Nude photography is a crowded field, with countless images available on the Web. Thus, it requires a true artist to set his/her work apart. Below is a selection of books that teach and inspire. We've chosen the best titles from our library. Some are out of print and hard to find, so you'll have to do some detective work. But that, as they say, is half the fun. Click on the covers for information on purchasing.

NOTE: We continually add titles to this collection, so we suggest you bookmark this page and return.

Naked: The Nude in America by Bram Dijkstra (Rizzoli). The role of the nude in high art and pop culture is on display in this lavish coffee table tome, featuring 450 color illustrations—and not just the usual suspects either, but an ecletic and original selection from the eighteenth century masterworks to the pin up and current comic book art. Critic Dijkstra deftly chronicles the highs and lows of the nude in the good old USA.

Boudoir Photography: The Complete Guide to Shooting Intimate Portraits by Critsey Rowe (Amphoto Books). Just outside the margins of nude photography lies the genre known as "boudoir." Critsey Rowe, a successful wedding photographer, has been exploring this lucrative new field of "intimate portraits" and guides the reader through its various styles and approaches. While her clients are not naked, there is a good deal of implied nudity in the book which, in its own way, can be as erotic as an actual nude. In fact, some may find the genre even more alluring.

La Figa: Visions of Food and Form by Chef Tiberio Simone / Photographed by Matt Freedman (Book Publishers Network). Food with your nudes? Well why not, since both appeal to the sensual appetite. Freedman's photos meld pleasures of the flesh with our more basic hunger and, often, the combination is inspired and (dare we say) tasty. There are, however,some images that go over the top and try too hard—ultimately taking one's appetite away. Still, the book is redeemed by it's clever approach to culinary art. Certainly La Figa stands as a most unique collaboration.

The Mammoth Book of New Erotic Photography edited by Maxim Jakubowski (Running Press). This international selection of cutting-edge images features over 500 works, with more than a few women photographers represented. Noteworthy here are works by Michele Serchuk, Soukizy, Vanda Spengler, and Rebecca Tillett. There's definitely a narrative trend in erotic photography and the suggestive tales here provoke the viewer's imagination.

Female Erotic Photography by Reka Nyari (Femme Fatale).
<Review in preparation.>

Le Petite Mort: Female Masturbation, Fantasies & Orgasm edited by Dian Hanson / Photographs by Santillo (Taschen). <Review in preparation.>

Lighting the Nude / Third Edition: Top Photographers Reveal Their Secrets edited by Steve Luck (Amphoto Books). It 's no surprise this book has just been released in a "Third Edition." Packed with over 100 images taken by contemporary masters, it reveals the lighting techniques behind each photo. No secrets left uncovered here, just the bare essentials—complete with lighting diagrams, exposure settings, and comments on set-up by the photographer. This is a great guide for those just starting out, but it also serves as inspiration for pros looking to create new lighting scenarios. This classic reference illuminates all the contemporary subgenres of nude photography with style.

3DD: A 3-D Celebration of Breasts by Henry Hargreaves (Seven Footer Press). Fashion photographer Hargreaves has a passion for breasts and presents a robust selection (all shapes and sizes) in eye-popping three dimensions. This book cleverly blends art and nostalgia—(you feel like a kid when oggling)—in a book that's just plain fun to look at. Guilty pleasure guaranteed. Glasses included.

Upstairs, Downstairs & Outside by Jenny Gage & Tom Betterton (Damiani). This edition features seductive narrative portraits by Gage and Betterton. The setting is a house in Brooklyn—interiors and exteriors, of course—occupied by three young women. Their casual nudity draws us inside. We are ghostly voyeurs moving through this house where intimacy and innocence mingle... shadows crawling across the walls. This summer house has art books everywhere. The women lounge and browse, stretch out in the sunshine, curl up on the couch with legs intertwined. We are invited to imagine their relationships and invent dialogue. This is a book that wants to be a film. There is a documentary flavor to the pages. They move languidly through the house, at once restless and content. These are memories to intrude upon which delight the eye.

