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Model Tests - and important lesson for photographers
🕑 Added 2023-04-23 10:45:19 +0000 UTCDear Patrons,
I am sharing with you a small post today with pictures from test shooting and I would like to give you some valuable insight.
I do not consider these pictures to be perfect, and they won't be shared anywhere else than here. However I learned that day something important.
Let's start from the beginning.
1. It was this girl's first photoshoot (which she called professional - thanks for that, although I do not consider myself to be a professional yet) and it was already a topless photoshoot. (I think it was a huge mistake in this case)
She wanted a full nude photoshoot, and it was also my plan to share with you video from behind the scenes - but the mere being in front of a camera was something very stressful for her, so I skipped that idea. It would have been too much and it might have paralysed a model completely.
2. Second thing, the day before photoshoot she told me that her boyfriend will be in the house with us, but he won't be a problem. I never had a problem with that, as long as it was someone who supports the model and puts her in a good mood. It might be a boyfriend or a female friend. It didn't matter. However this time I felt like there was something off and it looked the atmosphere was very dense. I didn't like the vibe from the start. To me it looked like she was stressed in the presence of her boyfriend. So later I had to establish a solid line and told them straight forward that I feel that model doesn't feel comfortable with him around and taking pictures, so I asked him to wait in the other room. As I make more and more photos being professional and shit, I am more confident in what I am doing and I am comfortable.
This is very important: If you are comfortable and confident - it will spread to other people around you. If you are in a good mood, if this feeling is congruent and strong - it will emanate to others. If you vibe on the same frequencies - the work goes well.
If don't then don't worry. You cannot control everything, you are only responsible for yourself and how you act.
When we worked later 1-on-1 girl started to be more comfortable, she laughed a little and we've managed to get some photos.
3. Another important thing is being able to get into other person's shoes and try to think what they might feel, and try to help them. Always reassure new models, tell them that you must work together as a team. Woman must feel secure around you to pose well. Some women are more confident, some are more shy. So I noticed that she was nervous but she wasn't telling me that. So you gotta ask "if everything's ok? Do you want to tell me something? It's ok". We moved to a different room, with only one window, before model was surrounded by 3 huge windows, and people could rather easily see her from other apartments.
So another tip for a first photoshoot - rent a fucking studio.
So from now on, I know what to tell women who had never posed before, and I will tell every model from now on, that If they want to come with a boyfriend - he will have to wait outside for her. I cannot allow to have bad vibe on my photoshoots, because it will be seen in photos. It is your work, your time and you have to respect it and respect yourself. Don't let people with less experience move you around. Make your rules and be better.
This is the way.
Oh and one more thing...
You don't have to post on instagram everything you do. Good photos usually mean also working with the right people. If you want to make great photos, you also have to work with people with creative mind and passion for aesthetics. Imagination, and being able to act, to get into roles is very important. So if you want to create better things try to find people that will resonate more with your creativity and ideas.
Comments
Duren Williams
Thanks for sharing you did the right thing
