Nude Bridal Photos: A Reflection of Personalized Art or Moral Degradation?
Taking bridal photos is a major event before the wedding. Nowadays, many couples-to-be no longer satisfy with the "one-size-fits-all" traditional bridal photo styles and are increasingly seeking unique, creative personalized bridal photos.
In many cities, there have even been different versions of bridal photography such as "nude portraits" and "humorous and funny" art photos. This has led to widespread discussions about whether this is a diversification of individuality or a violation of morality.
Pro Argument: Nude Bridal Photos Adapt to Personalization Needs
1. Objectively speaking, nude bridal photos represent an adaptation and absorption of economic and aesthetic changes. As long as they do not flaunt themselves publicly and do not cause social impact, why not allow them to serve as a testament to their sweet love?
2. If viewed from an artistic perspective without unhealthy thoughts, it is understandable for the couple to pursue unconventional ways of taking bridal photos.
3. Nude bridal photos, if not using vulgar nudity as sexual material but rather as a record of youth, should not be criticized on moral grounds. Such criticism would only be hypocritical.
Miss Wang will soon walk down the aisle with her boyfriend next year. Recently, she took a set of exquisite bridal photos. She said, "Traditional bridal photos taken in studios are all the same; makeup, scenery, and styling are identical, lacking any charm."
To prepare for these "unconventional" bridal photos, Miss Wang and her boyfriend did a lot of detailed preparation work. Just for matching the barely visible three-piece lingerie, she personally designed several styles. Many nude art photos from "nude portraits" magazines also became references for this couple.
Miss Wang said that the "nude photos" in her set of bridal photos were not as "pornographic" as people might imagine. "We took 'non-nipple-revealing' photos where various poses, actions, accessories, or post-production techniques were used to hide certain parts," Miss Zhu explained. She believed that these nude portrait photos could highlight the intimacy and trust between the couple, serving as a witness to their love.
Con Argument: Using Avant-Garde as an Excuse for Vulgarity
1. This type of photography carries a high risk and lacks legal protection. If a morally corrupt photographer were to publish the nude photos online, the consequences would be unimaginable. Even pursuing legal action would be difficult due to lack of evidence, time-consuming, costly, and likely causing significant mental damage.
2. If the couple lives alone, it may not matter. However, living with parents who have more traditional and conservative ideas, if the elders look down on the bride, this could create disharmony in future life. There are examples where couples eventually split up because of this.
3. While keeping the secret of the naked bridal photos might work when the couple is still in love, during marital disputes leading to divorce, the ex-husband might use the photos as a threat or intentionally leak them, ruining one's reputation. These examples affect family harmony and personal reputation, so it’s best to limit the practice of nude bridal photos.
Studio Operators:
Due to privacy concerns, most studios do not openly advertise this service. An employee at one studio told reporters that they have offered nude bridal photo services for a long time, with prices similar to regular ones. Customers can choose between full nude photo sessions or interspersed with clothed ones. They have only handled cases where the bride takes solo nude photos, with only one or two customers per month. Bride-and-groom joint shots have not been requested yet, though couples taking nude portraits outnumber married couples taking nude bridal photos.
A studio owner Ms Zhao indicated that separate regulations exist for nude bridal photos, which are much more expensive than regular ones. Moreover, a third person must be present during the shoot to avoid unnecessary troubles or disputes.
It is known that nude bridal photos have been popular abroad for years and are also common in southern Chinese cities. However, out of 20+ random citizens surveyed, most expressed inability to accept or understand such practices. Some older individuals considered it indecent and strongly opposed it. One Aunt Zhang stated that if her son dared to take nude bridal photos, she would break his legs; she would never let him do something so inappropriate.
Currently, there are no clear regulations or norms in China regarding "full-body nudes" as a new phenomenon. The "degree of exposure" is entirely determined by the subject and the photographer. In contrast, many countries worldwide have explicit rules regarding model poses and exposed body parts for human body photography.
As for how to take good nude bridal photos, photographers suggest not going fully nude but using props like accessories or veils for appropriate coverage. Subtle and mysterious effects add more charm. After shooting, apart from the copies included in the album given to customers, extra negatives are either bought by customers or deleted/destroyed on-site to absolutely ensure customer privacy and prevent future issues.
Our Perspective: There is no absolute pro or con side. The key lies in who the bridal photos are meant for. If kept private as a personal preference, there is nothing wrong with it, even involving privacy. Conversely, if displayed prominently in the living room or study for others to admire, it not only seems inappropriate but also makes the bride feel uncomfortable.
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