Great question! In our view, we believe this topic goes beyond just naturism/nudism. Humans are both visual and cerebral creatures where we learn and relate best through a blend of verbal, written and visual inputs; but certainly not absolute by any means. We believe photographs can contribute greatly to any story. However; we become concerned when followers appear to be singularly focused on nude photos, and often send unsolicited nudes, and then request nudes of us. This behavior starts to lip over into eroticism, and tends to erode the true spirit of naturism. However photos depicting naturists in the context of daily life, social nudism and events help form a more complete narrative for any message or post. Thanks for touching on this important topic! ReNudeAdventures (IG)
A picture is worth a thousand words, as they say, especially if the prose (like mine) could be better. However, a finely crafted piece of writing can evoke a thousand images, each specific to the reader, and a level of emotions that most photos can never awaken. My verdict: better writing with fewer photos that are crafted with as much care as the writing they accompany.
The readership of Planet Nude is seemingly quite diverse, and photos (images) can mean so many different things to different people, so there is probably no correct answer to the question. I personally like to see one or two images of authors (to "lock" them into my memory), but I do not need "proof" that they are nudists and/or "nude" at the time that they write. On the other hand, I do enjoy seeing images of nudists (naturists) engaged in the kinds of social activities that many seem to enjoy. The point of including an image should be obvious, at least most of the time. I have included "most of the time", because differences of opinion are likely. Ultimately, an image that seems to be unnecessary can be skipped over with ease. (I also agree with the two sets of comments, below.)
Of course personal experience is the best way to grow the practice and acceptance. The question is, how do you get someone to try the experience? Every bit of fiction ever written includes the transformative moment when someone experiences the feeling for the first time. Does seeing photos of others help someone to try it for themselves? Does a well written story expressing those feelings work better? Hard to say for those of us who had that first experience so long ago. It would really take some anthropological / psychological research to identify what achieves that for the most people. This really should be a priority to determine before today’s older nudists pass on. Maybe start by asking everyone under 40 some questions with an incentive provided to answer, such as a free visit to a resort?
I’d say that when Planet Nude, a site (deservedly) respected for its quality writing, feels it needs to use a stock photo on a query about whether we’re too focused on photos, the answer is “yes” to some extent. 🙂
As an historian, I think we are less focused on them than back in the day, seems almost the only reason back in the day, so the question should be "DO WE REMAIN TOO FOCUSED ON PHOTOS? The trading of naturist photos by members 1930s -at least the 1960s was quite the thing.......hard to get ones head around it in 2026 to be honest
I would add it is good that they were so widely taken, usually sent to magazines without being paid and man y still exist, so giving to piece together history of these places is now easier. Try to find a photo of some building in some small town for historical work? Luck....and there was a wood shutter plant in my hometown and a Nash Studebaker dealership.....I can remember the buildings no pictures exist that I have ever found.......so it is actually easier in many cases documenting old nudist camps by comparison......
I don't know if nudism in general is too fixated on photography. A lot of in-person nudist spaces have strict rules against taking photos, and images aren't centered in those places. Like as a younger person equipped with a smartphone, nudist activities are really the only activities I walk away from without any photographic evidence whatsoever
As for "social media nudism," it is far too fixated on images. I believe that photos cannot even partially substitute for real experiences with other people. Some nudists online seem to be vainly aiming at that. Nor do mundane nude images generally entice curious outsiders to join in, which some folks seem to think.
I also think the dominance of images in these spaces can be partially explained by a demand for photos as a kind of ultra-softcore pornography. Photos of conventionally attractive younger nude women just get more attention. That's hardly a new thing for American nudism though, since I think a lot of interest in nudism in the 40s and 50s had to do with exposure to totally-not-pornographic "nudist" films and magazines.
I do not oppose photography in nudism altogether. I actually think that some nudist spaces could benefit from loosening done restrictions. For example, a 5k event that may attract some younger people who aren't so involved in nudism might benefit from having a designated spot for people to take photos to remember what might be a bucket list event or to share with their friends. But the right role for photos of essentially the same as it is for any other community: a way to capture and remember special moments and let your friends know what you're up to.
To answer the poll question, in order to meaningfully grow nudism (in contrast to growing follower counts), in-person experiences need to become approachable for more people. The only approach I believe in are events that are fun (not just sitting by the pool, as nice as that can be), inviting, and convenient to get to and pay for
From the poll, I'd say in-person experience with a guide person (or a buddy). If I'm a guide, I can guide that person to different things that are enjoyable while naked, point out the benefits, check on feedback and give encouragement. Naturism should not be a leap-of-faith if we want to encourage growth.
As for photos, I looked back at how my old club used photos to promote nude bowling and most of them were people in action. This is the kind of photos that works instead of people posing for camera.
Great question! In our view, we believe this topic goes beyond just naturism/nudism. Humans are both visual and cerebral creatures where we learn and relate best through a blend of verbal, written and visual inputs; but certainly not absolute by any means. We believe photographs can contribute greatly to any story. However; we become concerned when followers appear to be singularly focused on nude photos, and often send unsolicited nudes, and then request nudes of us. This behavior starts to lip over into eroticism, and tends to erode the true spirit of naturism. However photos depicting naturists in the context of daily life, social nudism and events help form a more complete narrative for any message or post. Thanks for touching on this important topic! ReNudeAdventures (IG)
My feeling is that photos play a vital role in online naturism.
