There are lots of books, but I'd start with The Nude (subtitle: complete photography course), by Bruce Pinkard. I got mine at Vistek, but it's cheaper at Indigo. It's very informative, even mentioning types of drapes your studio should have, Internet precautions, working with models, and on and on.
For examples of excellence in figure studies (a better euphemism than noods or nekkid wimmen), check out books by Howard Schatz. He's really good. Peter Gowland is also very good, although his style looks a little dated now. I'd suggest "330 Best Poses" and "Classic Nude Photography", both by Peter and Alice Gowland. Pages Bookstore, on the north side of Queen Street West, near CITY-TV, has a large photography section, with many books on the topic. Vistek and Downtown Camera probably still carry the Pro Lighting series of books, with, IIRC, three different titles on similar topics, e.g. Lighting for Glamour, Lighting for Boudoir, and Lighting for Nudes, or something similar. For the artistic look, it's often good to use high-contrast lighting, so you can select which body parts will be visible, and which will be hidden in shadow. Since no model is perfect, once you see her, you'll see what her strong and weak features are, and then decide what to emphasize and what to hide. Less body hair is a plus, as it gives more flexibility in posing. Reason being, visible body hair can mean the difference between artistic and rude, at least to some viewers. In most cases, the model will be more comfortable if you're shooting from at least five feet away, and not invading her personal space. Choose your lenses accordingly. Also, don't expect too many portfolio shots from the first session. It takes time to build trust, and then you'll get better pictures. Good luck, and I hope this is helpful. Pat White
