The Female Gaze

Photographer Jamie C Parker

Los Angeles-based portrait photographer and ICU nurse Jamie Colette accidentally found herself pursuing fine art nude photography, and she hasn’t looked back.

“Getting into erotic photography was kind of an accident. It was a running joke in Chicago that everyone would do their first topless shoot with me, and it was usually the model’s idea!” Jamie tells Penthouse.

“I think they felt safe with me, which is so humbling and flattering. I was just trying to shoot more portrait work, to get better at it, and it just evolved from there. But it’s just so much fun shooting with women. The female body is so beautiful, and I just love creating art with other women — and making them feel empowered and sexy while doing it.”

As a female photographer, Jamie’s work offers a fresh perspective on the naked female form — one that extends beyond sexuality — and showcases the duality of women.

“Women are just so powerful. Besides being physically beautiful, we are just such complex creatures. Women can simultaneously be strong and soft. We can be sexy while nude or in a full suit. I just love capturing the dichotomy of that,” she explains.

The photographer admits being a woman behind the lens comes with its advantages.

“Shooting with a female photographer often gives models a sense of comfort and safety. I find I can empathize with models, when they talk about their insecurities or even things they love about themselves,” Jamie reveals.

“I often say I shoot women the way I would want to be shot if I were in front of the camera, so I think that really gives me a different perspective.”

In terms of the way she approaches a session, Jamie says, “My approach to photography has changed over time in that I have gotten more and more comfortable with pushing boundaries — and less concerned about what people think.”

For the budding photographers out there who might be wondering what gear Jamie uses, she says, “I shoot with a Canon 5D Mark IV, and I do pretty much all my shoots with my 35mm or 50mm lens! Lighting can be so unpredictable, so I always have a Speedlight on me. It’s nice to have the option if I need it. I also love the look of flash photography in the right context.”