Bobbin

 Given the pandemic, I had been wary of shooting in confined spaces-studios or otherwise. Therefore, I cautiously took a drive to Rayleigh and spent an hour with Bobbin.  

Bobbin is a part-time model who has run this career in parallel to another in social care. She is warm, very self-aware and double jointed. Three attributes that certainly contribute to the creative process.  

Though not from a traditional “dance” background tone and definition developed through swimming were also very evident. Social distancing was very straightforward and easily maintained with a 50mm prime lens-in this instance, my full-frame E-mount. Being a studio setup, these were synced at F16 and 1/125.  

The A7, A600 and A6300 bodies are my studio defaults since remote triggers have proved anything but harmonious, with the older, Alpha series. Sheer and lingerie were our main themes with a quick bit of portraiture and headshots to break the ice. An hour of my time and very wisely spent. 

Suzie Marie

Suzie approached me in the context of a port-folio refresher session. She had modeled when she was much younger but children and other responsibilities meant it took a back seat. She was also wanting to regain her confidence.  

A hairdresser by trade, I wasn’t surprised to find her presentation and preparation bang on. There are definitely parallels between social photography and hairdressing. Both are very personal services requiring empathy and rapid rapport.  

Despite a bitterly cold wind, we managed to achieve some very pleasing results. Regular breaks to warm up and review progress also encouraged wardrobe changes.  It was quickly apparent she had modeled before and was very self-aware, which meant she posed very naturally and took direction equally well.   Key reasons why I enjoy working with those returning to the profession.  

  

  

Michelle

I was tempted to call this entry “The Tale of The Irish Italian Glamour Model, The Shetland Pony, the Potcheen and The Welsh Nationalists". However, I’d be accused of sensationalism, and I dare say, much worse…

Michelle is a former Page3 model, of Irish and Italian heritage. She also has a Shetland Pony and a general love of equines. I’ve given up shooting novice models, specifically those under 30, due to reliability and their insistence upon doing TF shoots.

I was approached by a male model “admiring” my work. Having confirmed I will happily work with both genders, he felt I should… Drive to London, book and pay for a studio, shoot him and provide him with images. All at cost to me. Polite email reply, thanking him for his interest and my quote.  

Michelle shares my contempt for this generally, no-win, one-sided futility. She blocks any photographer/studio/publication inviting her to do anything TFP. Little surprise to discover we got along, pre shoot and gelled well, during.

Glamour is a genre that can mean many things. However, it most frequently conjures up visions of topless women, tabloid newspapers and “Lads Mags”. Not really my remit, unless of course we’re taking an ironic, tongue-in-cheek stance.  We decided upon a mix of implied, topless, lingerie, with some fine art thrown in for good measure.

In contrast to “Glamour” I’m quite fond of fine-art and implied, because of their subtle, suggestive tones. At one point, I was shooting these regularly. On the plus side, a sign models felt comfortable with me. However, not a genre I wanted to be typecast by. I am also very selective about who I will shoot nudes with.

Yes, it might be legal to shoot nudes with an 18-year old aspiring/model, but I’ve always declined. There are a lot of things, which are legal but could lead to regret. I recall an 18-year old model, who took the nude route (with another photographer), then regretted her decision immediately afterward.

She was trying to reclaim the images, and even claim she was legally a child. No. There were lots of things I (and friends) did at this age, which were perfectly legal, but not the best moves.

If a model understands the potential consequences, and has been modelling a few years, I might shoot topless/tasteful nudes with them-at 21. However, I’m more comfortable when they’re closer to 24/25.

I always ask a model to bring along a selection of lingerie and other clothing, to make the shoot more interesting. I shot Michelle at a lovely cottage location. I used a mixture of natural daylight and portable LED lighting.  

One half of the property was blessed with masses of natural light, yet still providing ample seclusion. The other featured period beams and was much darker. Hence, I went for an intimate “warm glow”. In some respects, and on paper, an f/1.4 lens would’ve been better here. However, my 50mm f/1.8 and portable “Light sabre” delivered the desired results. 

We shot for two hours, with time for clothing changes and comfort stops. I was also aware of Michelle’s underlying condition, which can leave her feeling uncomfortably tired. Not one obvious during our session, but three hours straight, is pretty much her limit. Mine too, frankly. I have undertaken longer commissions but there’s been a 45minute food and rest break between. Suffice to say, I’d happily work with Michelle on future commissions.

             

Fine Art & Fine Lines

Who do you think you are? David Bailey?

This hackneyed retort, remains a popular one, slung at photographers from “witty” passers-by. Very occasionally in my direction, during location shoots. 

Bailey comes across as shrewd, highly intelligent, complex and challenging.

I could even attempt to imply commonalities. I’ve lived in those East Ham streets, I could also wax lyrical about Newham's once derelict delights...

Doing so, would be like wealthy students dropping h’s and pretending their parents worked on the docks, or at Ford’s body plant. Fooling no-one. (Back in 1992, I witnessed one mockney Trustafarian exiting the saloon bar, via a long-established patron’s fist).  

Pretending to be someone, or indeed something else, invariably results in disappointment. Its also a complete waste of time. I like Bailey’s work, his brusque, thought provoking commentary also resonates with me. I’d also love to chat with him about the derelict buildings and streets. However, I am not Bailey, nor do I have any desire to be a second-rate caricature, a cardboard cut-out. 

A run of unreliable models, has forced me to raise booking fees.

I've a reputation for being warm and professional but not suffering fools gladly. Experience means unreliable, or otherwise resource sapping people are generally spotted within a sentence. Two, tops. It's often what people don’t say, that speaks volumes. 

Not that long ago, I’d simply charge the studio rates for those two hours. Now, I’ve factored time lost, mileage and other on-costs into the equation.

Yes, I might miss an opportunity here and there. However, it also roots out timewasters. Many seasoned models operate on a similar basis, for precisely these reasons.

Returning to my authenticity narrative, I enjoy working with novice models and building their port-folios. However, models without direction (or unable to take such) are a complete waste of energy. Though modelling has become more diverse, professionalism is key. I’m not simply referring to showing up, and on time. Hobbyist models, like hobbyist photographers should not be sneered at. These may not be their professions, but that's not to say their attitude and conduct is anything less. 

Experienced, and consistently successful models look after themselves, physically and mentally. Dancers are cases in point. Their sense of poise, grace and self- knowledge is immediately apparent, and the shoots tend to flow smoothly, with beautiful captures.

Model port-folio hosting and networking sites are fantastic resources.

Not only for aspiring/models, makeup artists but photographers too. However, research people carefully, to avoid time wasting, and other nasty surprises.  Sometimes, dipping our toes in, is the only gauge, of whether we like/feel comfortable with something (or not). 

I am selective with who I will work and associate with. Often this is determined by what they do. For example, there are people who believe they are going to be “discovered” (An innocent enough delusion. One that I passively subscribed to, in my late teens an early 20s).

There is no structure, or indeed variety in their images. The poses and indeed images show little, if any variation. This can be for several reasons, including (a) Insufficient, or poor direction (b) An unimaginative model/photographer pairing, achieving predictable results.

I don’t like readers wives/page 3 genres of glamour photography, but intelligently posed and lit boudoir can be fantastic. Soft and playful on the one hand, sensually engaging (as opposed to stimulating) on the other.

Then of course, there’s the power of suggestion. Some people there’s little separating fine art and pornography. I’d argue they’re two completely different genres. Soft porn, including the “reader’s wives” genres I’ve just referred to, are visceral. Fine art and implied nude, captured correctly provokes thought and intrigue.