The mood is a critical aspect of photography in my opinion. Models who are good technical posers, and photographers who are good with people skills and establishing rapport, can do wonders.

But if the environment, the mood, the quality of the interaction, enables both model and photographer to "be on the same page" in terms of mood, this is magical.....

Developing a really good working rapport with a model can be as easy as being comfortable with yourself, being open and very respectful of people's boundaries,  and showing an unintrusive level of interest in the *person* you are working with.

Developing a "collaborative chemistry" is usually an extension of the above, over time, as you really get to know and enjoy the people you are working with on a repeat basis. But sometimes, personalities just "click" - perhaps you find that you have strong shared interests or world views, perhaps there is just a little "spark" between personalities - the recognition of a kindred spirit..... this is lovely thing when it happens....

Beyond or in addition to all of this, having a "sound track" for a shoot can create wonderful moods. If the personalities are not in some synch it can create a dissonance or disconnection between the model and photographer which is counter productive. But if added to a basis in rapport or "collaborative chemistry", music can be very powerful in shaping a mood shared by both photographer and model (and the production team as well).

I have found that I have often enjoyed music in a shoot that I would not have chosen to listen to, driving around in my car, or at home. It just "fit" the model and / or the circumstance or vibe of the shoot.

On the other hand, I've had favorite models show up with 60s / early 70s music that is very evocative for me, and which it turns out that they also enjoy -

For those who might wish to consider where our mutual music interests lay, I am actually very eclectic -

the above mentioned 60s / 70s music including rock and mo-town really reach deeply into a powerful period of my life and put me in a contemplative state that can be great for some genres of shooting but perhaps not so much for others.

classical music of most but not all sub-genres is superb when shooting art concepts

Eastern music especially from the area of the Indian subcontinent (and most especially Ravi Shankar) is sublime. Generic "Yoga" music works for me as well....

really good pre-80s country lifts my spirits and energy level but does not fit everything or every model

Euro Jazz and Techno are always good for me - energy, mood, flow, sensuality - got it all

And then there's metal......

I do not consider myself a metal-head. A good bit of American metal is just laughable to me. Not annoying, it just gives me the giggles..... I call it wanna-be metal.... If you're going to bring metal - the way to my heart is the Death Metal coming out of Scandinavia and the central EU. It is savagely nihilistic, beautifully melodic in intervals, creates superb dynamic tension... that will set a great mood for an energetic, edgy, sexy shoot

So by all means, bring your music. As long as we can find something mutually pleasing in the moment....

so -  how do you feel about collaboration,  rapport, chemistry and music?   And if you think music is a good idea - what sets a good working mood for you?

There are certain types of music that seem to just blossom my posing. And I think it is more the tones and the rhythm or whatnot that does that versus the genre. For example, I am not really an opera listener. But for one shoot the photographer put on a female opera singer and I just really felt the energy and it translated beautifully into the posing I was doing (art nudes with cherry blossom body paint). Often when I shoot I listen a Red Buddha channel on Pandora. I like that because there are no lyrics for me to listen to. I have a weird brain and hearing arrangement in that I really cannot shut off "paying attention" to what people are saying unless I cannot understand them (like in the opera which was another language). Going out to eat for me and trying to have a real conversation requires extra focus because I hear all the conversations around me. Anyway, I am getting side tracked... music can certainly set the mood and I am open to styles really, but my posing will sort of reflect it. And as I flow from pose to pose, the tempo of the music will also influence how quickly I do that unless I make a real conscious effort to slow down or speed up which tends to kill my flow.

As far as collaboration... feedback is the key for me. It does not have to be constant, but every so often it is nice. For some reason a lot of photographers do not like to give feedback during shooting, so I have learned to read body language. A lot of photographer get kind of excited (like a kid in a toy store) when they start getting shots they like. They also tend to contort into weird poses and crawl on the ground more when they find a sweet spot or know they are close.

And seeing a shot or two once you get the lighting set, particularly if your lights are not continuous so it is more difficult for me to see how the light is falling. I love light and shadows and I tend to fuse my posing with them when I can. I know my body and my anatomy and I have some features that look quite interesting in some light.

It also helps to know what we are going for when we start. Are you wanting art nudes? Bodyscapes? Pretty portraits? Something erotic? And thank you, thank you to the photographers who tell us when they are not shooting our feet or are not shooting our face or whatever. Telling us what you are getting in the frame every so often is pretty darn nice, particularly for art nudes and such, I think.

On the whole I try to adapt and consider myself fairly easy to work with. I love working with new photographers and I love working with skilled pros. And I love it because I love posing. Of course I love to see the finished product, but the actual experience of posing is where I get a lot of enjoyment ^_^

Sorry for the long response, but there it is.

I love all sorts of music and soundtracks on set, but prefer that the soundtrack make sense for the concept of the shoot. Standards and big band classics on a 1920's flapper shoot, punk rock for edgy looks etc.


Helps me get deeper into the headspace of the character/mood we need.

I find it slightly distracting if I'm supposed to be angelic and ethereal and it's 90 minutes of radio pop(Rhianna/Kesha).


In the end, it isn't a huge issue, but I think it's a lovely courtesy to consider music and mood.

Don't use music. It's distracting, and my hearing is bad anyway. Also don't use booze to "set the mood."

Ive never cared what anyone was listening to on a shoot, it all becomes background noise to me whether I enjoy it or not, and doesnt have any effect on modelling. I usually dont have any idea whats playing


The only chemistry I need to have with someone is them not being a dick. Im really that simple. Ive worked equally well with shy people, talkative people, seemingly super creative and seemingly super technical, crazy fun and otherwise boring... I dont "click" with one any better or worse than another.

I always shoot in silence, music is a distraction, especially when you don't know the model's tastes. Like said previously, no music, no booze, just focus.

  Also, European metal is corny.

Are you photographing someone or trying to get a blowjob?

I like to turn on music because music inspires me, but I will keep it low enough that the model and I can talk back and forth and get to it. I do ask models what they like to listen to ...  most have replied with "just about everything except bad country". I try to stick to music that isn't going to steal the show, distract us and preferably that isn't completely mainstream because I don't want people to break out and sing along with it either.

I think good models model well and talented photographers take good pictures regardless of the music and mood setting.

Me I would be quite happy doing my shoots to Jamaican Dancehall

but i have learned to let the model pick the music she wishes

often a ( cable ) radio station suffices

I like it.

As long as everyone in the room can hear me I'll consider it. Once they go, "Huh?" the music shuts off. I usually just don't take the chance.

Generally what happens is we will start off with some standard music artist BOA, Kobe Kumi or Mel. By the end of the song list we are focused on the shoot and music runs out.

My studio is set up inside my apartment. This is partly just so i can work from home, but mostly because i've got this epic 5.1 sound system and like, 80 gigabytes worth of music. Music can make you feel so many ways, and photographs are all about the feeling, are they not?

In fact, music has actually saved a couple of my shoots!! The first half of my shoot with Cori, she was making this ugly "stone face" as i called it, i guess she lacks acting experience and just didn't know how to express herself. I put on some slightly stoopid and got her in a good mood, and she was doing so much better by the end.

Other favorites for glamour work include Zoot Woman, Mord Fustang and OK Go.