you're doing. Wax and shave as you see fit (get your Brazilian the day before to avoid same-day red welts). If you have any skin blemishes or zits, you might use cover-up to conceal them. If you're feeling sassy, consider rubbing on body glitter. Get creative! Finally, be sure to remove your clothes and don a loose robe at least 30 minutes before shooting to avoid nasty underwear, bra or sock lines across your flesh.

Leave No Negative Perceptions

Digital, people. Digital! If you don't have a digital camera, borrow one. If One Hour Photo taught us anything, it's that you don't want the creep at your local photo place seeing your bits and pieces. And believe me, they will make copies and show all their friends if they find some nudies. I actually received somebody else's sex pics in my developed roll of film once -- I think the dirty developer was trying to pick me up in his own weird way. If you aren't experienced in photography, use your camera's general setting. It sets aperture and shutter speed for you so you can concentrate on adjusting positions rather than settings. And unless you want a blurry effect, use a tripod.

Don't I Know You From Somewhere?

The Internet is riddled with sites offering photos of ex-girlfriends and boyfriends showing their stuff. Going digital and printing at home is a good first step to keeping you from becoming the next web-sation, but a little common sense also helps. Keep others from hacking into your computer and finding your photos by using software like Couple Box (couplebox.com), a privacy software specifically designed to safeguard erotic photos. It creates a separate storage area on your hard drive with 256-bit encryption to protect them from horny, prying eyes.

Who Gets the Kids?

Your current fling may be fantastic at fellatio, but that doesn't necessarily make them trustworthy. If you're going to take nude photos with a lover, best to take some precautions in terms of image ownership. Although there really is nothing to stop your partner from leaking them after a breakup, co-signing an agreement about privacy will act as a strong deterrent. Don't get paparazzi with people you don't trust 100 per cent.