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Lets talk about... Spread Shots.
Whats the best way do models like to be told... "spread your legs wide?" I find it a little creepish and uncomfortable to just flat out tell a model to spread her legs without her giving me a weird look... Whats the best way would you like the photographer to pose you with words for a shot like this... Dec 17 08 12:43 pm Link I usually do it on my own, depending on what I'm wearing. Dec 17 08 12:44 pm Link "spread your legs and place your hands down in front, so we don't make this a porn shot" Dec 17 08 12:44 pm Link M. Carle wrote: Not sure I would refer the term "porn" Dec 17 08 12:45 pm Link K E S L E R wrote: "ok, pull your knees apart as far as you can" Dec 17 08 12:47 pm Link One model that I worked with asked me if I wanted her to put one foot in 1 zip code and the other foot in another zip code..... Dec 17 08 12:47 pm Link For awkward stuff like that, if I don't have that kind of funny relationship with the photographer (and there are a few that I've worked with enough that I do), I would suggest just demonstrating the pose, perhaps saying "what if you tried something like this...?". Either that, or bring a pose guide of sorts with you (even just a bunch of thumbnails printed out) that you can reference. That way you can say, "I like this pose, but think it would look better if your hands were on the [surface] in front of you". Does that help at all? Dec 17 08 12:49 pm Link I usually try to just point over to the dashboard of my vehicle or a desktop, depending on the location of the shoot. No wonder my shoots end so quickly. Dec 17 08 12:49 pm Link Just be a grown up about it and let her know what you have planned - that way it won't be awkward or creepy. Dec 17 08 12:49 pm Link OK Luv, Spread em... Please try and let me know how you get on... Dec 17 08 12:49 pm Link M. Carle wrote: exactly Dec 17 08 12:49 pm Link K E S L E R wrote: I would totally use the term porn. If what I'm trying to convey is that I *don't* want the pose to be porn-ish, why not say that? I would probably say it and laugh - but then I generally try to keep my shoots light and fun. Dec 17 08 12:50 pm Link "Ok, your knees, 10 and 2." Dec 17 08 12:51 pm Link Pretend your knees hate each other! Dec 17 08 12:51 pm Link This is not something that you and the model talked about in advance? Before you got into the studio? Seems to me if you have discussed it in advance then telling her to "open wide" in exactly so many words would not be any sort of problem for either of you. She knows it will happen at some point during the shoot since you already talked about it. Dec 17 08 12:53 pm Link Send her some shot examples beforehand, not just the one. Or show them to her on set. Or show her the pose yourself... that usually makes them laugh. Dec 17 08 12:53 pm Link I've always been asked to "open you legs a little more" or "can you pull your knees back some more?". I think it always going to sound weird if you feel weird saying it. You can always break the ice by chuckling about it afterwards with a "Wait, that sounded bad. Sorry". If your model is feeling weird about your choice of words then it will give them a chance to laugh it off as well. Dec 17 08 12:53 pm Link Michael Pandolfo wrote: That's just too funny!!! Dec 17 08 12:53 pm Link M. Carle wrote: Or that. Dec 17 08 12:54 pm Link Dec 17 08 12:54 pm Link Dec 17 08 12:55 pm Link Make like butter and spread. Dec 17 08 12:55 pm Link "move your feet farther apart" Dec 17 08 12:57 pm Link Based on the pic in the op... "Straddle this rock with a wide stance, put your hands in front of you centered to lean on." There're a FEW threads going on topics like this today. Why does everyone make it sound like it's rocket science to direct a shoot in a clear and professional manner? Is everyone REALLY so gun shy about being labeled a perv for telling someone how to pose?? Dec 17 08 12:58 pm Link "Open stance, please" Me and the photographer agreed to this at the beginning should there be any shots that required said "spread" ...he was immensely shy so that's how he got around it. Worked well. Dec 17 08 12:58 pm Link M. Carle wrote: Yup, specifically pointing out that it's not a crotch shot work best. Because you know they're thinking it. Dec 17 08 12:59 pm Link Lets see a smile from Vagzilla. Dec 17 08 01:01 pm Link Estupido Studios wrote: This sounds the best to me. Dec 17 08 01:03 pm Link Rofl. You guys are killing me! Dec 17 08 01:04 pm Link JLC Images wrote: :dies: Dec 17 08 01:05 pm Link Rachel Jay wrote: Great advice, Rachel. Dec 17 08 01:07 pm Link JLC Images wrote: Rachel Jay wrote: I wish I was kidding. Why do you think she is smiling here Dec 17 08 01:07 pm Link Skydancer wrote: Sure does, I love it when photographers show me the pose they want me to do especially if it's rather funny lookin when they do it. Or when they squint their eyes and say do it more sexy like this and they pucker their lips.....ahhh Good Times Dec 17 08 01:08 pm Link JLC Images wrote: Eewwwwww! Dec 17 08 01:12 pm Link I usually spread them on my own. If I were a photographer though and had to ask someone I guess I'd just be honest and say "can you spread your legs wide for me please". Dec 17 08 01:16 pm Link Just demonstrate it to the best of your abilities. Dec 17 08 01:16 pm Link Lexy Lee wrote: I am so not going there! Dec 17 08 01:17 pm Link Press the bottoms of your feet together. Dec 17 08 01:19 pm Link James O Wright wrote: I can't imagine discussing specific poses with a model beforehand. I don't even know what I'm going to shoot most of the time. It wouldn't even occur to me that a pose like this would make a model uncomfortable, and if it did, I would wonder why she was modelling. Of course, anything concerning nudity, real or implied, would be discussed, but sometimes not till we're shooting. Not that I'm trying to trick the model, but sometimes the situation calls for it (um, would you mind dropping the bra straps so they're not in the pic? The look you're giving would work a lot better). Either way, it's no big deal. I can pretty much work with anything. And most important, if the model is comfortable, and you're not creepy (big plus) you'll get what you want. Dec 17 08 01:20 pm Link how does a doctor ask? there's nothing unprofessional about "spread your legs". just don't look like this when you say it: Dec 17 08 01:21 pm Link |