This is from a recent shoot, one that actually took a heck of a lot of work. The location was chosen because of it’s scale and look. This is the Los Angeles River. Once it looked like other rivers, until there was a flood and the people of the time decided they must stop that, so it was paved over much of it’s path. What was once nature is now typical of our modern cities. When standing there, the scale of it all makes you feel very small, it is intimidating. The character is primitive, a contrast to the city background. How she came to be there is left to the imagination. Some have guessed an apocalyptic future. Time travel or alternate reality would work as well. I chose not to define that and leave it for the viewer’s imagination. It took some time to find a model. Posing for this took a good deal of bravery, patience and trust on her part, and she did a great job.

When I posted some of the pictures from this shoot it wasn’t long before I got a comment, “Where is the story? All I see is a painted girl in a ditch”. While I sometimes find these irritating, I don’t really take them too seriously, it was from someone that had posted no pictures of their own, and a few months back was looking for a TFP shoot to build his portfolio. I suppose he read somewhere about stories in photos and felt it was his job to critique others that didn’t conform to his concept. The problem is that he started a feeding frenzy and shortly I had several people, all without photos of their own on my case. Discussions could have been started about technique, or location, but it became an “I don’t see the story” thread”. Of course explanations don’t help at that point, they argue for the sake of arguing, and many do so just because an image is not what they would have done.

Of course while every image should have a subject, not every images will have a story, or at least not a complex one. It’s purpose may be only to show you one thing in detail.

A sunset is pretty, but could you define a story in it? It may provoke an emotion, but that will be unique to each person, likely a memory of some experience that they have had.

I think part of what was happening is that they expected to see typical glamour images, portfolio, or headshots. The thing is, it doesn’t really take imagination to put a pretty girl in front of the camera. Like the sunset, the pictures will be nice  The circumstances and setting can be changed to create more emotional response, but does that define a story, or am I simply showing you an attractive woman. Does it need to be more? Yet these photos posted in the same place didn’t draw the attention.

There are times that I put a complex story in to an image. In this one the eye is drawn to different places that tell pieces of the story. Usually to skin first, she is obviously undressed and attractive, then up her body to her face. Here her identity is established, a bride. This would be her wedding night, but she does not look happy. Looking around the room for context, you come to the bed, where there are feet, too many feet. Added to that some lingerie carelessly tossed around the room. This catches people by surprise. Where they were originally expecting something sexy, the story turns to sadness and betrayal. This story is very defined, all of it’s elements were planned to take the viewer to a particular place.

In other photos parts are left to the imagination. All some see in this image is a nude girl and they often ask me for a photo that “shows more”. I have them, but that isn’t the point. If someone explores the photo then there are opportunities to fill in a story from imagination. She is obviously bathing, but in a field. Is this a camp, a farm, maybe there is a cabin nearby. Her eyes are closed, does she know she is being watched, does she care? How did you come across her? What would happen if she caught you watching? All of this is left to imagination. Sometimes I choose to let the viewer’s imagination wander and create their own story.

When people used to read for entertainment they were accustomed to filling in the visual part of the story. They writer may have filled in the framework, but the world that each person saw could be a bit different. They same was true when people listened to stories on the radio. As our technology has increased, more of the story has become defined and less left to the imagination. It would seem that a lot of people now want it all laid out for them. On top of that, they get upset if the story doesn’t go the way they want it. The Unseen Women has been good for drawing that kind of fire. Many people like it, but some have gotten upset because the theme of the images is dark, it takes the viewer to a place they didn’t expect and provoked emotions they didn’t want. Art is an exploration of may things and the goal is not necessarily to do what the audience expects. If there are those that don’t understand, don’t like, or don’t see the story, it doesn’t mean I will change it to suit them.

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It is often asked why many photographers shoot nudes. The conventional answer is that men like to look at nude women. While that has an element of truth in it, it is far from the whole story. There is the GWC (Guy With Camera) that uses his camera as a scam to get women undressed. What about the real photographer/artist? The person that puts years in to learning their skill, hours or days in to planning and creating a single image. A nude image can be used to express many ideas, depending on how it is presented. Sexuality is the first thing that comes to mind, but it also can be used to present vulnerability? Freedom? contrast? Rebellion? or simply explore the human form?. To categorize an artist in with the GWC or pornographer is really a slap in the face and very disrespectful of the time, planning and care they put in to their creations. Despite the stereotype typically attributed to men, I have seen several working on the set of a nude shoot looking off another direction because they did not want to offend the model by looking at her. Then there is the partner of the photographer, the model. The images could not be created without her. Why does a woman taker her clothes off for the camera. Again, people conventionally say that she was doing it for money, that the photographer was taking advantage of her, or conning her in to doing the photos for his own motivations. Painting her as a victim, or a foolish exploited girl. This is mostly an image painted by people with no experience with real shoots. If the pinup models of the past were objectified as the article suggested, then why would I have a model? from the other end of the state contact me to do pinup photos of her, not for money, or even at my request. I have also seen women who were not models, just posing for some pretty pictures, get a gleam in their eye, look around, and peel off their top. The real reason that women pose nude? It is because they want to. It might be to feel pretty, or sexy. Perhaps to go against a social convention that they don’t really believe in. To explore how they feel about their bodies, or just to help create art and be a part of it. Again there is a stereotype that women who pose nude, are dumb, gullible or easy. I have found this to be far from the truth. They are intelligent, respectable people. If an average woman is asked about posing nude, their reason for not posing is usually not about what they think or believe. It is about what someone else thinks, either that don’t think they look good enough, or are worried about what parents, boyfriend, friends, etc. will think. Why create nude art? Because it pulls attention, from both men and women. It touches emotions in the viewer. I like sunsets, and have shot many of them, people looking at them usually say “nice”. It is the pictures that are much more human that get “Wow!”

