Photography

[Lady Vanessa]

And THAT is too bad moparman, lol. In my opinion that does nothing to help a model or photographer's portfolio. And in this case, an SP.
Definitely a case in point for amateur photogs to keep in mind when editing. Stick to polishing your image and not over doing it.

 

[tyguy]

I posted here so I wouldn't be thought as creepy I didn't want to start contacting sp and asking if I can photograph them
Thought this way if anyone one was interested they could reply and set somthing up
Photography is something I love doing and photographing a nude beautiful woman is something I have not done yet
Sorry if this has offended anyone

 

[Claire Monet]

A link to some of your work would be helpful.

 

[Lady Vanessa]

Photos would be for personal use and I would email a copy for your self to use as you wish.

That all may be true tvguy. I can say I wasn't offended, but I hope reading your original post, how it may come across as creepy.
It implies nothing professional and your "personal use" is suspect. Screams Spank Bank!

 

[mikehawksbig]

Not necessarily mikehawksbig. It is a good website for inspiration and networking within the industry. Compensation or lack thereof should be discussed from the beginning with your intention to contact a model, photographer, MUA, editor etc....
Up to date profiles should let those viewing see how they expect compensation as well if they shoot nudes or not.
There are many models who agree to shoot TFP(trade for print, time for print, test for print) with reputable peers. I think the OP should expect to pay the model her asking rate seeing as he is an amateur.

You saw the part where I wrote, "Hire models...," right? I would have thought implicit in that is hire models that will pose for the type of shoot you want to do. And the OP isn't going to get TFP without any cred. You also saw that I covered that off when I suggested that once he got his portfolio to a reputable level, then he might get some paying gigs or quid pro quo?

MM or similar sites are where you can peruse and hire models. What would you suggest if you were an amateur (or even pro) photographer wanting to build up experience and portfolio in glam or erotic shoots? I mean, if your sister won't pose for free you pretty much have to hire in.

 

[tyguy]

Going to use the photos as a learning tool
Photo editing purposes

 

[Lady Vanessa]

Uuuh, yes I did read that part about "Hire models" and having a strong command of the English language, I do realize hire means, employ for wages.
Hence, me stating "not necessarily.." and felt to not mislead the OP that MM is solely used as a For Hire networking site. My comments were in addition to, for anyone who may not be familiar with Model Mayhem.
Being an experienced model who books paid shoots, occasionally pays for specific shoots I use for advertising and also books plenty TFP, Model Mayhem is a great stepping stone for amateur artists and any with all levels of experience.
You Sir, just pretty much regurgitated my first post.

 

[1nitestan]

Amateur photographer looking to take some erotic nude photos.
Are there any sp that will do this?
Photos would be for personal use and I would email a copy for your self to use as you wish.

This kind of post really does come across as GWC. Anyone with a camera (or phone) who isn't getting paid to take photos is by definition "Amateur". If you really want anyone to take you seriously as an amateur or pro, you have to put yourself out there and list your skills set. Post a link to your Flickr account so people can see what you're capable of. Tell people what you've done and the types of photos you've shot.

Nothing is more tedious and a waste of people's time (for both shooter and model) than fiddling around with lighting etc. in a "practice" photo shoot. In fact, I would say that it's a sure fire way to NOT get laid. Time wasted is money wasted. Wanna learn how to shoot nudes? Start with other objects and if you're moving on the humans, start with headshots, start taking pics of kids/babies...hell, even pets. Even shooting automotive subjects is a great way to learn how to light a human. Lighting is lighting, you have to understand all that shit first and pretty much have it down. If you really want to challenge yourself in lighting the human form, find some male athletes....they are way more interesting to light than women.

The other part of being a good shooter is your ability to talk to your subjects and make them feel at ease. You have to have a certain personality that can instantly build rapport and trust. No amount of editing will fix a model who's uncomfortable. Cameras can't lie- they pick up confidence and sexiness...they also record shyness and awkwardness. Not a lot of people can to erotic/modelling photography because a big part of the game is interacting with your subject. If you're tentative, you subject will be too. So brush up on your people skills. Unfortunately these really can't be taught.

Want resources on the technical skills?

