Be honest- Do you love your own photography?

Mark671

How about taking images of dead flowers. That can be a continuation of your images.

tandi

Observing what some photographers here have said - I don't think they have a prejudice against using older, or bigger models. There are in fact many many here who are happy to shoot with anyone who is happy to shoot with them.

The key factor in choosing a particular model is that they have a certain something that has nothing to do with physical attributes.

What a model needs to offer is:

An understanding of their own body, whether clothed or not

Have an understanding of the shoot theme and requirements. It's not enough to just turn up.

Be able to pose appropriately.eg If you are doing a ball gown shoot, don't pose as if you are on a beach doing a bikini shoot

Be photogenic. A beautiful person can be unphotogenic. An example of a fabulous, yet unconventional model is Erin O'Connor. What she has is the absolute ability to model incredibly and is incredibly photogenic

I could go on...😊😬

Marissa _PH1 said

tandi

Observing what some photographers here have said - I don't think they have a prejudice against using older, or bigger models. There are in fact many many here who are happy to shoot with anyone who is happy to shoot with them.

Prejudice is a serious word and to me (rightly or wrongly) indicates that a person has potentially discriminated against others.

I'd be sad to think that someone read this and thought that I may have said that photographers are prejudiced against certain types of models. As a glass half full kind of person I believed that some PP photographers have a penchant for using models that can easily light up any photo and it was my intension only to recommend greater diversity.

I’ve long advocated that there is room for every body type and age in this industry. The advent of numerous platforms, including Purpleport, has enabled literally anyone to pursue their options, be it modelling or photography.

I myself have always championed the mature model and I personally know several who have gone on to many assignments and continue to enjoy the opportunities offered them.

Edited by Brian Lewicki

tandi

Quote:

PP photographers have a penchant for using models that can easily light up any photo and it was my intension only to recommend greater diversity

So I am not understanding the greater diversity bit. Do you mean for photographers to choose models that do not light up a photo?

You have mentioned the "lighting up" aspect more than once, so is this where you want to see a change?

Edited by Marissa _PH1

Brian Lewicki 👍🏽👍🏽

Marissa _PH1 said

tandi

Quote:

PP photographers have a penchant for using models that can easily light up any photo and it was my intension only to recommend greater diversity

So I am not understanding the greater diversity bit. Do you mean for photographers to choose models that do not light up a photo?

You have mentioned the "lighting up" aspect more than once, so is this where you want to see a change?

Edited by Marissa _PH1

OK, now I'm going all out. My christmas wish is normally world peace but I can't ask for that again this year, so, for this year Santa please can you grant me one wish... Whether you are a great model or a great photographer I would love to see you select one model or photographer to work with that you would never normally select to work with and make that person as happy as the people you have worked with before.

Marissa, my recommendation to use more diverse models was based upon your comment marked bold below where you have a specific requirement for a model and I thought that was a shame that someone with your obvious experience and talents would not photograph any model, so they could benefit from your experience.

Marissa _PH1 said

I answered that as me the photographer, looking for models.

PP has a very wide spectrum of talents and there are some that are objectively fantastic,some that are great, some are competent and some that are not possessing the skills to model. This applies to Photographers as well.

This is life. Everyone cannot be great. I have my requirements for models that are just my requirements. I don't shoot with everyone that may want to shoot with me, whether they are fabulous or not. It's not a personal diss on the model and the model should not be affected by my decisions.

I always remember a workshop that my model agency sent me to. It was a casting director, who talked about the casting process. We were told that if we are not selected, then it's just that they need something specific and never to take it personally; to walk out the door and forget about the casting, unless we get a call from our agent to confirm booking.

It's been lifesaving advice in an industry that's subjective in it's nature.

There are many Fabulous models here that I wanted to shoot with. They feel I'm not good enough and that's fine. They know what they need in an image and I'm not it. 🙏🏽

Then I thought that on PP, models come in every age, every size, every style, but we are all here to show our work too. Some models would jump at the chance of working with the great photographers on here too, but those photographers have their requirements which often means that some models will never work with the best on here, which is sad, but life.

Marissa _PH1 said

tandi

Quote:

Not everyone can be the ideal model, young, thin, very attractive with a beautiful body and the ability to pose naturally at will.

I agree with this, but for the shoots I do, I have a look that I like and generally, but by all means, not exclusively, I choose models with more of a standard fashion look.

Then I thought of all all of the great photographers whose work I admire on PP, and wondered if I could encourage just one photographer or model to change their requirements and shoot someone they would otherwise never have considered before, someone who would never normally meet their requirements, please notice I tried hard not to use the "lighting up" phrase so as not to annoy you :-)

Marissa _PH1 said

I'm answering on this account because the comment was directed at this account, even though the thread is my model account.

