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Tips for Keeping Warm During Outdoor Nude Shoot
Hello everyone, I have a couple of shoots lined up for Thursday that are outdoors at a location that is a small hike away from any heated buildings/parking lots. The forecast says that the low will be 41F that day so not super cold, but definitely an uncomfortable level for a nude person. I try to make sure any models working with me are comfortable and I also want to make sure shoots are safe and healthy for everyone. Besides bringing a blanket on the hike, what ideas do you have for keeping everyone warm? Oct 05 14 04:09 pm Link A thermos of hot chocolate, coffee or tea is always welcome. The model should also come with as long of a winter coat that she owns, or a long bathrobe in addition to the blanket and warm slippers to get her feet into between shots. I suppose you could also bring a Coleman catalytic heater that runs on propane, they use those in tents when camping and the little unit puts out a lot of heat. When I have done outdoor posing in that temperature range, I find it easier to remain nude for a couple of minutes worth of shots before covering up, it makes things go faster than doing one shot at a time. As long as shivering doesn't set in, everything works fine. Oct 05 14 04:19 pm Link A thermos with a warm beverage. Pocket handwarmers are pretty good to get a little heat. Oct 05 14 04:19 pm Link If legal to do so in the area, you should consider starting a small fire. Oct 05 14 04:23 pm Link Gotta second pocket warmers. A few those in your hands and pockets can make things a lot more bearable. Oct 05 14 04:51 pm Link Random Image wrote: Those might be really helpful for the photographer, but having done outdoor nudes in those temperatures several times, I can assure you that the model is going to say other parts are freezing before she even realizes that her hands are cold, just saying...... Oct 05 14 04:58 pm Link Sounds as though you will be away from the vehicles. One additional suggestion to the others, of long warm coat, and hand warmers, is a portable wind shield. If you can keep the wind off, and get the model into a good coat, and some warm slippers, every few shots, and have a warm beverage in a thermos, that will help a whole lot. It's easier where you can get to a vehicle, to get out of the wind, and even crank up the heater, for a short time, if she gets really chilled. Oct 05 14 05:02 pm Link move them to California, it's 95 here  wrap up every few minutes, hot cocoa, don't push the session too long, there will be a point of diminishing return, know when to call it a day Oct 05 14 05:04 pm Link Moonblaze Photography wrote: The low is only one part of this equation. You need the other parts. What is the high? When is the light for the shot? Will they be in shade or sun? Sheltered or in the wind? Oct 05 14 05:17 pm Link When it became cool and windy in the Arizona desert last November I suggested that we move the shoot to our hotel in Phoenix. She was very glad to do that because she was cold. When she entered the hotel room she turned the heat up to 89°.  Oct 05 14 05:23 pm Link Jerry Nemeth wrote: How is that relevant to staying warm outside? Oct 05 14 07:15 pm Link Coupla things come to mind. First - a ground cloth for the model to stand on in order to clean and dry her feet before she puts warm boots on. nothing ruins the effect of putting warm dry shoes on like having them start off wet, clammy and even muddy. Uggs with handwarmers inside - fashion be damned - warm wins. Second - warm cover - I have a long down coat for models to wear between shots and during setup. Pockets with handwarmers inside - AND an insulated cooler with LOTS of hand warmers inside. When the model is not wearing the coat - it's inside the box warming up - so she puts on a warm item and she does not spend the first 5 minutes trying to coax enough body heat to warm up the coat. Hot beverages And - plan out your shots in great detail - pretend you are shooting in a public area and have to "shoot and scoot" - set up the shot - practice the pose - get the exposures set - all with the model warm and covered, then, "Give me your coat and hit your marks" Click - Click - Click "OK - Put the coat back on." And if the model is going to be uncovered for any time - the coat and boots are in the hotbox. Spending a lot of time fiddling with camera settings while a nude model is shivering, waiting for you to get your act together, will likely yield nothing but "I hate you Sooo much" expressions Oct 05 14 07:55 pm Link Oct 05 14 08:00 pm Link NothingIsRealButTheGirl wrote: Uses a 20lb tank Oct 05 14 08:04 pm Link Keep the exposure short. It's all about maintaining core body temperature. I just did a shoot a couple days ago standing nearly naked in 48 degree water at sunrise. I was wrapped in a thick robe right before the