Even with nothing on: Intimate photoshoots take over bedrooms

“There’s a lot of conversation that happens before we meet and shoot,” says Sen. “The client talks about what they want to shoot; lays out the boundaries clearly.” Once it has all been arranged, the actual shoot can take four to six hours. Don’t schedule it for a lunch break, then.

Find a photographer who will use some of that time to build a connection. “To makes things less uncomfortable, I break the ice by making tea for the person while we chat.” Spend a little time doing something mundane so you can connect, is Sen’s advice. Don’t overthink it. There’s nothing there the photographer hasn’t seen and shot before. If you want to do this, “don’t let it build in your head.” Don’t worry about what to do. “There’s not a lot of posing. It’s more about playing with light,” Sen says.

Who is this for? “There are essentially two kinds of people who sign up for erotic photography,” Sen says. “Those who are very confident with their bodies and those who aren’t. Some of the latter sign up because they feel this will help them become more confident.” Most of his clients in this niche are women, Sen adds. He has shot with a few couples. “It was their anniversary gift to themselves.” Overall, the numbers are rising. Sen says he had zero clients signing up for nude or erotic photography a decade ago, and about six or seven a year today.

Sen charges between ₹60,000 and ₹1.5 lakh, depending on the number of frames requested, how elaborate one wants the location and set-up to be, and whether styling is required. Payment includes a guarantee of ownership for the client, and privacy protection. Certain terms can be insisted upon. For instance, “I’m the only one who works on erotic photographs for my clients, and the only one who sees them,” Sen says.

So, should you do this? “People find it liberating, but they need to come to this on their own,” says Sen. “Nobody should be pushed into it. If they’re eager, if they want to try something, then this is for them.”