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Nudes???
Is it a good career move to start your first actual shoot with nudes? I was offered a shoot with Lance Ridener, and his pieces look very well done and some very classic/artsy. I just am unsure if I want to expose my body like that. My significant other supports it, and it does kind of excite me... Advice!!! Jul 29 13 09:10 am Link For a modeling career, probably yes. With your stats, look, and age, there likely isn't much of a modeling career which won't involve some sort of nudity. There are jobs, but it would be much more difficult to make a career out of it. Additionally, a willingness to do nudes will open other opportunities for both trade and paid work with great photographers and can help you learn. And if you like the work, so much the better. If you're talking about a career outside of modeling, things can be a bit trickier. Certain career paths don't look to kindly on nude modeling, while others don't particularly care. But you'll have to be the one to decide that. And as always, the above is my just my opinion, and I am by no means an expert or anything. Jul 29 13 09:28 am Link I would say you should do your "due diligence", checking references, examining his portfolio to see if you like his work (you've already done so, it seems), communicating the terms of the shoot clearly, communicating your limits clearly, etc. Also question your motivations a little, maybe? "... and it does kind of excite me..." could mean a lot of different things, and I have no clue which of them you actually want to say.  Assuming everything checks out, I see no reason not to shoot nudes with him. Jul 29 13 09:32 am Link I think that if you are a newer model, and feel like you probably -- at some point -- want to shoot nudes, you're most likely better off just starting out that way, and getting comfortable from the beginning. If you start eventually receiving paid offers for clothed work, great, but unless you're 16 years old, 5'10 with a teeny-tiny bone structure, and no hips or boobies to speak of, starting out as a "clothed" model isn't necessarily going to get you anywhere any time soon. The faster you drop trou, and the more comfortable you feel doing it, the better off you'll probably be -- rather than hemming and hawing about it. Jul 29 13 09:38 am Link Depends completely on what sort of "career" you are planning to have. If you want to make this a job, or even just bring in an income from modeling, I'd say that with your body height, size, and look, nudes are a good way to get some sort of compensation. And if that's the route you're looking to go, having some good nudes in your portfolio is a good idea. A decent rule of thumb is populate your portfolio with the sort of work you're willing/wanting to do more of. It's the best way for photographers to see what they would be getting. Jul 29 13 09:39 am Link In regards to MM, nudes tend to be the "bread and butter" genre when it comes to paid shoots. Jul 29 13 09:44 am Link EmilyRebecca89 wrote: ? Jul 29 13 09:45 am Link It's a personal choice. Think forward. If you are using your real names as a model and these photos are going on Internet, they will be there forever and can pop up whenever anyone googles your name or ever-more data associated with your names, emails, social networking accounts, amazon purchases, phone numbers, iphone, images, etc., etc., etc. The concept of personal privacy no longer exists. Do you want your employer to see these pictures? Your parents? Your children? Your nieces and nephews? Your neighbors? Your friends? Your enemies? Lawyers in a divorce settlement? Your future prospective employers? Future boyfriends/husbands? What if you don't like the way the pictures come out? If you are not sure, then don't do it until you are. Your executive decision about this must be crisp, thoughtful and determined. It's a commitment that is not easy to change after the fact. Open a new account with a model name not connected to anything else in your life. Cancel any model accounts involving your real names. Get a separate anonymous email for that purpose. Try to make your Internet presence disposable, but even that's getting very difficult. Even if you make all false personas to post your photos in a blog, for example, and some viewer posts "OMG, that's Emily Rebecca [insert last name here]" ... then the connection to your personal life has begun. Google doesn't care. They are all-knowing and ruthless. Internet is forever. Jul 29 13 09:50 am Link On the other hand, lots of people are doing it now and it's not as scandalous as it once was. My dear grandmother was a prolific artist who drew photo-like art nudes with a charcoal pencil when she was a young woman about 100 years ago. I never knew about this until I was given her amazing portfolio after she passed at 94 years old. Free will. Life is as sweet as we let it. Jul 29 13 10:09 am Link Click Hamilton wrote: Grandparents always surprise us because we think of them as grandparents. The reality is that we are all just human. Her book is part of her legacy though. You are very lucky to have someone's work like that. Jul 29 13 10:24 am Link Depends on the career you want. If you want to run for President eventually, it's probably not a good idea to pose nude ever, for anyone. I should also mention that models who pose nude tend to get more offers to pose nude and very few offers that don't require nudity. Jul 29 13 10:27 am Link Thanks for all the replies! I see some great advice. Now, my other question is... Have any of you done work for Goomah Magazine? This is the media into which my photos would go. I have been advised to check them out and be sure my rights will be protected, ie my likeness will not be sold to another magazine or other magazines with whom I would prefer not be associated. I understand there is paperwork, which is good. I just want to protect myself here. Jul 29 13 11:05 am Link shooting nudes could close some doors in the future (like maybe jobs working with kids). which is pretty funny given that sex is most likely what caused those kids in the first