shoot so I stayed warm for fifteen minutes or so. My hotel room was near by so I was able to soak my feet in hot water to get back to normal. If you don't have a warm room nearby, keep a bucket of hot water in a running vehicle with the heater going. Oct 05 14 11:12 pm Link Zone7 wrote: Is that bad? Bring a garden cart. Oct 06 14 07:55 am Link Oct 06 14 08:07 am Link I liked to bring along a big ol' warm trenchcoat, both for the model to warm up in and to look more more or less innocuous if someone happened along and she needed to look dressed. (It also made for a charming shot once when one model gave me a big ol' grin and opened the coat to flash the camera.) With one exception last year, I've sorta given up on cold-weather skimpy or nude shooting. I hate to see people shiver and be uncomfortable, and I feel like a jerk shooting while staying wrapped up. It just got to be too much cost and not enough benefit. It's certainly a neat form. Just not for me much anymore. Oct 06 14 08:11 am Link Random Image wrote: MatureModelMM wrote: You are allowed to use them on other parts of your body besides your hands. Oct 06 14 08:28 am Link NothingIsRealButTheGirl wrote: Wonder if you've ever used one in the open. The hot air dissipates within 2-3 feet and if you stand that close, you burn on one side and freeze on the other. Constant turning kinda helps, but the hot area is small and the rest of you is cold. The temperature differential makes the hot air rise pretty fast. You need to hang the model slightly in front and above the exhaust on a rotating spit and baste constantly. They taste good after though. Justin wrote: I will work topless or in t-shirt often when shooting bikinis in January at a Boston beach. Oct 06 14 08:41 am Link Justin wrote: Leonard Gee Photography wrote: Oh, I've gone without a jacket in the snow and said it was for solidarity with the model. But that only goes so far. If I'm shivering, it might interfere with the creative process, not to mention camera stability. Oct 06 14 09:06 am Link I wait till summer. Oct 06 14 09:10 am Link Give her the nice warm jacket off your back to wear during breaks. And yeah, hand warmers are great! Oh, its also a good idea both of you talk about exactly what you're going after... Wastes less time that way. Oct 06 14 09:13 am Link A thick, long overcoat. Or maybe two, then you don't have to share. Oct 06 14 09:25 am Link I have a pop up changing room that would serve to get the model out of the wind. (I've never used it for that purpose, though, just as a changing room.) I might also consider a small catalytic propane tent heater (in an appropriate enclosed space). They usually use a 1 lb or so bottle and produce around 3k-5k BTUs. I'll also mention that 40 degrees F is generally considered life threatening without proper protective gear. Hypothermia will set in in under an hour for sure. Take lots of precautions, stop and warm up when the model starts to shiver, etc. If she starts to mumble, fumble with things, stumble around (the "-umbles"), you're done and she needs to be warmed up immediately, preferably with heat packs, hot water bottles, electric blankets, etc. Oct 06 14 10:05 am Link Leonard Gee Photography wrote: I've never used one anywhere but I'd be leery of using something like that anywhere BUT in the open. But, okay. Scratch that idea. Oct 06 14 04:03 pm Link Reherse (?) your shots poses and exposure before she undressed. Did one on a 12 deg day in Perth with 30km/hr southerly one morning. Model had her fiance being our look out and periodically had to wrap her in a blanket for a warm cudddle. It's a tough job, poor bastard I really felt sorry for him. Lol. Oct 07 14 05:44 am Link My idea for keeping warm or cool during an outdoor shoot is to use a location trailer, with heat and ac, of course you would have to be able to get your vehicle to the proposed shooting area, so while a location trailer is a great idea, it's not too practical for you Oct 07 14 06:02 am Link Ohhh, hey, how about a small generator and an electric blanket? Oct 07 14 06:15 am Link The trouble with a lot of these "solutions" is they don't actually generate heat. At some point the model is in need of "supplementary heat" she / he might not generate enough heat to get warm again using their own body heat. Warm coats, blankets etc. just get cold if they are off, so you have a cold model jumping into a cold possibly damp coat due to the dankness of the forest, not a formula for quickly getting warm. You need to us chemical hand warmers, lots of them to keep the blankets and coats warm. You need to invest in electric socks and gloves so they at least have some form of supplemental heat. As suggested a small fire near the scene if permittedk. Have other in the group give the model their warm coats and have those warmer crew members slip into the colder spare coat to warm it up for the next