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Too old to care
Industry Role:
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: On the sofa, watching TV or doing my jigsaws.
Posts: 52,943
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How to Photograph Girls - The Professional Way -- Part 3
So now every thing should be ready, equipment, posing book, location, clothing, and props. So what's missing? The girl.
This is one of the difficult things, which even though I'm going to tell how to find them, does not always work. Finding girls and interviewing them is very important. This is when to establish first contact and make those very necessary first impressions. Who is this girl, will she be suitable for the job, is she bored, frightened or going to try to be in charge. Remember she needs the money, more than you need 4-6 hours with an attitude you would not take from a waitress. It's your money going down on the table. This is not the time for her to be in charge.
Establish credibility, firm but fair. "You know what this is all about."
Even though in charge you're an easy person to get on with. Always have a joke to ready, just make sure it's not derogatory or sexist. There are different types of girls that model. To be honest most of them do it for the money. They either need a quick buck or are "Sex workers" which includes everything from models to hookers. And all need handling different.
Do not try walking up to girls in the mall, it will end in trouble. Try placing an ad in the local free paper or classifieds. In a big city it works, if you're in the mid west Bible belt they probably will not take your ad. Advertise for a Kalashnikov no problem but not for a nude model. Look at other ads and you may find agents that deal with "Erotic" modeling. But the most obvious is the Net, search for models and agencies. Try to avoid strippers and lap dancers. This is just a general rule but over the years I've found these girls to be
difficult to work with and normally not worth bothering with. There are couple of sites on the net that are strip clubs who decided to come into the Internet and generally the work is not of a required standard. These girls work of an evening so when you want to shoot, she would normally be sleeping, think about it.
One of the ways that we find girls is through the girls we work with, they had such a good time they tell other girls to come and see us.
Whether dealing with new girls or experienced old hands, explain exactly and precisely what you're doing, when, where, how much, who will be present (Never shoot a girl without someone else there, preferably a woman) and most important, how much she will earn. You cannot tell how long it will take because you do not know how quickly she can work. It's best to say we do this, this and this and then we are finished. Leave nothing to chance. Get her to fill in a form with her name, sizes and lists the type of work you do. To which she agrees or disagrees to each category, with a simple YES NO or NOT SURE. Models have a habit of suddenly stopping and saying "I did not agree to do that" and usually followed by "But will for extra money". She thinks she has you in a fix. I then show her the form and explain this is what she was booked and being paid for and she can always go home. In fact if she does not want to do it she might as well go anyway. They usually discover its no problem. Just determine that if it is a problem then you will not force her and she can go home. This makes sure she does it with the right look.
To resell the images she has to bring two forms of valid government picture ID and sign a model release granting the rights to resell her image as YOU see fit. Without the right to approve such sales or pictures. She is being paid to model for pictures to be sold.
Now she's been told everything, ask her to do a couple of test pictures. Need to see her nude the last thing you want to discover on the day of the shoot is that she's had open-heart surgery. Or got a picture of Bob Marley tattooed on her back along with another Rastafarian who turned out to be her boyfriend. I kid not, ask me to show you the pictures!!
If she has any problems showing you herself, nude think why. The plan is to spend money, based on what she looks like and how she performs nude. Most girls will understand and strip off with no problems, so be warned this is a good time to establish how "Cool" you are about her nudity. Check the "Roving eyes and slobbering tongue" it will not impress her.
So every thing is fine, book her and ALWAYS get her to confirm 24 hours before the shoot she is still coming. They have a habit of changing their minds or getting another better paying assignment.
Check that she will not be menstruating that day. Ask coolly as if you are asking her what bus she catches to come to the shoot. For men it's a problem, for woman normal. Make it sound normal to ask.
Do not book girls 1-2 days before a period. It can turn out messy, or she could have PMS, which could be worse. Again a good way to establish your credibility, don't tell her the reasons, she's a woman and knows them.
The interview is where we find out who is or is not suitable. It's all a judgment and experience. If a girl is frightened but worth shooting, how do we make her feel comfortable. Is the girl doing us a favour by modeling? Is she on drugs? Does she think she will be in charge? Or will she show what's between her legs, but not between her ears?
Porn is not just a girl with her legs open, that's meat and we shoot the dream that she wants to satisfy our fantasy. But she is not to be used. In fact she is using us. And we are happy, or so she thinks.
This is the hardest thing to teach and to be honest US girls are one of the most difficult girls in the world to photograph for porn. Just glad we are in the Czech Republic. I hope this is being useful and starting to show that it's not so easy.
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