I was recently shooting a model that kept making strange faces into the camera. I finally stopped shooting and asked what they were doing. They said they had worked with a photographer who told them it was important that they make love to the camera. I burst out laughing, and said the photographer must have watched "Zoolander" too many times. Models, do photographers really say this to you?
SitronStudio wrote: I was recently shooting a model that kept making strange faces into the camera. I finally stopped shooting and asked what they were doing. They said they had worked with a photographer who told them it was important that they make love to the camera. I burst out laughing, and said the photographer must have watched "Zoolander" too many times. Models, do photographers really say this to you?
Why not? If you're not connecting it shows. If you are, it definitely shows.
It might have been the photog's way of getting them to loosen up. I'll usually tell models to do something goofy to help them loosen up. It works and the images after are usually better just from doing that.
First... I wink at it with some overtly sexy eye to lens contact... then... I toss it a sneaky smile... then... I exhale with my lips slightly parted... then... I blow in its ear and watch the goosebumps rise... then... I grab it's lens and zoom it out to it's longest position... then... I wrap my lips around it and apply a healthy amount of rosey red lipstick to it's lens shade. As the lens is fogged and the camera overheats... I cue up the song 'Loosen Up My Buttons' by the PussyCat Dolls and tell the camera to do exactly what the lyrics are saying. As the camera cools and lens de-fogs, I start my birthday suit dance while the shutter is wildly clicking... and 300 shots later... we got some majorly steamy pics...
SitronStudio wrote: I was recently shooting a model that kept making strange faces into the camera. I finally stopped shooting and asked what they were doing. They said they had worked with a photographer who told them it was important that they make love to the camera. I burst out laughing, and said the photographer must have watched "Zoolander" too many times. Models, do photographers really say this to you?
I'm not sure about the laughing at the model part, it can make them self-conscious.
Maybe tell them the camera isn't warmed up enough and you want them to just try to seduce it (if going for glam), or tell them the camera has attachment issues and it's bast not to get into that space with it.
Jeffrey M Fletcher wrote: I'm not sure about the laughing at the model part, it can make them self-conscious.
Maybe tell them the camera isn't warmed up enough and you want them to just try to seduce it (if going for glam), or tell them the camera has attachment issues and it's bast not to get into that space with it.
I always laugh at my models, that's what loosens them up! And I'm pretty good at getting the expressions I want from a model. But face it, many people don't look their best when "making love", especially when faking it.
CWJ Photo wrote: It might have been the photog's way of getting them to loosen up. I'll usually tell models to do something goofy to help them loosen up. It works and the images after are usually better just from doing that.
It depends on what type of shoot it is, sometimes it helps with a variety of facial expressions if you pretend that you trying to seduce your significant other.
Eliza C
Posts: 7,869
Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom
ha ha. Once or twice. Then I laugh too. Especially when they don't actually say love they say 'lurrrrvvv' .
I think possibly in glamour modelling it may work but it is as naff as fake tan when it is for anything else.
so that's why the model tried to hump my 5D MK II. must have been that long lens. lol.
i talk about flirting with the camera but it's the same idea. although for voyeur styles of photography the theory is you *don't* want them looking into the camera. and we've found that does work well for maternity where instead they are belly-gazing.
SitronStudio wrote: I was recently shooting a model that kept making strange faces into the camera. I finally stopped shooting and asked what they were doing. They said they had worked with a photographer who told them it was important that they make love to the camera. I burst out laughing, and said the photographer must have watched "Zoolander" too many times. Models, do photographers really say this to you?
of course people say this, that's why it's a cliche. i try to tune that out though because my "making love" face is really unattractive.
I had a photographer tell me to act like I was seducing my boyfriend. That shoot did NOT go well. You need to make your model comfortable and either telling her to "make love" to the camera or laughing at her are not things I would suggest.
I cannot remember any one ever telling me to "make love to the camera." I have had people tell me to make the sexy face that I would make to seduce my boyfriend. And then I have to explain to them that I do not make that face. And I feel incredibly stupid the few times I have tried.
I much prefer being given an emotion to convey and thankfully since I shoot little to no sexy glamour, I never have to make the sexy face. Seriously. I once saw a bear at the zoo making a better sexy face than I do. I can do just about any pose I am asked to do, I will suffer through cold, I will lay in dirt, I will shoot with a horrible migraine if I have to, but dear Lord God please do not ask me to make the sexy face
GCobb Photography wrote: Why not? If you're not connecting it shows. If you are, it definitely shows.
In my opinion, it makes more sense to replace the 'connection' or 'love making' with verbal communication, between model and photographer, not camera.
If there is an idiot behind the camera, an old time quote won't make the difference.
really, some of my best shots - the most emotive ones, the model was not even looking at the camera.....
I like to establish a comfortable working environment and working rapport, be sure that everyone involved gets the concept, and let the model work.
The best seem to me to have such a repertoire of posing and expression that they don't seem to "work" at it - it is as though they get into the concept or the setting or the mood of what is being shot.
It is only when shooting headshots / beauty work with some models that I get the feeling that they are relating to me or to the "viewer". And that's just professionalism on their part.
SitronStudio wrote: I was recently shooting a model that kept making strange faces into the camera. I finally stopped shooting and asked what they were doing. They said they had worked with a photographer who told them it was important that they make love to the camera. I burst out laughing, and said the photographer must have watched "Zoolander" too many times. Models, do photographers really say this to you?
I am VERY tempted to sleep with my new Nikon D800 I got last week. So far I've avoided the temptaion..but I am weakening. Conversely, I've have told models to "make love to the camera" a few times on commercial shoots..when I needed a smile or a goofy look out of them. LOL!
Koryn Locke
Posts: 31,838
Boston, Massachusetts, US
Isis22 wrote: I had a photographer tell me to act like I was seducing my boyfriend.
Yes.
That's a pretty metaphor, I suspect.
Dekilah wrote: I have had people tell me to make the sexy face that I would make to seduce my boyfriend. And then I have to explain to them that I do not make that face. And I feel incredibly stupid the few times I have tried.
Yes.
All the seducing I've ever done in my life included direct question-asking, and had little or nothing to do with making some specific facial expression.
| 
| 
| edu