Sensual Portrait Photography

Sensual portrait photography is a very beautiful form of photography. In the photo below, the couple in the picture show tenderness and love towards each other as they are about to kiss. The appeal is to the senses, particularly the sense of touch, which is brought out by the wonderful skin tones and soft lighting.

Sensual Body Photography Tips

With couples, getting the pose right is the most important thing in sensual portrait photography. Usually one or the other is facing towards the camera. This heightens the sensuality of the photograph. A photograph like this makes a wonderful momento as most couples only have images of either one person or the other but if you are taking the photograph allow plenty of time to ensure they are totally relxed with the camera for best results. This probably means making the photograph in their own home so make sure you create a warm, relaxing mood before you start by using the right lighting, music and so on. You can also try this kind of shot with your own partner if you have a tripod and a timer.

Sensual Female Photography

Great sensual female photography relies a lot on imagination. It is important to leave a lot up to the viewer. In the photograph above, the woman may or may not be dressed. Likewise, we don't know why she is about to kiss her reflection - is it purely narcissism? Is her reflection in a dark mirror or a deep pool of water? Sensual body photography like this relies heavily on the photographer's imagination and his/her ability to create a sense of mystery.

Sensual Male Photography

Sensual male photography is more common today and the photograph above is a nice example. This kind of photography is mostly about male physique, so the shoulders are a great part of the anatomy to concentrate on in your images (see the Body-Builder's photograph below). Photographing just part of the body, without including the face, works well if you want to make pictures that show off the sculptural qualities of the male body.

Black and White Photography Tip

In fine art photography sensual images are often enhanced when working in black and white as skin tones are emphasised and the use of black and white gives the photo an artistic feel. The beautiful shot above is also enhanced by good lighting which helps to 'model' the muscles of the body-builder's shoulders. You can almost feel the hard work that's gone into creating that amazing body!

Masters of the Art

In sensual portrait photography, the human body, both male and female, is raised to the status of art object in a way that is reminiscent of the masters of paint and sculpture who loved to explore the relationship between light and form and have used the body as a medium for doing so. The field of photography lends itself well to this exploration. Check out photographers who have mastered the subtle art of sensual portrait potography such as Herb Ritts and Robert Mapplethorpe, to name just two, to broaden your kowledge and get your creative juices flowing.