Models: art-nude models: The supply of art-nude models: retention, and recruitment of new ones

ADWsPhotos said

MidgePhoto I had indeed concentrated on retention. I wonder if any photographer was active on the ‘recruitment’ front they might enjoy the view (possibly justifiably) that they were just keen to see models with no clothes on.

Funny old world, innit Saint?

How were the models we are keen to retain originally recruited?

How did they recruit themselves?

What was it about their milieu which allowed/caused/encouraged/coincidentally let them realise that they would like to model, model art nude, model for photographic art nude work?  A studio, a friendly* visible photographer, an exhibition in the civic centre, library, art gallery, expensive shop?  An art teacher who without taking risks or pressing taught that the nude was a part of Western Art and one worthy of consideration "yes Smith, it is also very amusing and your droll comment is worth writing out 20 times on this board.  In Cuneiform."

Was it something on late night TV - The Open University for instance?

Where are the origin stories?  Models? 

* But not of course excessively so. 

I might be a bit of an exception, even an odd ball, but as a bloke whose only wish now is to paint pictures of the nude female form until they put him in his box (I won't even try to explain why - we'll be here all night), I still find Purpleport to be the most helpful site for my purposes, on the entire interwebs. I've never tried Instagram or Facebook to source a model. Should I even try? In my favour (perhaps?), I can't afford to shoot very often, so there are still a number of models in Purpleport that I haven't even approached yet, but should like to in the future. Then also, I should like to have more than one shoot with some models I've worked with previously. So I'm not worrying about coming shortages, and besides, I'm in no position to panic buy, teehee!     

Are there any models who only do figure work or art nude ?  - Most seem to have a range of shoot styles  - which sort of makes sense  - as just doing art nude would be quite a limiting niche - and it would make sense that you can engage with a larger number of photographers and thus income by having a range of shoot styles. so maybe the demand for art nude or figure work is in decline driven by photographers rather than models .

Certainly I believe that working as an art nude model requires a lot of learning and practice to be able to create interesting images and would be something a new model would need to learn or be mentored ( as against posing naked).

I don't use OF but again I don't know if that is a platform that art nude images would get the same sort of response than other styles of nude imagery .

In terms of new art nude models - I'm not sure I would want to broach that with an interesting stranger  - but have noticed that there seem to be a lot of European models who work in this genre more so than other styles - but often are expensive and don't travel much to the UK for tours.The platform "model society" has a large number of art nude models  - but relatively few from the UK.

MidgePhoto said

ADWsPhotos said

MidgePhoto I had indeed concentrated on retention. I wonder if any photographer was active on the ‘recruitment’ front they might enjoy the view (possibly justifiably) that they were just keen to see models with no clothes on.

Funny old world, innit Saint?

How were the models we are keen to retain originally recruited?

How did they recruit themselves?

What was it about their milieu which allowed/caused/encouraged/coincidentally let them realise that they would like to model, model art nude, model for photographic art nude work?  A studio, a friendly* visible photographer, an exhibition in the civic centre, library, art gallery, expensive shop?  An art teacher who without taking risks or pressing taught that the nude was a part of Western Art and one worthy of consideration "yes Smith, it is also very amusing and your droll comment is worth writing out 20 times on this board.  In Cuneiform."

Was it something on late night TV - The Open University for instance?

Where are the origin stories?  Models? 

* But not of course excessively so. 

I ‘recruited’ three models to the art nude/figure work genre over my career.  Each were recruited in a studio setting.

The first I recruited while doing nude work in a studio in Southampton.  I saw her picture and said I’d be interested in working with her.  Independently she saw my work and said the same.  She is still on PP but semi-retired…well it was a while ago.

The second I recruited after she paid me to do some work with her (as a scarecrow, in fact) in my studio.  I was discussing my next project (art deco statues) with make up artist and she overheard and volunteered.  She liked the work/feeling/images/experience and the payment and did another three sets with me then ‘retired’.  I didn’t ask but I think it was a ‘bucket list’ thing.

The third I needed for a commercial non-nude contract.  We did a couple more the same, by which time she knew nude my work.  She wanted to do nude but she didn’t like her ‘front’.  So we started with only ‘back views’. Over time (10 years) it evolved to full figure work ‘without a face’ for publication, with a face for her/my personal collections.  She never was on PP.  She retired after she got married and had a baby.

Horses for courses.  In each case, for me, it was ‘if you build it, they will come’.  Seeing nudes in a physical photography space while doing some other (possibly related) thing and being intrigued.  Dont see why it can’t still happen this way…..

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Nude in the landscape was and still is my favourite genre.

I don't find alot of opportunity where I live to do this hence where I partake in long tours to places like Scotland and South Wales. A beautiful nude model against a breathtaking mountain or Loch setting is what I love and the sort of pieces I would hang at home. I feel honoured to be a part of this style of shoot.

trebor images said

Are there any models who only do figure work or art nude ?  - Most seem to have a range of shoot styles  - which sort of makes sense  - as just doing art nude would be quite a limiting niche - and it would make sense that you can engage with a larger number of photographers and thus income by having a range of shoot styles. so maybe the demand for art nude or figure work is in decline driven by photographers rather than models .

Certainly I believe that working as an art nude model requires a lot of learning and practice to be able to create interesting images and would be something a new model would need to learn or be mentored ( as against posing naked).

I don't use OF but again I don't know if that is a platform that art nude images would get the same sort of response than other styles of nude imagery .