Polaroids by Guy Bourdin (Editions Xavier Barral). French fashion photographer Guy Bourdin is one of the world's masters. Like Helmut Newton, Bourdin broke barriers and developed a distinct narrative style that leaves the viewer asking, "What happens next?" He was a protégé of Man Ray so it's not surprising that many of the Polaroids in this book have an edgy surrealist quality. A strain of dark eroticism runs through these images. One can easily imagine an accompanying text and captions written by André Pieyre de Mandiargues. Or, perhaps, scenes from a film by Duras or Robbe-Grillet. POLAROIDS is sensual and mysterious.

Tuscany Nudes by Peter Hegre (Edition Skylight). The gifted Norwegian photographer has produced an exquisite series of tritone images reminiscent of Renaissance paintings. The photos were taken over a period of five years at a 16th century villa in Tuscany. Elegant rooms, beautiful courtyards and expansive vineyards form the background for Hegre's models— radiant in the natural light. The photographer celebrates the nude female form in a classical style ripe with subtle visual pleasures.

The Complete Pirelli Calendars: 1964-2007 by Edmondo Berselli and Francesco Negri Arnoldi (Rizzoli ) Great tires aside, Pirelli is today best known for their annual calendar. To get hold of an original is elusive at best, so this supremely lavish edition from Rizzoli is a prize to behold—that is, if you can lift it. This massive tome weighs about ten pounds and includes over 40 years of gorgeous nude photography. It's a fascinating study of changing photographic styles over the decades. From retro pinups to artful abstracts by some of the world's most gifted photographers: Richard Avedon, Mario Testino, Herb Ritts, Norman Parkinson, Bruce Weber, and Annie Leibovitz. The models, such as Iman, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Sophia Loren, Naomi Watts, and Penelope Cruz, are perpetually beautiful and never out of style. As a bonus, this book includes the rare, unpublished calendar from 1963, a textual history, as well as behind the scenes shots from past editions. A big, bold treasure.

The World's Top Photographers: Nudes by Anthony LaSala (Rotovision) has appeared in several editions and is arguably one of the best references on the subject. It features the work by 30 photographers, including Bob Carlos Clarke, Bettina Rheims, Ralph Gibson, David Penprase, and Robert Mapplethorpe, along with in-depth interviews packed with useful techniques.

Steven Bayley's magnificent Woman As Design: Before, Behind, Between, Above, Below (Conran Octopus) examines the female form from head to toe as a masterpiece of design. This extraordinary visual tour focuses on culture and design, style and form, from Aphrodite and classical icons to contemporary advertising, pin-ups, architectural forms, fashion, cosmetics, and sculpture. The objectification of the female body, various stereotypes and ever-evolving search for the "ideal" are also explored. This huge deluxe edition is both an investigation and celebration of female beauty through the ages.

The American Surrealist photographer Francesca Woodman's self-portraits —many in the nude— transport the viewer to unexpected places. Her provocative, hallucinatory images go far beyond the baring of flesh to the baring of this artist's soul via ghostly forms and angelic incarnations. The monograph, Francesca Woodman by Chris Townsend, was originally published by Phaidon in 2006, with copies now fetching from $250 to over $1,000. We hope the publisher brings this book back into print.

Helmut Newton Work by Manfred Heiting / Helmut Newton (Taschen) This is our favorite (and fairly definitive) collection of the master's work. Published in typical lavish fashion by Taschen, the volume was released in conjunction with an exhibition in Berlin honoring Newton on his 80th birthday. The book includes both color and black & white photographs with several special fold-out pages. There are fashion and portraits here, but it's the iconic nudes that dominate. Newton, himself, participated in the book's design and the edition reflects this hansomely. If we could only own one collection by H.N., this would be it.

Galateas is an ethereal monograph of Carla van de Puttelaar’s nude young women, captured with eyes closed, asleep & dreaming. There is nothing to focus on beyond their bodies framed in painterly light. The backgrounds are a black void. One cropped photo of a woman’s hand and arm extended downward has a distinctly morgue-like feel. Here, the line between death and sleep is blurred...the image turning from erotic to unsettling in a blink. The title prompts us to consider the classical myth of a statue come to life. These women are alive—we’re close enough to hear them breathing. If only we could read their minds, their dreams. Galateas is haunting and provocative.

