'There's just no room for flaws in nude photo shoots'
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Qu Yang, 38, has been a photographer for 12 years and owns a studio in downtown Beijing.
Initially, the photographic techniques for nude shoots were taken from Western examples but, as time has gone on, the Chinese have developed their own aesthetic taste: flawless.
Things like wrinkles or plump arms are simply not allowed in these pictures.
So, as photographers, we have to do our utmost to make customers look perfect. We circle 360 degrees to find their best angles and find ways to hide imperfections with shadows.
The first time I see a model, I tend to build a concept of her (it's usually a her) in my mind based on past experiences. However, women are assertive when it comes to nude portraits, so I just give advice and they make the final decisions.
Instead of getting straight to the nudity, though, we take some photos with costumes to break the ice. That way, the photographer and model get a better understanding of each other and the model gets a feel for standing in front of the camera.
In all, a shoot can last up to two hours, after which we have about 300 photos.
A couple of things are obviously vital in the studio, such as heating. If a model gets cold, their muscles tense up, their expressions become stiff and their skin gets goose bumps. Not good for a shoot.
Also, to avoid making the model feel uncomfortable, as few people as possible are involved in the process. I arrange the lighting myself, while a female makeup artist helps out in emergencies.
We also keep it simple with the scenes. The most commonly used background is the monochrome board, otherwise pictures are taken on a bed. Increasingly, though, we're working in customers' homes, which provide a more relaxed setting.
A decade ago, I worked in a studio in Beijing's Haidian district, close to several colleges. Customers were mainly students and young white-collar workers and, back then, nude photos would cause a bit of a stir.
But recently I've taken nude portraits for a dozen women, some as old as 40. I admire their love of life and I'm touched by their confidence.
I've met some women in their early 20s, who had fully prepared themselves for a nude shoot but, when it came to the critical moment, were unable to disrobe in the studio.
When that happens we tend to give up and take standard fashion photos instead.