In terms of new art nude models - I'm not sure I would want to broach that with an interesting stranger  - but have noticed that there seem to be a lot of European models who work in this genre more so than other styles - but often are expensive and don't travel much to the UK for tours.The platform "model society" has a large number of art nude models  - but relatively few from the UK.

"Most [models] seem to have a range of shoot styles..." Agreed. Some of my favourite art nude/figure pics have been with models who are accomplished in various styles. Specialising in just art nude would be very limiting for them.

"...working as an art nude model requires a lot of learning and practice to be able to create interesting images and would be something a new model would need to learn or be mentored ( as against posing naked)".  Agreed (again!) And it's good to see your reference to just 'posing naked'. Yes - there's a lot more to almost any form of modelling than just that. 

Everly Rose

Absolutely agree, I love nudes in the landscape. Living in the overcrowded south east there aren’t too many opportunities/locations to shoot such images, which is why a lot of my recent work has been on ‘photographic holiday’ style shoots.

I've not noticed a decline in art nude models, in fact I see more and more amazing art nude work these days, even on Instagram where they have to be edited to be suitable of course.

I don't think models generally only do nude, it's more of models have a wide range of levels and things they are good at.

I've done art nude since I was 18 but I'm more known for lingerie, fashion and beauty and I enjoy those genres a lot more. I'm also picky with the type of photography I work with art nude as some interpretations are not what I would class as artistic so it's a personal thing too.

I guess models starting out is different, it takes time to build experience and work out the modelling industry, who to trust, what red flags to look out for, before being in the vulnerable position that art nude requires.

Everly Rose said

Nude in the landscape was and still is my favourite genre...

I love that style -  a picture of a landscape with a model in it, as opposed to a picture of a model in a landscape setting. (Hope that makes some sense!)

Sadly, I've done far too few shoots in that style. :( 

Holly Alexander said

I've not noticed a decline in art nude models, in fact I see more and more amazing art nude work these days, even on Instagram where they have to be edited to be suitable of course.

I don't think models generally only do nude, it's more of models have a wide range of levels and things they are good at.

I've done art nude since I was 18 but I'm more known for lingerie, fashion and beauty and I enjoy those genres a lot more. I'm also picky with the type of photography I work with art nude as some interpretations are not what I would class as artistic so it's a personal thing too.

I guess models starting out is different, it takes time to build experience and work out the modelling industry, who to trust, what red flags to look out for, before being in the vulnerable position that art nude requires.

As far as I remember, you never had nude listed on your profile while you were a student in Aberystwyth, because I would have loved to shoot with you many times, and would have asked you immediately. Never did, because it was against PP rules.

Ideal model, 17 miles away, living near perfect countryside….     

Huw when I was 18 I was just more cautious and didn't want to be bombarded just for the sake of nudity which can happen. I preferred to build my portfolio up in particular art nude first with people I knew.

Now I'm in my 30s I enjoy nude more than I did when I was younger, again I had some people that you could tell just wanted to be in the same room as a naked model and so that's why I'm super picky with the genre.

I understand your frustration, but maybe this helps the original question of new models and art nude. It can seem overwhelming when you are new.

Edited by Holly Alexander

Art nude in landscape, when executed artistically and tastefully, is absolutely one of my favourite genres. Although I do favour hot countries, over cold, I've done plenty in UK over summer, some in Ireland. Looking forward to visiting Scotland, as I have been meaning to for many years now and something else always comes up, perhaps this year will be my year!

As in regards to nude work and OF, for me personally there's a vast difference between simply shooting nude as opposed to figure work. Art nude isn't a style everyone can shoot, nor should they, there's a fine line between art and nude.

I do seem to have a certain look of model I want to photograph, and often they're art nude models (I dont shoot nudes), which doesn't help my wallet. And I also seem to find when I go on a big search for a model to work with I almost always end up with a model added to my "want to work with list" which was the same model I also wanted to work with 10 years ago. 

I have a forming hypothesis that more/sustained amount of glamour/beauty/fashion-looking models are finding the idea of modelling and joining PP appealing but there are fewer equally beautiful or more so models joining that wouldn't thrive as successfully on a glamour/beauty centric website. As a disclaimer ive seen art nude models do very well in beauty and glamour, I just think sometimes their strength/passion might be elsewhere.

Some of the models I like the best, they almost need a bit more sensibility in how there photographed maybe? Im not too sure what Im trying to say but some arty models are less suited to a fairly standard purple port shoot where the photographers just after some well-lit sexy images in a studio. I always aim to create some kind of art with my images but the reality is most of the time its just in my head. The shoots where I am probably being creative are extremely few and far between. I did notice the models I worked with started talking about reaching out to people like Ellen Rogers for shoots and I see other models Ive worked with starting to work with artists I know overseas, none of these people are on PP. So I think The kind of models that want to go further into an arty vibe are finding its taking a lot more effort and certainly going outside of the PP bubble and significant research on where such photography exists. 

Edited by Perception

Holly Alexander said

Huw when I was 18 I was just more cautious and didn't want to be bombarded just for the sake of nudity which can happen. I preferred to build my portfolio up in particular art nude first with people I knew.

Now I'm in my 30s I enjoy nude more than I did when I was younger, again I had some people that you could tell just wanted to be in the same room as a naked model and so that's why I'm super picky with the genre.

I understand your frustration, but maybe this helps the original question of new models and art nude. It can seem overwhelming when you are new.

Edited by Holly Alexander

Frustration….   Maybe too strong a word. Still a shame though, and thank you for replying.

Yes, justified caution is an important factor. Creeps with cameras have also been a problem as well, more so now that the camera does most of the work, so there’s not even the need to make an effort to learn photography.