Nude Photography Notebook by Eddie Ephraums (Argentum) unveils the work of British photographer Allan Jenkins in facsimile form—an artist's notebook where he plans his remarkable images. Jenkins is known for sensual cyanotype prints, subtle and abstract. The notebook provides a launching pad for the artist who offers up a collage comprised of sketches, prints with handwritten annotations, contact sheets, test strips, snapshots of his workspace, darkroom and tools. It's a visual diary of one man's creative process—inspirational elements and internal mechanisms punctuated with notes, e.g., "The abstract body, even when nude, will find a way of clothing itself." A unique addition to the genre.

Ellen von Unwerth’s Fräulein (Taschen) is a gorgeous, limited edition that celebrates Fräu(lein) power. Her models vamp it up in 1930s style. Long-legged beauties strut, pout, and prance provocatively, conjuring visual tales reminiscent of wicked Weimar, Helmet Newton, and Isherwood’s novel Goodbye to Berlin. Flirtation may lead to an orgy as Unwerth’s subjects transcend the fashion spread with pagan glee…transform themselves into edgy, Germanic goddesses before the lens. A vacant stare becomes an erotic gaze. These naked fräuleins dart out of reach and disappear into the woods, as if in a twisted tale by Grimm. It's sweet revenge since Unwerth was a fashion model before she grabbed a camera and started shooting back. The viewer is transported and seduced by Fräulein.

Look closely at the cover of Barely Private (Taschen)… can that really be Brooke Shields in a Cherokee headdress and stilettos, about to mount a hog? Is it a fetish shot or just image-retrofitting? A shapely leg tempts us to peek inside and, of course, we do. This is Santo D Orazio’s collaged scrapbook, packed with artful Eros. From Spain to Italy to the Montauk cliffs, here are inspired grab shots... boozy, behind-the-scenes, hotel out takes and take-offs, with handwritten notes, painted scrawls and sketches. Religious iconography rubs elbows with naked fashionistas shedding sin. Amazing what D Orazio can do with his digicam in bad light. In lieu of tack sharp studio perfection, he captures the spirit of movement, the rustle of sheets and the blur of the dance floor.

The Naked and the Lens: A Guide to Nude Photography by Louis Benjamin (Focal Press) draws wisdom from art history while teaching an approach to capturing nude forms. It includes interviews with leading international nude photographers, their photos as well as the author's own. Benjamin's chapter on composition is particularly insightful. This is a book you'll refer to often, an enticing mix of aesthetics and techniques.

Veronique Vial's Paris Naked (Schirmer/Mosel) has the haunting quality of Brassai's famous photographs, yet with the added elements of satire and eroticism. The city at night in black and white provides the backdrop for one remarkable naked model, posing brazenly beneath street lamps and neon signs. Wearing nothing but high heels, the subject stalks the shadowy streets,an evanescent tour guide... leading us along the Seine from Montmartre to Montparnasse. At times mocking the iconic landmarks, or merging with the scenes as naked statue; interacting, dancing. Stripper, siren, the spirit of the city. Playful, aloof, seductive and beautiful.

Lighting the Nude: Top Photography Professionals Share Their Secrets by Roger Hicks and Frances Shultz (Rotovision) features 400 photos along with with side- and plan-view diagrams of the lighting setup for each one. This is a map that guides one toward mastering the light—arguably the most critical element in producing artistic nudes. No mystery here, as one can match the position of lights while experimenting with the effects of variation.

Nude Photography: The Art and the Craft by Pascal Baetens (DK Books). First published in the U.S. in 2007, this book quickly became a classic on the subject. Baetens's approach is down-to-earth from the ground up—beginning with the history of nude photography. The author moves on to focus on the choices one must make: where to shoot, indoors or out? Color or black and white? Natural light or studio strobes? There are tips on directing models, the use of props, creating abstract close-ups, and sculpting with shadow and light. There's also a special section devoted to the work of ten international photographers who demonstrate various techniques.

Marc Baptiste: Nudes (Universe). Originally a fashion photographer, Baptiste turned to nude portraiture and soon established himself as one of the best. Using natural light and a distinct cinematic style, his photographs exude subtle eroticism.

Freedom in Flashes by Diana Scheunemann (Koepfli & Partners Limited). The sassy pose on the cover of this monograph perfectly defines the spirit behind the artist's photographs. A group of young people on holiday, strutting and mugging for the camera, letting their hair down, shedding clothes, embracing freedom and friendship. Scheunemann manages to convey both intimacy and playfulness in these outdoor "candids." Her approach appears breezy and casual, yet there's a distinct vision. You can almost hear the spontaneous laughter and giggles. While this isn't a book of nudes per se, Freedom in Flashes skirts the edges with its flirtatious spirit, sexy and flip. We cherish our signed edition.

