The Naked Barista Story
- thenakedbarista
- Sep 19
- 6 min read
Updated: Sep 20
Why The Naked Barista?
This is the most frequently asked question when I meet someone new to my naked barista identity. It doesn't just come up with new social media followers and friends; it has been asked by connections who have known me for years.
The Naked Barista evolved from The Naked Farmer: a movement aimed to raise awareness about mental health and wellbeing in rural Australia.
"It takes guts to get your gear off as much as it does to talk about mental health."
That was the mantra of The Naked Farmer and it spoke to my heart, as someone who had struggled with his own mental health and wellbeing for much of his life.
I had been a supporter of The Naked Farmer since it started and bought merchandise especially the annual calendar, and the famous and now rare boxer shorts. While displaying the calendar and wearing the undies, there was a part of me that really wanted to join The Naked Farmer movement.
That meant getting naked and having my photograph taken.
I was so self conscious and ashamed about my body shape and image, the idea of standing bare naked in front of a camera was my idea of hell.
On Saturday 21 March 2020 I was scheduled to do a photoshoot for another men's mental health awareness project at a farm. That morning, I stared at The Naked Farmer calendar in my bathoom. The bloke of the month, Brad, was about my age by a guess and had a similar build - at least from behind.
"If Brad can do it - so can I," I said under my breath and with that, I found a pair of The Naked Farmer boxer undies and packed them with my kit for the photoshoot later that day.
The planned photoshoot went as perfectly and the day could not have been better in terms of location and weather. As the photographer and I were packing up; I found myself saying almost robotically: "I have one more photo I would like to take."
Photographer nodded at me.
"I want to do a photo for The Naked Farmer webpage."
Photographer stared at me like I was planning to rob a bank. After a few minutes of akward silence, he looked up from his feet and held his camera to his chest.
"Alright, let's do it. What did you have in mind?"
The image above is what the photographer captured on that day. I submitted it to The Naked Farmer with my story and it was posted on the website 24 hours later. The post included my main Instragam handle; and it went viral. The next 48 hours on social media were overwhelming.
Each hour, there would be hundreds of new followers requesting to follow me. My main Instagram account was for family, workmates, and people I knew through hobbies and interests. It was not intended for naturism and nudity.
A week later, Australia started the first and only national lockdown in response to COVID-19. While the majority of the country was allowed to return to normal life, my state of Victoria remained under strict lockdown although the harsher rules were yet to come.
I realised that I couldn't embrace my new found freedom as a nudist on my existing Instagram account, and so The Naked Barista identity was born when I made a connection between saying good morning to my new naked friends daily and the ritual became known as "nakey coffee" within a small group of likeminded souls.
I looked at the photos in the group chat; and then over at my home coffee machine.
I opened up Instagram and the original The Naked Barista was created.
Nakey Coffee Ritual
The ritual of Nakey Coffee started before The Naked Barista became my alterego. It continues today with one or two likeminded souls from those crazy lockdown days in 2020.
Each morning, time dependent, we make coffee in the privacy of our own homes, and for those of us with other members in the household there is an element of stealth is required.
I cannot express my gratitude for my naked coffee friends enough, other than to say a massive naked Thank you!
The first outdoors naked selfie
There was a brief moment, in the middle months of 2020, when the lockdown laws for COVID were relaxed. This provided the perfect opportunity to get out of the urban jungle and reconnect with nature.
For a new naturist, it was also a chance to experience being naked in nature for the first time.
It was heartstopping. I was in constant fear of being caught. I was completely unprepared with a lack of equipment as simple as a tripod to hold the camera. I had no idea about poses and posture. Then there was angles and lighting to consider.
It wasn't too long before I learned from those more experienced in selfies and photography as well as a lot of trial and error.
The First Collaboration
One of my closest friends and supporter of The Naked Barista is "TradieAus" and he also happened to be the first people I collaborated with to share our love of being naked in nature.
AusTradie as he was known was, and still is, one of the most recognised people on social media. We both lost our original accounts within months of each other.
It did not stop us from continuing to enjoy collaborating whenever we get the chance.
Instagram's Community Guidelines
I never imagined I would ever visit a nudist or clothing optional beach in my life, and so the day I plucked up the courage to drive to Armands Beach in NSW to experience being naked at a beach for the first time was nothing short of bitter-sweet.
Half way to Armands Beach, I was advised by one of my original Instagram followers, and now closest friends, that Instagram had taken down my original account and with it, 5,000 followers because it breached Instagram's community guidelines. I was gutted and it felt like a part of me had died.
There were protests to Meta to reinstate the account however nothing ever came back. The first Naked Barista journey had been lost to the pages of time. Along with it, many friends and followers who I have never been able to find and reconnect with to this day.
As far as a clothing optional beach went, I had no idea of protocols or what to do. I arrived at the beach area and dropped my kit as soon as I was in the clothing optional area. I subsequently noticed you could set up your spot before getting your gear off.
A married couple who picked up on my behaviour came and gave me some helpful hints and tips; including remembering to bring a sunshade of some description next time.
The Professional Photoshoot
It is one thing to get up each morning, get creative with angles, lighting and props to take a selfie to share with your naked crew, it is another thing to meet a professional photographer and have a shoot in a studio with all the fancy lights and someone telling you how and where to move your body.
The first photoshoot with Dylan from HDGImage Photography changed my life. I will always remain grateful for him for helping me take the next step in my journey and feeling completely at ease in becoming a life model.
I was incredibly nervous when I arrived and he instantly put me at ease and explained what he would like to capture by way of celebrating what the Naked Barista meant to me in terms of my own essence; but also what he saw as someone who appreciated what I was trying to do.
Collaborations
The Naked Barista Journey has brought so many amazing people into my life. I share these collaborations as my way of saying, Thank you.
If I have missed including you in the above collborations, or you do not like the image I have posted here; please let me know and I will fix it as soon as I can. This blog is under construction.
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