delkeener Loc: SW Rhode Island, USA

All the more reason to refuse the assignment. Good way to end a friendship.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

So long as they are well hung!

"Many a good hanging prevents a bad marriage,..." William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night, Act 1, scene 5.

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

Debby Does Dallas. If I remember my youth in any way shape or form.

Sarge69

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

That depends upon how many times each person has been married or possibly to how many people simultaneously. Human behavior is sometimes a lot more complex than some people appreciate. Whatever you do, I would make sure that you have a good release.

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

Set up an intervalometer shoot for them and leave the room.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

That would be 'Debbie' and Bambi if you need a reminder!

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

Intervalometer, every 1 second. I figure 5 minutes, 300 shots total.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Great classical reference
.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

IF you do it... you need rock solid nude photography releases signed in advance, as well as copies of both subjects' drivers licenses or other absolute proof of age (I am assuming there's only two subjects... but, hey, who knows )

dat2ra Loc: Sacramento

What you are shooting is like boudoir, nudes and fetish. (Yes, I shoot all of this.)
I suggest you or they get some "tear sheets" from books or magazines, or videos so your clients can show you the style of out-take they want (high-key vs. low-key, sharp vs fuzzy focus, angle, color vs. b&w, level of explicitness: clothing, sheets, etc). Couples' shots in print are hard to find but women are easy, but you can get the info you need from that. There are many couples' vids though. Check out Kym Wilder's stuff--being a woman director she has a more artistic and romantic perspective than most--appeals to more women.

If possible, visit the site so you can plan the shoot. If you can use constant light, it's less disturbing than a flash; you can rent LED panels. In my experience, it's all about the woman, so she needs to look best. Also, there is always the "good in concept, bad in execution" consideration; if both are not exhibitionists it's going to be tougher. For as much as guys show off, women are truly more exhibitionist.
I think this is a challenging and interesting assignment, but seems to be making the Hoggers uncomfortable, and understandably so.

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

If they don't want complete coverage, just a discrete record shot or two.
If they don't want you to be there, just them.
If they don't want anyone else to see the photos just them.
Then set up an intervalometer for them and show them how to view the results on your camera, keep what they want and delete the rest. That is if you have a Nikon.

Reinaldokool Loc: San Rafael, CA

Okay. No jokes.

First congratulations. It is an honor that this couple has decided they can trust you in this way and that you will honor their trust and privacy. That's big.

I have not done this, but I do sex therapy with individuals and couples and I understand their desire and your difficulty. They are trusting you to take this seriously and I apologize for the children on this forum.

There is nothing especially difficult about this. I have shot a lot of nudes with a single off-camera flash and a Gary Fong Lightsphere. More recently, I have moved to a Light Genius as a modifier--mostly because it fits in my bag better. Either one will give some modeling and reduce the harshness. Straight bounce flash would also probably work, but bounce depends on the color of wall/ceiling paint and distance, etc. A bracket that moves the flash about 4-6 inches to the side and 4-8 inches above the lens will give a little direction to the light. It would be best if they stay further down on the bed to keep any shadows off the walls.

Having said all this about flash, I would try to set up enough steady lights that I would not need flash. Even some cheap clip-on lamps with higher-power cfls aimed at the ceiling. The main reason would be to overcome any lighting from windows or room lights. I would push the ISO as high as needed to avoid the flash. (My a6300 will do well at 6400 and even good enough to 12800). A little noise will be irrelevant. I don't know your camera, mine will shoot in a quiet mode without making any sound. Anything to keep from interrupting them or making them conscious of the camera.

Treat this as their own personal sex fantasy with the emphasis on romance, not just raw sex. So not like most porno, but more like erotic photography, explicit and exposed, but not "raw."

Take a couple of test shots before they enter the room, as you won't get a second chance.

Have a private conversation with the couple a couple days ahead. Talk with them about what they want. I would want to go over the whole process with them. Share the shooting script that I have suggested below with any other shots that you might want to add. Get their reactions and any additions. If they make requests be sure that you get those shots. If you've come this far, you probably don't have any objections to anything they suggest but, if you do, be sure they know and then negotiate modifications. Just remember that this is their show and you are just a means to them getting their desires met.

Be clear with them that you will try to get everything for them but if you can't, you are not at fault. They can ask you afterward to shoot them acting that shot out.

