'I suppose it's one of the potential pitfalls of knowing next to nothing about the models until we actually meet for the shoot...'
Regardless of what profession you enter, there are certain skills you really need to have. With photography, in addition to the basics, creativity, and technical skills required, you also need to know a bit about your subject. It doesn't really matter whether your shooting a bowl of fruit, a building or an incredible seascape and sunset, researching, as well as having a passion for what you're capturing. is really a need more than an asset.
How can you really properly shoot anything if don't know how it's supposed to look, or how and when it looks it's best. When it comes to shooting the human form, especially without any clothing, there is more to know that meets the eye. It's all well and good to have a hot male model, one with a great face and fit physique. Even if the poses are just right, and the lighting and location perfected, there are other complications that sometimes arise....
A model's motivation and comfort level with posing fully naked are also factors most considerate photographers also take into account. I know, there are many famous photographers who don't seem to care what a model thinks or feels, we've all heard the stories some who are thoughtless about the model's feelings, and some who take advantage of their vulnerability, there are predators in every job and profession. I work in the field of psychology and far too often meet therapists working out their own issues, through their clients and patients.
Working on FH for so long however, the good tend to outweigh the bad, and most of the photographers I've connected with are caring and responsible about a models feelings and their motivation for wanting to pose. We tend to think most male models are self-involved, and love showing off their bodies for the camera, but in reality so many models that I've featured feel just the opposite. Many have struggled with body issues, and nude modeling is often part of the process of empowerment and self acceptance. What better way to feel reassured about your body, than to have an artist want to capture it, and have viewers comment positively about the results.
There's a thin line however between, between empowering and exploitive. The ability to detect that line is a skill many photographers have to discover and learn about early. Although some may ignore this skill, most artists come up with various ways to ensure the model they're shooting is confident about their decision to pose.
Many photographers are lucky, and start out shooting friends and people they know. Others however, often end up shooting models they meet for the very first time, on the day of the shoot. That's the day photographer Jack Saul first met Jason. It was one of his early shoots, and in addition to working on his lighting and technical skills, Jack was also navigating how best get to know the model he was working with, before officially beginning the shoot. It was during his session with Jason, that Jack perfected his 'photographer pause.' Check out the details, and more of Jack's work with Jason on the NEXT PAGE HERE:
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