Bella... Creatively Provocative

 

Bella likes to combine three themes in a shoot, and this appears very successful. She wanted to play with the sensual secretary trope, working through more provocative, erotic themes. I let her lead the concept and shot these at F1.8 using natural light and a 50mm prime lens. This gives a nice depth of field, sharp image quality, and appropriate physical distance between model and photographer.     

 Art nude and other genres are open to interpretation. The hard and fast rule being that full frontal, exposed genitals should not feature.

However, others would consider concealed and implied nude as artistic nudity. Therefore, it's very important to be crystal clear about the content and terms before shooting. Some models would be very happy being bottomless and using a camera body to obscure their pubic triangle, others feel this a step too far. 

A model might be happy to reveal their breasts but conceal their nipples. Either way, never assume and never push someone's levels. Modela and indeed photographers should never be expected, or cajoled into doing something they are not entirely comfortable with. Aside from being deeply unethical, this will always tell in the images.

Tasha: Playful in the Park

Following a relatively quiet, yet still productive Christmas and New Year period, I was keen to get out and shoot some models. Tasha had approached me, wanting to expand her fashion and portraiture portfolio. I like location shooting and Tasha was keen to shoot at Hylands Park, in Chelmsford. This made sense logistically, since she was only a few minutes away, and I an hour’s drive, along the A12.

Wardrobe changes are more easily executed on location, than sometimes thought. Disused buildings and substantial hedges being two common options. Well serviced toilets/similar facilities are ideal, especially when the temperature is firmly in single figures.

We were a sizeable distance from these. Thankfully, generous trees offered the required privacy. People traffic was modest and crucially, very respectful too, which is always nice!  

As I’ve said in other entries, modelling is far less prescriptive than it once was. However, the requirements for runway and editorial, remain broadly unchanged. Tasha stands 5ft (1m 52cm), which presented me a wealth of options in terms of posing and angles.  

For example, I took these frames of her, sitting on the tree stump, laying on my side. 50mm prime F1.8. Others, inside the hut, were taken using my little Samsung NX3000 and 30mm f2 prime lens.

Our two-hour shot flew past, and I’ll happily work with her in future.