Make at least a couple dozen different shots at different angles. I would shoot at least the following shots.
1. At least a couple of kisses, fully clothed
2. One or more shots of him removing her clothing, especially a shot of her in bra and skirt or bra and panties.
3. Get a shot of her removing his pants. Perhaps a shot of her fondling his penis or kissing it.
4. One or more shots of him removing her bra, with a good shot of her breast partly exposed but before the bra actually drops.
5. A shot of her bottom, nicely rounded, perhaps even showing her genitals.
5. A shot or two of him placing her on the bed, fully exposed.
6. The rest depends on their choice of sexual activity. They may spend some time simply kissing, or with him kissing her whole body. If he is a good lover, he may well spend a lot of time kissing her genitals, or the inside of her thighs and breasts. There is no way to know for sure.
7. Depending on their choice of position for actual intercourse, you should get a shot of him entering her.
8. If you are able and quick enough, you may be able to get the expressions on their faces as they orgasm.
9. Add anything else they want.

You are there at their request. You are not an intruder. Still, your very presence could detract from their pleasure and joy. You must be very careful not to interact with them but to let them do this on their own. You can't stop them to pose them. Make yourself as unintrusive as possible. If that means you miss something, perhaps they will be willing to simulate it afterward, just don't interfere during their activity.

On a personal preservation note: You will likely be hard pressed to avoid your own sexual reaction. So anything you can do to damp down that reaction beforehand will be helpful. You are like a gynecologist or urologist. You are not involved except to provide a technical service. It is what we call a "clinical setting."

Also for personal preservation, I would rewrite a photo release form so that it explicitly states that all the images are private and only available to the couple for any distribution, that you are specifically required to keep them private and not available to any other persons. They will almost certainly request this. Even be prepared for them to request you to delete any images from your system.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

We - I - associate copulate with rutting which is on the animal 'kingdom'. Copulate and rutting applies to reproduction, having sex is more about pleasure ans making love is about pleasuring a partner.

But when it comes down to it as we are also animals copulate works just as well. Just mindless sex. You are right on that aspect.

'Consummation' is also correct but is a legal term.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Well, I've never done anything remotely like this, and wouldn't, but I have done enough portraiture to comment.

Be sure you know EXACTLY and SPECIFICALLY what, and how much, they want you to show. It's their "show". You don't get to direct it. If they want a story with a timeline, capture a story with a timeline. Just be sure you know when it starts, and when it is supposed to end (from your perspective). If they want ONE scene, both you and they must know what that looks like. So consider a "clothed simulation" rehearsal.

Have a personal exit strategy in case they encounter "significant emotional distress."

Beyond all else, be sure to get a written release that relieves you of all responsibility for dissemination of the photos, whether over the Internet or via any other means.

In some communities, covering this kind of event in a certain manner can be considered pornography, no matter what else you or your client may call it. So be cautious. Go to Las Vegas if they want hard core!

That said, there are all too many good, bad, and ugly examples of similar things on Tumblr (and those 2 billion porn sites out there).

The use of soft, indirect, diffused, and bounced lighting is recommended for photographing skin of average subjects.

Accent lights can be harder light sources, but you need plenty of broad fill sources to flatter bodies.

Keep all lights at the same color temperature. Don't use any flash — they don't need any distractions! About 500 watts worth of 91 CRI, 5500°K CFLs will do it.

Put some of those CFLs in table lamps, and bounce the rest off the ceiling, or use very large soft boxes or umbrellas. Use a digital calibration target to set manual exposure and custom white balance. You need that, especially if the sheets on the bed are white.

If they want video and stills, record JPEGs (or JPEGs and raw) for the stills. The raw files are highly unlikely to match the video, no matter how you process them. (This is all the more reason to use a cal target.)

A large hotel room (in Las Vegas?) where you can set up lighting in advance works. Just be sure the ceiling is white, and you have enough outlets or power strips for your lights.

As far as angles, unless they want you to work from a tripod for some reason, plan to walk around and get whatever they asked for. A 24-70mm f/2.8 (full frame equivalent) zoom would be my lens choice, with an 85mm f/1.8 (FF equivalent) handy.

It should go without saying... DON'T keep copies, and DO respect their privacy. If they want to throw a party and show all their friends, that's their business.

Good luck!

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Hey, when they are having sex at 70, holding photos of their consummation over each other's shoulder just might encourage them. (Apologies to cartoonist Sam Gross for borrowing his idea)