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One of the reactions I frequently get from amateur photographers is envy. There are questions like “Who is she?”, “How did you find her?”, and on some photos, “Is she really nude?”. The last one I have always found to be a strange question. Yes, she really is.

One of the obstacles that some amateur photographers put in front of themselves is being shy. They are afraid to ask, and afraid to direct. I knew someone years ago, upon seeing my pictures, his eyes lit up and he said “This has always been my dream”. I offered to set up a shoot with a model for him, and he backed out. He never did take me up on the offer. In running a photography workshop, after doing my presentation, I had to prompt the photographers multiple times to go ask the models to pose. The thing to keep in mind is that they are likely not going to be offended, especially on fashion work. Showing some confidence and initiative goes a long ways.

Even getting a nude model is not as hard as is commonly believed. You don’t need to ask a stripper, that likely won’t go well anyhow. Many women are willing to pose nude for art projects, so the first step is to have an art concept in mind. Also have some good sample photographs to show. In Peter Gowland’s books he even mentions asking friends. At first I thought that was crazy, but over the years a number of friends have posed for me, some actually asked me if they could. None have been offended.

There are a number of things that will put off a model. Bad photographs are one. She is likely self conscious about her appearance to begin with, poor quality images will just make that worse. Many are worried about what other people will think. Friends, family, Significant Other. Anonymous photos may be a remedy to that. Some will be worried about the image being too explicit, in which an implied nude may be acceptable. Being nude on set may be a concern, so a towel or robe to cover until set may be needed.

No reason for taking the image could be a big one. Just as there are shy photographers, there are those that go two far. Touching, or making sexually suggestive remarks will likely make the model uncomfortable. They are referred to as GWCs (Guy With Camera). It is ok to give a compliment, but flirting, and pushing for more than the model is comfortable with is very unprofessional. Even and amateur photographer can be professional and courteous. Stick to the creation of the image, and always honor the agreement on how they are to be used or displayed. Don’t touch the model.

In getting models, aside from some of the links here, there is modelmayhem.com. In the past there was craigslist, the more recently I have been getting too many scams and spam from there. You may have heard of TFP, or TFCD. Sometimes you will see the terms “Collaberation” or “Test”. It is important to realize that these are no magic words to get free modeling. TFP/TFCD is a trade deal where the model gets pictures in exchange for her time. Too often someone offers TFP/TFCD because they “are learning”. This would actually be the time when you should not be thinking about TFP/TFCD because you don’t have shots of value to offer her. If your still learning, pay the model for her time. There may be exceptions if a friend is posing for you, or if the model is really interested in helping with an art project, but a guide line for when you can start doing TFP/TFCD would be when models are asking for you to shoot in trade.

On set, make sure you are prepared, have your equipment, and conditions are safe. Snacks and water are a good addition. Have a private changing area, even for nude work. Take breaks. A good tip is to have sample pictures or a posing guide. It can be hard to get started and the visuals will help. Don’t be afraid to use imagination, and a major item is to learn to communicate with the model. The images are not just you, and not just her. It takes both.

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We did indeed find that over 50 percent of men preferred a female photographer if they were going to pose nude. The surprise, over 48 percent of women prefer a male photographer. So men and women are roughly the same in preferring an opposite gender photographer when posing nude.

Men and women are not the same though since Men were more likely to prefer a same gender photographer, at 19 percent, where as women were only 5 percent in their preference for a same gender photographer. Predictably gender became less important with clothes on with woman at a 27 percent preference for a male photographer, and men at an 19 percent preference for a female photographer.

5 percent of the men did state concerns about homosexuality as the reason for preferring a female photographer. Some felt that a women would be able to choose better poses for a man. Of those that chose a male photographer some said that they were move comfortable.

Some of the women said that they were uncomfortable with a man seeing their body, and therefore preferred a female photographer. Many of the women felt male photographers would be able to photograph women better. Some did comment on finding a male photographer more attractive.

So were you surprised?

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