Moonshadow Arts

2020 is a year I've decided to do some experiments aimed at illustration. Which means I'm spending this year exploring ideas.

If you are reading this you are likely to be a model, or understandably enough another photographer. But I'm only addressing models here to avoid any waste of time so I will be quick to say what I look for in a model. What I look for used to be called an 'Artist's Model'. Therefore perfection is not required nor is stunning beauty but an ability to be natural, to interpret, to express, most certainly is.  As my starting base for any model is art nude you must be confident at that level whether it is asked for or not, clean skin unless minor, is an absolute.  I give myself enough work to do without removing someone else's artwork as beautiful as much of it is.

Most of my ideas are inspired by folk-tale, folk-song and faery stories, myth and legend plus the the odd song or two. I've been held up in recent years by trying to include commercial photography with this but with Moonshadow Arts I've ditched that idea and when the website is published it will not include commercial photography.

As a photographer my preference has always been for location and natural light.  Its never easy but I have strong artistic reasons for that preference.  When it comes to studio, I'm a former professional commercial photographer.  Furthermore, I do have my own studio flash lighting which is portable with backdrops and all sorts of things. If I need indoors, I'm fairly well geared up.

If you are a model please note the following points should you wish to contact me please. First of all, as a former professional I will only work on that basis and with the signed agreement of a model release form.  I am also fully insured specifically for my photographic work.  Prior to shoot there will always be discussion, a clear understanding of my ideas and if needs be a written description for that project.  I am a good communicator.

So what do I do and what do I look for? All the answers are in the portfolio. If you approach me or I approach you, its the first thing you should look at because I will :-) You must be both confident and comfortable with the modelling levels you see but you don't have to like the images.  I don't 'direct' models, its not the way I work and so communication is of great importance. You will be aware of my ideas and then basically its your interpretation of them that counts.  Ideally you might have an interest in art because basically I look for artists models who do have an understanding of it. If you have any acting experience, (need not be professional) all the better.  So if I say 'Caravaggio', you know what I mean. If I say 'Picasso' you would wonder what medication I'm on,(so would I!). If I said 'Burne-Jones' you would know exactly where the pictures were going. I do say pictures rather than photographs by the way because a lot of my work is composite. Given my aims, I try to put a narrative into my pictures. 

As to what I do not do. Although I do erotica and nudes. I do not do glamour, any kind of pornography or anything explicit. I don't do portfolios and I am very wary of TFP,  I take ownership of my images seriously. That said I will never deny an image to a model if it helps at no cost but with terms.

WHAT I PAY MODELS.  I pay your rate ph regardless of experience up to art nude.