Strobist.com - lighting techniques from the ground up

Strobox.com - lighting diagrams

http://www.amazon.ca/Lighting-Nude-Alex-Larg/dp/2880467209

 

[mikehawksbig]

Uuuh, yes I did read that part about "Hire models" and having a strong command of the English language, I do realize hire means, employ for wages.
Hence, me stating "not necessarily.." and felt to not mislead the OP that MM is solely used as a For Hire networking site. My comments were in addition to, for anyone who may not be familiar with Model Mayhem.
Being an experienced model who books paid shoots, occasionally pays for specific shoots I use for advertising and also books plenty TFP, Model Mayhem is a great stepping stone for amateur artists and any with all levels of experience.
You Sir, just pretty much regurgitated my first post.

Okay. I still don't see the point of your umbrage with my post then where you would start with "Not necessarily..." and end with, "the OP should expect to pay the model her asking rate seeing as he is an amateur." Sounds a lot like you are taking exception to some suggestion that isn't there if your intention was only to delineate the fuller scope of MM.

Now you say conclude that MM is indeed "a great stepping stone for amateur artists and any with all levels of experience." Which was clearly the predicate of my original suggestion. So....misunderstanding, I guess?

Back to the OP: if you want experience shooting glam and working with models, hire some models - explain that you are trying to break into the field - and learn as much as you can. You'll find that many with any experience will help and suggest things along the way.

The other thing I did years ago when I started doing fashion editorial shoots was assist on shoots with whomever I could find with decent cred. Shit work, but you learn a lot. Then you find people starting to ask to assist you.

 

[johnsmit]

I guess I was fortunate to start seeing escorts when I did
10 yrs ago .the girls were more open to different things and more artistic inclined.

What helped me a lot in transitioning to doing nude photos was that prior to that I had done nude figure drawing for a number of yrs and had a better apreciation of the nake body.
Yrs of Playboy , men's mags and porn helped too
I am an artist so it just a part of the creative process for me .

Ye's some of the girls I had seen befor for sex and that helped alot to make every one more comfortable ..When I was taking picture I was not trying to have sex at the Sane time lol..it was just about the photo shoot.

I listen to sone I'm these suggestion a bout what to learn . In lighting and posing and the like Yes I am sure it is the route to take on the more pro scale
But much of what a photographer us comes from his natural ability and yrs of personal observation of the world around us.
I seldom get the chance to take pics of girls .but I still retain images of the great looking girls and sceans I see each day .The world is full of great snap shoots for the mind.

 

[sevenofnine]

I had recently three or four photo sessions with my sp.

um I guess they weren't sessions I didn't pay,
she wanted to up date her web site. she had hired a photographer or just a friend not sure she was short on details, he couldn't figure out his camera and well they took them at her incall nice place but the lighting is bad. she didn't like the result

any way I offered, I have an old camera didn't promise anything at all. I am well I like to draw and paint watercolor and well I have looked at playboy all my life, so I know what looks good, doesn't mean I can reproduce it though.

we were also not constrained to her in call. she has a nice recreational property nice and sunny lots of different photo possibilities, any who, we spent three afternoons wondering around talking photos and one more set at her in call.

I gave her my camera, she still has it so she could download the photos to her computer and delete them off the camera, though she did email me a bunch,
like people have said trust is huge.
but I have been with her ten years and counting,

seeing her tomorrow as a matter of fact.

it actually was a lot of fun, she got the look she wanted, we ran it around over coffee the clothes she wanted we used her ideas and some of mine, she told me she got enough and is satisfied, I saw some of them we took hundreds of pics, its bound to happen out of hundreds of pictures your going to get some that are pretty good actually.

um
the best part is we got naked and drunk in her big bathtub. and ran over some ideas for her web site I gave her my view on things from a male perspective, I think she liked one, some annoyed her but one good idea on occasion is all I can manage

there is a lot to be said for being a regular and a long time regular with an sp,

 

[nmjoff]

I have been very lucky to have done many, many shoots for ladies in this employ... It all started with a girlfriend that really enjoyed the outdoors and getting nekid and posing, this eventually developed into a serious hobby. I have access to a nice studio but I almost never do studio type shoots as I prefer natural lighting and have done many outdoor shoots which are always lots of fun!
I usually help out with minor photoshopping requests like tattoo removal, scar removal etc. or to help out with anonymity, not to disguise or alter what the woman actually looks like. I love outdoor photography and am lucky to have access to several really cool places to enjoy this part of my hobby...
The models have always been really excited when they see the results and that makes this a really satisfying part of the fun at beaches, forests, barns, airplanes, etc LOL