place. some people like to dip their foot in the pool (maybe some lingerie and then some covered/implied nudes) while others jump right in. images that get posted on the internet can be hard to get rid of and you never know who might see them. if i were a model considering nudes i'd want to be ok with pretty much anyone seeing those nudes (i.e., you wouldn't be upset if your boss saw them). some models have managed to maintain their privacy (stage names, etc) but others have not. it's a bit like getting a tattoo. hard to take it back once you've done it although i guess now there are procedures for somewhat removing tattoos. Jul 29 13 11:09 am Link You got lots of good advise concerning both sides of the coin. There are definitely pros and cons. I don't want to rehash what the others have said but I do have a few more comments. Please note that most of the comments you received are from men and photographers. I am not familiar with the magazine you ask about. I would suggest a fail safe mechanism on your first nude shoot if you can arrange something where there is no right to post, publish or make make public the shots if you do not agree or like the shots post shoot. I know I am raising the blood pressure of many photographers by saying this. But how you feel during the shoot and after is going to impact you and you don't want to have that, "Oh, my God, what have I done feeling" after it is too late. I will also suggest that you do a life pose for an artist or art class before shooting with a photographer. You will be nude in front of one or more strangers, either doing multiple short poses or an extended pose, with breaks. It is different than being in front of a camera but there are no pictures to come back and haunt you. While some poses can be hard to hold, it can also be very relaxing and gives you time to examine you technique while posing. If you need any tips on posing for an artist, start another thread. Finally, I will pass on the comments of a female friend that poses nude. She said that doing so helped her self confidence tremendously. The first time she was nude in public, she went in and dropped the bathing suit as fast as possible, because she knew if she didn't, she wouldn't be able to later. You should also search the forums for thread about a Florida teacher that lost her job this last spring after it came out she was a nude model on mayhem. Good luck, however you decide to proceed. Jul 29 13 11:34 am Link EmilyRebecca89 wrote: I haven't worked with Media Vault Publications (Goomah is one of several Internet "magazines" they publish), so what follows is all common sense and 2 minutes of Internet research... Jul 29 13 11:41 am Link if the model ever gets famous it seems pretty much guaranteed that the photographer will try to find a way to profit from the photos. Ken Warren Photography wrote: Jul 29 13 12:24 pm Link Do what YOU think is right for YOU Jul 29 13 01:01 pm Link EmilyRebecca89 wrote: Um... then don't! Jul 29 13 01:16 pm Link Hunter Wald wrote: ^^^ This! Considering the demographics of this site you shouldn't be surprised by the answers. I suggest posting in the Model Colloquy and looking for feedback from female models and not male photographers. Hunter Wald wrote: ^^^ And this! If you decide to do it then explain your concerns to the photographer and if he really wants to work with you then he'll agree. If not then you probably avoided a bad first experience. That Italian Guy wrote: It's one thing if your BF is supportive but it's another if he's pressuring you with the idea there might be money involved. It's not his face or body that will be on the Interwebz. Also, PLEASE don't let the idea of being a "published model" get in the way of making a sound decision. Jul 29 13 02:08 pm Link Hunter Wald wrote: RW Steele wrote: All feedback is good feedback. It's Emily's job to sort through it. Jul 29 13 02:30 pm Link Colorado Model Amber wrote: ^^^ THIS! ^^^ Jul 29 13 02:33 pm Link Emily, here's another idea: If the idea of trying a nude photo shoot is tantalizing to you, find a photographer you feel comfortable with and ask them to mentor you with a private nude photo session, not for publication. Give it a try and see what you can do. Lots of photographers don't want to shoot photos they can't use for themselves. Lots of photographers don't mind doing it for fun, and to help you enjoy the experience. Opinions vary widely in this regard. Jul 29 13 02:35 pm Link Take a few days and mentally evaluate what genres captures your interest, including nudes and the different styles of nudes. Do the pros and cons check list and if it looks like something you find passion in then the next step would be to do what Click said above. As far as a career booster, well that all depends on your modeling goals way down the line and how it is received. Lots of research and homework ahead of you. Good luck and let us know what you decide  Jul 29 13 04:44 pm Link My very first shoot was a nude one. I did think about it for a while before I agreed even though the photographer was a friend and I had references. I was sure about doing it and I had no aspirations of a future job that might be hindered because of it. If you have doubts, don't do it. Regrets are not fun. Jul 29 13 04:53 pm Link I'd love to shoot you nude. Best of luck with Your decision. Jul 29 13 05:33 pm Link Toto Photo wrote: Hahaha, I bet you do. Jul 29 13 05:48 pm Link Hunter Wald wrote: Unless she has a photographer that she has worked with previously that would be willing to do this, she would most likely have to pay the photographer for his/her time (not that it would be a bad investment to test the waters without long term risks). Click Hamilton wrote: Finding a photographer both good and trustworthy to do this gratis on a first shoot might prove difficult. Jul 29 13 05:49 pm Link Do it!! Jul 29 13 05:55 pm Link Honestly, it is not that hard to keep your nude shoots private. Unless you are going to shoot for porn/fetish websites or major publications, your work will not be very visible. I have never had a friend of family member stumble on my nudes. However, I