Hi All,
Was hopefully looking to get some advice. Nude Art Photography is a genre that really interests me and would love to give it a go.
I'm an amateur photographer that doesn't really have any contacts to other photographers or models. Im wondering what people feel is generally the best way to get started in this genre. I don't really know an awful lot about how TFP works and whether its a good idea to start paying models straight away or not?
Any advice would be appreciated!
Thanks
Jamie
I started by shooting my girlfriend and other girls that I knew. Usually friends will be willing to do it for free so I usually entice them with a free meal or some beer lol. It can also be tough getting a stranger to pose nude for you if you don’t have any nude pictures to show them because they (1) want to feel comfortable that you will make them look good, and (2) that you are actually a professional and not just some creep trying to get them naked. If you don’t know any women that would pose for you the best places to look are pole dancing studios, theater clubs (artsy types) and strip clubs because those women tend to be much more comfortable with erotic art. Hope that helps.
Thanks for the advice Steven. Ive shot my wife a little and I have one friend who is quite interested to do a shoot. Ill start there and see where I end up!
Try photography groups on Meetup.com. That's where I got a start on studio photography in general, and many will also have workshop style shoots ranging from fashion to art nude.
well back in the 70's I shot my girlfriend and her friend, then in the 80-90, I hire expensive models, 90- present Model Mayhem and other modeling site you can find a model to hire. You are going to want to hire someone that knows what they are doing and can help you along your journey. A TFP shoot is a shoot where no money exchanges hands instead you have to "give" the model samples from the shoot. My advice is to get a contract in place to cover TFP shooting and make sure you spell out your conditions. Such as you will give x number of finished images for the model to use with your copyright and no altering the image once they have it. Make sure they know that you do not give away your rights nor do you give away the raw files. Then make a contract for a regular pay the model contract and make sure you spell everything out. Get theses signed before you take a photo. One thing some models (shady ones) will do is get paid and then give you the slob story that you cannot post the images. Again make sure everything is spelled out.
What Steven Bottcher has stated is also very true. So be professional and good luck.