Digital Nude Photography by Roderick Macdonald (Course Technology PTR). What separates digital imaging from film is the use of software to enhance the photograph. Macdonald concentrates on step by step instructions for improving nude images in the digital darkroom.

The Photographer's Guide to Nudes: A Complete Masterclass by John Freeman (Collins & Brown). Freeman doesn't use the word "masterclass" lightly, for he manages to cover the entire realm of nude photography, from its various sub genres, to working with models, posing, the technical challenges of shooting indoors and out, lighting tips, and the proper gear for professional results.

Premiere Nudes by Albert Arthur Allen / Daile Kaplan (Twin Palms). No history of the American nude would be complete without the photographs of Albert Arthur Allen. This luxurious edition is a grand exhibition, featuring hundreds of images from the 1920s. Although similar to the classic boudoir photography found on French post cards of the same period, the American photographer managed to create his own, truly erotic style.

The New Erotic Photography edited by Dian Hanson and Eric Kroll (Taschen). The irrepressible publisher Taschen brings us a bold, coffee table tome showcasing the best contemporary erotic photography from around the world. Edited by the Queen of Eros, herself, Dian Hanson, and photographer Eric Kroll, this collection couldn't miss. The book uncovers the spectrum: lewd, crude, rude, as well as sublime and subtle. There are the campy, fetishistic works of Richard Kern, Ed Fox, David Naz, and george Pitts; the brash flash of Terry Richardson; the masterful surrealism of Jan Saudek; the exquisite sensuality of Markus Amon, Bruno Bisang, Didier Carré, Sakiko Nomura, and Barney Cokeliss; the photojournalism of Naomi Harris, and classical orgiastic lovemaking captured by Ludovic Goubet. Many more, of course. The cover photo by Maki Miyashita is—like a flapper—appropriately flirtatious.

Angel's Delight: Erotic Fantasy Photography edited by Markus Hofmann and Christian Zillner (Amphoto). This collection takes you on a fantastical journey, celebrating the erotic beauty of the female form set in enchanting, surreal locations. Each unique dreamscape the vision of talented photographers who specialize in this realm. Highlights here include the work of Beat A. von Weissenfluh, who juxtaposes luscious flowers and athletic models in finely crafted compositions. Also of note: Vincent O'Byrne's imaginative interpretations of the zodiac signs.

Femmes: Masterpieces of Erotic Photography edited by Michelle Olley (Carlton Books). A raucous edition featuring nearly 200 photos (color, black and white, duotones) by Michael Childres, Bob Carlos Clarke, Wolfgang Tillmans, and others. It's a mixed bag, with a lot of the images striving to be "extreme," i.e., fetishistic and exaggerated, self-consciously costumed, designed to "shock." There are also arresting and sensitive Sapphic photos that make this collection significant—albeit uneven.

Women Only by Stefan May (teNeues) German photographer Stefan May is a master at capturing intimacy. He is not afraid to move his camera in close, bringing the viewer into the scene. His books have ranged from couples to male and female nudes, and his style is both powerful and sensual. Women Only is a captivating art book for the coffee table..

Nude Visions: 160 Years of Nude Photography by Ulrich Pohlmann (Kehrer Verlag). One of the best visual compilations, featuring many rare, previously unpublished photos. It spans 160 years, beginning with Daguerreotypes from the 19th century. There are numerous anonymous works, as well as examples by established and obscure European photographers. We were particularly intrigued by the work of two artists (unknown to us): the noirsh nudes of Czech photographer Frantisek Drtikol, and montages from Germany by Heinz Hajek-Halke. Nude Visions is pure gold.

The Body: Photographs of the Human Form by William A. Ewing (Chronicle Books) Like Nude Visions (see above listing), this is a must-have collection, covering photography from its earliest days to contemporary images. Ewing has organized the photographs thematically in 12 sections: Fragments; Figures; Probes (scientific exploration); Flesh; Eros; Estrangement; Idols; Mirror; Politic; Metamorphosis; and Mind.

