The main idea I want you to take away from this book is that you can shoot nude or erotic photography without investing a ton of money. Often, photographers and models get too caught up in the financial aspects of this pursuit—and, honestly that is the last thing you should worry about when trying to create art.
Some of my best images were created with the least amount of complexity. I have always felt that the more “stuff” you have on set, the more you are moving away from the art and leaning toward the commercial aspect of photography. Also the more “stuff” you have on set, the more it gets in the way of the model truly expressing herself. Every extra item adds something the model has to think about.
Be sure to have fun and behave like a gentleman (or a lady). You will be better off in the long run if you conduct yourself as a professional. Over many years of shooting, I have travelled, had a lot of fun, and made great friends because I have treated people with respect and honesty.
Finally, I urge you to simply do what you love. A close friend of mine went to one of the best photography colleges in the world. After he graduated, he knew how to light and shoot anything—but they never taught him to shoot what he has a passion for. It took him many years to find his true voice in photography, because he lost track of why he wanted to be a photographer in the first place. If you stay true to your heart and do what you truly love, the money will follow.
—Richard Young, www.theartoferotica.com
Every item on a set adds something for the model to think about. Keeping it simple generally enhances the expression of her personality.