One of the main draws with naturism is authenticity: our desire to be who we are, at our core.
One of the main drawbacks with online naturism is that that authenticity is nearly impossible to demonstrate.
Photos help to bridge that gap: they demonstrate that, despite this being an online account, I can at least show that I am unashamedly nude.
However, all that said, I would prefer if photos were not the currency of authenticity in the online naturist world.
Επιστροφή στις εμπειρίες με προσωπική συζήτηση. Επίσης επιστροφή στην εγχαρτη αλληλογραφια
A picture is worth a thousand words, as they say, especially if the prose (like mine) could be better. However, a finely crafted piece of writing can evoke a thousand images, each specific to the reader, and a level of emotions that most photos can never awaken. My verdict: better writing with fewer photos that are crafted with as much care as the writing they accompany.
The readership of Planet Nude is seemingly quite diverse, and photos (images) can mean so many different things to different people, so there is probably no correct answer to the question. I personally like to see one or two images of authors (to "lock" them into my memory), but I do not need "proof" that they are nudists and/or "nude" at the time that they write. On the other hand, I do enjoy seeing images of nudists (naturists) engaged in the kinds of social activities that many seem to enjoy. The point of including an image should be obvious, at least most of the time. I have included "most of the time", because differences of opinion are likely. Ultimately, an image that seems to be unnecessary can be skipped over with ease. (I also agree with the two sets of comments, below.)
I have long said that nudity is a feast--not for the eyes--but for the skin and the very freedom of the soul.
By the way, it was way too hard to get into here.
Of course personal experience is the best way to grow the practice and acceptance. The question is, how do you get someone to try the experience? Every bit of fiction ever written includes the transformative moment when someone experiences the feeling for the first time. Does seeing photos of others help someone to try it for themselves? Does a well written story expressing those feelings work better? Hard to say for those of us who had that first experience so long ago. It would really take some anthropological / psychological research to identify what achieves that for the most people. This really should be a priority to determine before today’s older nudists pass on. Maybe start by asking everyone under 40 some questions with an incentive provided to answer, such as a free visit to a resort?
I’d say that when Planet Nude, a site (deservedly) respected for its quality writing, feels it needs to use a stock photo on a query about whether we’re too focused on photos, the answer is “yes” to some extent. 🙂
As an historian, I think we are less focused on them than back in the day, seems almost the only reason back in the day, so the question should be "DO WE REMAIN TOO FOCUSED ON PHOTOS? The trading of naturist photos by members 1930s -at least the 1960s was quite the thing.......hard to get ones head around it in 2026 to be honest
I would add it is good that they were so widely taken, usually sent to magazines without being paid and man y still exist, so giving to piece together history of these places is now easier. Try to find a photo of some building in some small town for historical work? Luck....and there was a wood shutter plant in my hometown and a Nash Studebaker dealership.....I can remember the buildings no pictures exist that I have ever found.......so it is actually easier in many cases documenting old nudist camps by comparison......
I don't know if nudism in general is too fixated on photography. A lot of in-person nudist spaces have strict rules against taking photos, and images aren't centered in those places. Like as a younger person equipped with a smartphone, nudist activities are really the only activities I walk away from without any photographic evidence whatsoever
As for "social media nudism," it is far too fixated on images. I believe that photos cannot even partially substitute for real experiences with other people. Some nudists online seem to be vainly aiming at that. Nor do mundane nude images generally entice curious outsiders to join in, which some folks seem to think.
I also think the dominance of images in these spaces can be partially explained by a demand for photos as a kind of ultra-softcore pornography. Photos of conventionally attractive younger nude women just get more attention. That's hardly a new thing for American nudism though, since I think a lot of interest in nudism in the 40s and 50s had to do with exposure to totally-not-pornographic "nudist" films and magazines.
I do not oppose photography in nudism altogether. I actually think that some nudist spaces could benefit from loosening done restrictions. For example, a 5k event that may attract some younger people who aren't so involved in nudism might benefit from having a designated spot for people to take photos to remember what might be a bucket list event or to share with their friends. But the right role for photos of essentially the same as it is for any other community: a way to capture and remember special moments and let your friends know what you're up to.
To answer the poll question, in order to meaningfully grow nudism (in contrast to growing follower counts), in-person experiences need to become approachable for more people. The only approach I believe in are events that are fun (not just sitting by the pool, as nice as that can be), inviting, and convenient to get to and pay for
From the poll, I'd say in-person experience with a guide person (or a buddy). If I'm a guide, I can guide that person to different things that are enjoyable while naked, point out the benefits, check on feedback and give encouragement. Naturism should not be a leap-of-faith if we want to encourage growth.
As for photos, I looked back at how my old club used photos to promote nude bowling and most of them were people in action. This is the kind of photos that works instead of people posing for camera.