Edward Weston: The Form of the Nude by Amy Conger (Phaidon Press). One of most influential photographers of the 20th century turned his lens on the nude form with remarkable results. Weston did not believe in "tricks" and layered effects, and a pure aesthetic vision informs his work. This collection is truly a modern classic.

Outdoor Lighting: Nudes by Cathy Joseph (AVA Publishing). The author has produced an illuminating guide to outdoor nude photography...the art of capturing the human figure in relation to nature. Features color and black and white images by contemporary photographers—all using the sun as their primary light source—with details on how the shots were created.

The Age of Innocence by David Hamilton (Aurum Press). David Hamilton's exquisite images with their gauzy, dream-like atmosphere suggest mini-cinematic narratives exploring the awakening of femininity. His photos are the visual equivalent of poetry and prose; think text by Robbe-Grillet. Hamilton's style has been widely imitated over the years, yet few can match his vision.

Erotique Digitale: The Art of Erotic Digital Photography by Minnie Cook and Roderick Macdonald (Course Technology PTR). A compendium of digital image-making techniques—from simple retouching to 3D imagery. Cutting-edge work that explores the potential of the genre...ripe with new directions.

The Best of Helmut Newton by Zdenek Felix, Noemi Smolik, and Urs Stahel (Thunder's Mouth Press). A good introduction to the fashion-master's work, including 120 reproductions. Fashion, after all, is where many fine art photographers begin (or wind up), and Newton started a much-imitated trend for edgy nudes in high style. Includes his photos for French Vogue dating from the 1970s, his "big nudes," and portraits of celebrities (Elizabeth Taylor, Princess Caroline of Monaco, Salvador Dali, and Daryl Hannah). Fans of Newton will also want to check out the book Sumo (Taschen), which has been hailed as "the most lavish book production of the 20th century."

More Nudes by Andreas H. Bitesnich (teNeues). Bitesnich is a modern master of the nude whose works surprise and dazzle the eye. Like a sculptor, he shapes the human body, composing powerful abstract visions. A true original.

The Beginner's Guide to Photographing Nudes by Peter Bilous (Amherst Media). A good starting point for anyone wishing to specialize in photographing artistic nudes. Bilous covers the basics (equipment, preparations for a shoot, models, poses, image editing, etc.), with particular emphasis on the importance of setting, and incorporating a location into the photo—even letting the location inspire the image.

Designer Birthday Suits by Joel Gilgoff (Privately Published). This Arizona-based photographer has published a unique series of nude photography books. He takes original color art patterns and superimposes them over the bodies of his models. In effect, he dresses them with color. The images are quite striking and add a touch of irony to the traditional nude form.

The Model Wife by Arthur Ollman (Bulfinch Press). This unusual volume is centered on marriage and photography... man and his mate/muse. Featuring famous photographers such as Alfred Stieglitz, Edward Weston, Harry Callahand, Lee Friedlander, and others who have chosen to photograph their wives. The images are intimate and the models often nude, and reveal something about both model and artist. their relationship revealed before the lens. Arthur Ollman provides a rich overview featuring excerpts from interviews with several of the model-wives. This book is an essential edition for collectors.

Professional Secrets of Nude & Beauty Photography: Techniques and Images in Black & White by Bill Lemon (Amherst Media). A refreshing change from the plethora of full color nudes. B/W images force the viewer to focus on composition, light & shadow, sensual shapes & texture. Originally released in 2001, this book remains in print for good reason—Lemon's secrets and techniques won't go out of style. His photos are fresh and original, with lighting diagrams included. The book starts off with a grabber—"Inspiration"— in which the author sets out to mimic Herb Ritts' classic supermodels photo. I'm sure every photographer would love to try this, though few would have the good fortune (not to mention the budget) to employ five lovely models worthy of the original. Professional Secrets provides plenty of inspiration and creative concepts. Our one complaint: no nude on the cover!

The Mammoth Book of Illustrated Erotic Women Edited by Maxim Jakubowski (Carroll & Graf).

Blonde: Masterpieces of Erotic Photography Edited by Michelle Olley (Thunder's Mouth Press).

Nude Bible ( Tectum Publishers).

Erotic Home Photography by Tom Ang and Wendy Ang (Firefly Books).

A Comprehensive Guide to Digital Glamour Photography by Duncan Evans (Ava Publishing).

Lighting for Nude Photography by Rod Ashford (RotoVision).