round. Remember to bring towels to wipe their feet so they are not shoving wet dirty feet into warm boots. I'm a contractor who works out in the cold all the time, although because I'm doing hard labour outside, so even in winter I tend to overheat, but this is what we use when it gets in the sub zero range. A bit pricey ($200 CDN) but if you are doing a lot of outdoor shoots worth the money: http://www.boschtools.com/Products/Tool … id=PSJ120m Oct 07 14 06:40 am Link I would take an extra person. They can hold the robe, coat, etc while the model is posing and assist with getting Uggs or Paks on and off. Even fuzzy slippers would help with the feet and have something on the ground to keep the feet clean but to insulate those tootsies from the soil. A down filled sleeping bag can be unzipped and wrapped around the model. That extra person is also good as a look out for other people as well as holding a reflector or gear. Oct 07 14 09:40 am Link I've looked at this a lot...and decided to take a winter backpacking/camping approach where all parties are prepared to be outdoors in the elements with the proper clothing. The 41 degrees with a 15 mph wind with humidity-laden air will be like freezing weather. To consider...you must have a wind break. A 4-person tent will do this. The small cooking stoves provide heat and the ability to warm food and beverages and the inside of a tent if used properly. Some kind of long cover for the model that also has wind breaking ability...a bathrobe would be useless with any kind of breeze. I would try to have room for a catalytic heater...which uses infrared rays to heat. Just don't use it to warm her during the shots...as the infrared rays could mess up the white balance. However, it might add some nice evening effects. The tent could also provide another photo op. Last but not least. Things can go wrong. If you are out of cell distance, and away from others any distance, take a hikers beacon/transmitter with you...especially if you have to hike any distance at all. An injury...like a broken ankle...could turn things into a dangerous situation very quickly when out in the elements. This is why I suggest taking the winter camping trip approach so that you are prepared to stay longer if it turns out you have to. Every year hikers die up here because they weren't prepared. Oct 07 14 10:25 am Link Hugs! Oct 07 14 10:33 am Link In the past when it has been a freezing shoot, nude or not, I tend to wear a gortechs jacket. Then between shots I offer it to the model. It has always been very much welcomed. Then while shooting again , I throw it back on and warm it up again. Word of warning, no garlic the night before, make sure to bath and use deodorizer. The last thing you want is to have a model rather freeze than to take a stinky jacket. 😃 Oct 08 14 02:30 am Link KungPaoChic wrote: I could see that she was very uncomfortable outside in cold and wind. Sometimes it is not practical to shoot a model outside if she is uncomfortable! The images taken would show her discomfort! The weather was fine up until that time. Oct 08 14 08:44 am Link When shooting nudes outdoors in chilly weather, we provide the models with Air Force jump suits. They're lightweight, provide warmth and are easy and fast to get in and out of. Oct 08 14 08:55 am Link 41 isn't that bad as long as there isn't wind. I like to bring a full length coat and leg warmers. Can jump in and out of in 2 seconds. That works for me. If its windy then a wind block of some sort, the coat and warm up breaks often (15 min or so). Oct 08 14 11:07 am Link And 41 in the sun in Colorado is a lot different than in a cloudy Cleveland. Depends on the models too and where they are from. Altitude makes a difference too. Most photographers don't take liquor near a shoot but it is really a bad idea if you are cold. You might want to have an extra coat or something in the car to change into after. Oct 08 14 11:40 am Link Move to Florida! It's at least 80 degrees here... Seriously though, I've photographed in Atlanta (my prior home) when it was more like 30 degrees. Bring a few warm jackets that can be put on at a moment's notice, and they do sell hand warmers on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/EnergyFlux-4400mA … and+warmer http://www.amazon.com/Rechargeable-Rehe … and+warmer Oct 08 14 06:55 pm Link Might be a silly idea, but why not take a tent and portable heater? Seems the most comfortable way! That way the rest of the crew might warm up too. Be sure to not light the tent on fire though and use these only when someone is nearby. And consider these burn up oxygen, although it says safe to use indoors, you can never be too careful. https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Heater-F23200 … ric+heater EDIT: just saw the post is 2 years old, my bad! (looked at the date, but not the year...) Oct 09 16 10:34 am Link |
