This is a question that was submitted to me today through my tumblr page :
anonymous asked:
How do you respectively get your models naked? Is that something you already discussed with them before ever meeting them? How do both of you get comfortable with each other. Have you ever been intimate/or tried to get intimate with any of your models?
my response:
Great question, it’s actually one I get asked frequently by both photographers and non-photographers alike. Each time I’ve done a shoot that involves nudity it’s always discussed beforehand. Usually we’ll send some references back and forth on the type of shots we want to do and then we move forward from there. Up to this point every nude shoot has been comfortable due to the fact that everything was discussed ahead of time so there aren’t any surprises and I’m working with professional models that have done this type of work plenty of times before shooting with me. The fact that the models are comfortable makes me comfortable, I think if they were nervous then that might make me feel a bit uncomfortable.
All the models I’ve worked with have told me that I’m easy to work with and they’re instantly comfortable with me, I attribute this to my attitude going into the shoot. When you know what you’re going to be shooting and focus on the photo shoot as nothing more than that, it allows you to keep things strictly professional and that’s the mindset you have to have before, during and after the shoot. If you’re intent is to get intimate with the model, you would be putting off a different vibe which would in turn make the model uncomfortable. For me photography is a creative outlet and a great way to meet new people with the same interests. I have never tried to make a move on any of the models I’ve worked with. I’m definitely not opposed to dating models, but trying to use a photo shoot as a means to pursue any sort of relationship with one is not the right time nor the place. If a relationship with one of the models were to develop outside of the professional work setting that would be a different story. If you want to shoot this type of photography you have to be able to separate the physical and emotional stuff from the professional stuff.
Thanks for the question!
Steve
