This is quite a common question along with 'Can you show me how to light?'. The answer is a simple no. Not that it's difficult but it's personal. Lighting is about creating a mood and an atmosphere, it's an essential part of the communication process. There are no right or wrong answers, it depends what you are striving to achieve. The best way to learn how to do this is practice. It takes lots of time to finesse and perfect any craft, essential in translating the creative intent into tangible realisation. Try something and see what effect it has. One of the best ways of learning about lighting techinique is to undertake a simple exercise. Take an object and place it outside at various times and photograph it in a variety of lighting conditions; midday summer sun, evening sunset, flat overcast dull winter day etc. Then take the same object indoors and replicate the lighting effect using one artificial light source. Finally photography is an expensive and time-consuming process. There are no shortcuts.

What equipment do you use?

I always find this an intensely annoying question. It matters very little what equipment you use. Giving you an Olympus camera is not going to give you the mindset, experience and talent of Bailey, Ritts or Leibovitz. My advice would be to spend your energy on solving your creative problems and don't worry about how many toys you have in the box. Use what you need to achieve your concept, it matters not whether it's a Nikon or a box brownie. For the record I invariably use a Mamiya 6 x 7 camera, Ilford HP5 and a combination of daylight and tungsten light. Never flash. But I sometimes use a Canon F1 with Ektachrome and have in the past used the Pentax 6 x7 system with Ilford Pan F.

How do I find my models?

This varies. I have over the last twenty years worked with a mixture of friends, acquaintances and professional models. I tend to work with the same people time and time again to maximise the benefits of a good rapport and mutual understanding. I'm sometimes approached by models who see my work and are keen to work with me and this does sometimes work out.

Interested in modelling for photography like this?

Search for a photographer that produces this type of work. A photographer who has this kind of work in his book now and is producing it on a regular basis. There is a huge proliferation of poor quality so called 'fine art photography' around. Most of this is appalling quality, poorly lit, amateur bedroom photography, which has nothing to do with art. There are however some photographers who take their work extremely seriously and it shows in the quality, consistency and integrity of their work. These are the kind you need to seek out. You need to look for them though. Most professional photographers are overloaded with models and agencies approaching them not the other way around. If you are seriously interested in modelling as a career then I'd suggest you start by contacting a known name high quality model agency. They'll not only give you an honest and fair appraisal of your potential, although many have a 'look' they're after, but if they take you on they will also give you advice on grooming, self-presentation, dress, exercise, diet and professional practice. Be aware though that modelling is a serious and highly competitive business.

Can I commission you?

Sure. Use the link on the contact page to make contact. I do do commissioned work but not that often. One of the big problems with photography, cinematography and indeed videography or digital imaging is that it is extremely easy to produce an image. Clearly that's not the same as producing a fine photograph. Producing a fine quality photographic image like those seen on these pages takes time, money and considerable experience. The locations are carefully sought out and selected and finally the printing process is time consuming and far from an exact science, (in the case of the hesian prints). This all adds up to money. As Whistler famously said when he was accused of asking for a large sum for two days work, "I ask it for the knowledge I have gained in the work of a lifetime." If you want a predictable run of the mill photograph of yourself then you can go onto many town high streets and pay £100, but that kind of photography is of no interest to me and neither challenges the subject or the viewer. It communicates no personality. Quality commissioned work is therefore quite expensive but above all by paying a professional you're paying for consistency.

Where else on the internet can I find consistently high quality nude photography rather than porn ?

The only place I've found where the work is consistently high is the Fine Art Nude Network. All the websites although not all to my personal taste contain high quality work.