am a hobbyist and I don't shoot all that often. Still, it can happen, and if you want to be a politician or a teacher, you may want to reconsider. I was very nervous my first few nude shoots. I wasn't sure if I wanted to do it, even though I always wanted to try. If you are okay with your pictures being "out there," you might as well try. You don't have to do it a second time if you don't enjoy it. Jul 29 13 06:14 pm Link Nudes are a body of work all on their own and that line of work is multifaceted. The question I always wonder when I am setting up a nudes shoot is; "does this model, really enjoy what they are doing." Its ok to be; serious, sad, excited, somber, sober, silly, angry, pumped up, and full of emotion and pouring out with expression. . . well something like that, but are you really getting out of the experience what you want? Anyone only modeling, shooting, designing, MUA, body casting, sketching, painting, etc. . . for money, and believe me I understand working for money. . . isn't necessarily in it for the art. They might be good, they might be great, but they are not in it for the best parts of it. When you know why you're in this. . . Just don't be late for the show; especially the show where you're in the center of the stage. Jul 29 13 06:14 pm Link I am actually attending school in a few weeks for journalism/writing and am currently working on my first,novel. But, I have decided I will do nudes, within decency. They are a form of artwork, and I feel like it is better to have the experience than wonder. I did MSG the photographer back with an affirmative, but have not yet heard back. Jul 29 13 08:55 pm Link The internet is mutating culture at an exponential rate. I am willing to bet that 30 years from now, a person will be considered odd if they didn't ever have nude pics online... Jul 29 13 09:02 pm Link If that's the way you want to go with your modeling, by all means do it. If you're uncertain, you can always do what some professional fashion models do - have one MM account for nudes and another for everything else. There's still a lot of prudishness in the fashion industry, so many models try to keep their nudes separate from their fashion work. Once you add nudes to your current portfolio, you can expect that the vast majority of the shoot offers you get will be for nudes. Even if you decide to delete them or hide them later, people will remember - and they're still likely to show up in your Credited Photos. The plus side of keeping things separate is that you'll get offers from both accounts - and most of the offers you get from your non-nude account will be for, well, non-nude shoots that you probably wouldn't get otherwise. The down side of having two accounts is that it can be confusing (to you). Once in a while you'll find yourself responding to a forum thread from the "wrong" account - and even replying to an email from the wrong account (and yes, that is possible). Jul 29 13 09:24 pm Link EmilyRebecca89 wrote: I haven't seen Lance's work but I shoot nudes myself. If your not sure If you want to shoot nudes I would recommend starting off with implied or topless where you can pose somewhat nude but not have all your privies showing in the final pics. Take a look at my port for examples. I shoot a lot of full implied. Jul 29 13 09:32 pm Link empty image wrote: Art and money do not have to reside on opposite sides of the fulcrum. You can make good art and make good money at it. Those that don't are the ones that choose not too. Jul 29 13 09:36 pm Link My boyfriend by no means, whatsoever pressured me into doing nudes. He is a mechanic who runs a shop, has his own endeavors and he told me he supports me in whatever I do as long as it is not having sex with anyone else. That being said, I feel confident that it would be an experience worth having. Also, I said I was excited because it was the first real MSG I had gotten, not a scam. Sadly, I think the photographer has moved on. But, I have created another site, under a "stage name" (which I obviously cannot state here). So, perhaps I will gain some ground in that end. I will keep this profile open in case anyone cares to do a "free to me" as in me, lol shoot with clothes on. I will do contribution work, or simply mutual benefit for portfolios. Jul 30 13 10:11 am Link It's all good, Emily. I said "question your motives" because your phrasing and lack of additional explanation left them completely unclear to me, that's all. For what it's worth, I would consider shooting with you were you to come to my area, or were I to find myself in yours. But about this: EmilyRebecca89 wrote: I can't think of any reason why you couldn't link your other profile. Jul 30 13 11:52 am Link EmilyRebecca89 wrote: ummmm...you just stated above "I just am unsure if I want to expose my body like that"...so I would suggest NOT doing it. Jul 30 13 11:59 am Link Looknsee Photography wrote: & considering the former Senator from MA Scott Brown posed naked & was published in the pages of Cosmo, even that's not much of a barrier anymore. Jul 30 13 07:48 pm Link My concern is that he wants to publish in Goomah. That is an adult magazine, read porn. I had a photographer ask me post-shoot if I wanted to submit our work to Goomah because she was so happy with it. I explained to her that I want to be a foster mom some day, so we probably shouldn't. Posing nude (I would say especially if you're not planning on modeling for your career) *can* *potentially* affect your life in negative ways. I'm certainly not saying don't pose nude. I'm not even saying don't pose for a Goomah shoot. I pose nude. I run the risk that my photos are going to end up in places I don't want them to be. Just make sure you're making the right choice for you because you're not going to be able to take it back. Also, working under a pseudonym is not a guarantee that your photos won't be associated with you. You have to sign releases using your legal name. (There's currently a debate in another thread about DBAs: https://www.modelmayhem.com/po.php?thread_id=899128) Jul 30 13 08:45 pm Link |
... and it's from another model too.