To try and tie in my Original post with the following comment:

Tandi Said "For me personally I'd like to see the photographer "gems" (to quote Afrofilmviewer) out there being more creative by using different models, rather than (and this is purely my subjective view) select the most beautiful models who have the ability to light up any photograph with their presence."

I asked all, if you love your work.

Many are satisfied, some are not, but are going towards being better, some do not, but have the drive and passion to keep creating.

The comment by one of the contributors has expressed a suggestion, for certain photographers to shoot with models that are not the types they normally work with.

This in it's essence is good. There should be more varieties of model types.

The comment acknowledges that the models they use "light up a photograph". This and only this is the reason the photographers shoot the models they shoot with.

The model, no matter what size, age, looks, must still encompass something that will elevate the image. A photographer should be more open to different models, indeed, but in order for them to then love their work, they must be able to want to shoot with them. They shouldn't be forced to look at alternatives that do not fit their briefs.

Edited by Marissa _PH1

There you go Marissa, I hope I have made it clear that I'm not dictating that people should not just shoot with the best, but consider shooting with someone different. I find it incredibly sad seeing people struggle to find others to work with, when I can shoot at the drop of a hat. This is a wonderful life, but it's a short one which is so often made better by making others happy.

Edited by tandi

tandi

”I thought of all all of the great photographers whose work I admire on PP, and wondered if I could encourage just one photographer or model to change their own requirements and shoot someone they would otherwise never have considered before, someone who never normally meet their requirements“

We are on page 19, and I don’t think anybody has suggested….   and I know it’s a bit of a shocking idea….    Paying a photographer to shoot something that he doesn’t want to shoot for free.

Place a casting offering to pay the photographer, or approach one directly and offer to pay for a shoot. 

Money is how people are motivated to do things they otherwise wouldn’t be interested in doing in the real world.

Huw said

tandi

”I thought of all all of the great photographers whose work I admire on PP, and wondered if I could encourage just one photographer or model to change their own requirements and shoot someone they would otherwise never have considered before, someone who never normally meet their requirements“

We are on page 19, and I don’t think anybody has suggested….   and I know it’s a bit of a shocking idea….    Paying a photographer to shoot something that he doesn’t want to shoot for free.

Place a casting offering to pay the photographer, or approach one directly and offer to pay for a shoot. 

Money is how people are motivated to do things they otherwise wouldn’t be interested in doing in the real world.

Thanks Huw, I'm not personally looking to shoot with anyone else at present, but it's a good point for anyone who really wants to be photographed by the best on here, if they are struggling to get model offers, or a photographer who wants to shoot the best, you can always pay, though photographers often do already.

There is only one photographer on PP that I would commission, but I doubt I will until I have more experience :-)

I've edited this comment because obviously there are more than one...

Edited by tandi

Back in the old days - before digital and internet - I shot a few young women who wanted to shoot a set of nudes so they had a set of “art nudes” to show their grandchildren.

Huw said

Back in the old days - before digital and internet - I shot a few young women who wanted to shoot a set of nudes so they had a set of “art nudes” to show their grandchildren.

OMG Huw, thankfully my grandparents never thought of it somethings you just can't unsee :-)

tandi said

Huw said

Back in the old days - before digital and internet - I shot a few young women who wanted to shoot a set of nudes so they had a set of “art nudes” to show their grandchildren.

OMG Huw, thankfully my grandparents never thought of it somethings you just can't unsee :-)

You might be surprised what’s tucked away in a box in the attic ;)

Back in the ‘70s you had to persuade new models to keep their clothes on long enough to shoot a few portraits…

Marissa _PH1 said

Mark671

How about taking images of dead flowers. That can be a continuation of your images.

I've got a few seed heads lined up, they can be quite interesting. To someone like me. 

My own experience is that it's no good trying to force an interest, and if you were to try you risk turning an enjoyable hobby into work you aren't getting paid for. I'll leave the artists out of this, since they are probably under a compulsion to create.

I'm sort of floating around looking for a subject that will allow me to enjoy the process, because it's the activity rather than the result that gives me the enjoyment. 

So I guess the answer to the original question is: I love the process as long as I love the subjects, and I fall in and out of love with them. 

As for model photography, I'm edging toward leaving it alone, but only because the logistics are more involved than I anticipated. 

Edited by Mark671

tandi

“but I doubt I will until I have more experience”

This is what the photographer will do for a new model, our job is to direct and coach someone on posing.

Read various photographer references and you will frequently see lines like “ made me feel very comfortable “ “ was very patient “ and any number of platitudes to that effect. Having little or no modelling experience outside your husband should not be a barrier to you being photographed by someone else just because you don’t feel experienced enough.

Huw

We are on page 19, and I don’t think anybody has suggested…. and I know it’s a bit of a shocking idea…. Paying a photographer to shoot something that he doesn’t want to shoot for free.

I was just about to say this👍🏽

Edited by Marissa _PH1