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When you were a virgin. . .
Ok. I had my very first photo shoot this past Wednesday. I was a nervous wreck. I didn't know what to wear. I didn't know how to stand. Everything out of my mouth sounded stupid. Tried to figure out the difference between right and left. . .just a general timebomb of emotions. After three hours, it was a done deal. The pics will be up in about a week, but I got to wondering. . .what was it like for everyone else the first time?? Interesting stories welcome. Feb 17 06 02:04 pm Link welll.. my first shoot is on the 13th of march.. im very nervous i hope urs turned out okay.. im working with a model that is also the photographer.. so she is gunna give me lots of help  Feb 17 06 02:10 pm Link Steph_anie wrote: I can see you getting a lot of help and a lot of great shots. Feb 17 06 02:20 pm Link My first shoot was for a swimsuit calendar, so I was SSSOOOOOO nervous. Not only was it my first time at a photoshoot, I had to spend it in front of a bunch of strangers w/just a bikini on. And one of my setups had me in undies only, using my hands/arms/trees to cover my boobies. Yeah, I was shaking. But the pics turned out great and it was the experience that made me want to keep doing this. You'll be great, just keep booking shoots, they get a lot easier as you go. Feb 17 06 02:21 pm Link my first shoot was completely accidental.....i was the escort for a friend of mine who was doing a shoot..... and then the photographer asked if i wanted to have some shots taken too....i decided, what the hell. it was completely fun and goofy....no real stress...some of my favorite pictures are of the two of us feeding pizza to each other (the photographer just kept shooting during our break) and then i saw pictures....and i loved them....and the rest is history i recommend bringing a friend with....it helps the situation to be a little more comfortable for you, unless you know the photographer well already Feb 17 06 02:23 pm Link KatieK wrote: *LOL* Man! I'm with you there! I did the whole sheets for clothes thing too, and it was something like "now this went a lot smoother in my head. . ." Plus if you can picture it: I'm in spanky pants, fishnet pantyhose, bra and spike heels. . .in front of my MUA who just so happened to be my minister's daughter. But she thought I looked cool so it was okay. Feb 17 06 02:26 pm Link Jayne&Steph_ani: First, it is clear from both of your portfolios that you are very new. Therefore, keep in mind that the photographer that has booked you knows this and is absolutely NOT expecting you to know much of anything. Your feet will be wrong, hands wrong, head wrong..... every thing will be wrong..... don't worry about it..... the photographer already knows this.......But, you must very quickly learn these things so that your next shoot is better. So, the absolute BEST thing to do is to be YOURSELF. RELAX and enjoy the shoot. Take direction from the photographer and try to learn what you can. Be prompt and professional. Just RELAX. Your shoot will turn out fine. Dave Feb 17 06 02:31 pm Link Ok Dave. Gotcha. But I'm not seeing your wacky/zany/embarrasing story posted. Spill the beans! Feb 17 06 02:38 pm Link I had no idea what to expect on my first shoot. I had no photography experience. No pose suggestions, no wardrobe suggestions, I didn't even have a location suggestion. She recommended the Ritz Carlton that is near Pasadena. When we got to the backside of the hotel it was perfect. For a Saturday afternoon, NO ONE was around. We had almost complete privacy the entire time. She brought her prom dress, some other nice sexy formal gown, and a couple of businesslike outfits. Pose ideas? Every time she heard my camera click, she changed positions, facial expressions, etc. It was like she was a pro. As it turned out, she had quite a bit of experience so for me, having none, she was perfect!! I tried to make small talk and it definately felt very awkward. However, she was responsive and friendly. Then I got the idea of when I filled up a memory card, to allow her to review the pics. This cut us talking more and her getting more excited as she was seeing photos she liked. That got my confidence up. We were both strangers to each other and only had only talked on the phone maybe 2 times prior to the shoot. So I was a bit surprised to have her ask me to drive her home. Talk about trust. What is funny is when I told my mom this story she said, "What, is she crazy? You're a complete stranger!" Gee, thanks mom!! She should have said, "What, are you crazy? She's a complete stranger." But nooooooo, she's concerned about the girl's decision.  Feb 17 06 02:58 pm Link Well, like a typical whore-with-camera, I've forgotten the date of my first time. I remember who she was, though. She had comparatively more experienced than I. She showed me the ropes, you might say. She was gentle. It was something I'll never forget... I mean, shoor, I've already forgotten when it happened but I digress... Of course, it was all over so quickly. Wham, bam, thank you, photographer. I hadn't yet learned the value of taking my time, I was so caught up in the thrill of it all. I wasn't very nervous at all because she was a friend. We were shooting in a house that neither of us owned, so there was the thrill of being caught (sooo naughty). We had a great time and I learned quite a bit from that one shoot. My current avatar is from that shoot. Perhaps even the first click of the shutter. Feb 17 06 04:09 pm Link MurphyMurphy Studios wrote: Agreed Feb 17 06 04:12 pm Link my first shoot was in august 2005.I was so nervous but the photographer told me I was a natural and way better than a lot of models who had been doing it for years.At first I thought he weas trying to make me feel better,but I get this from every phoographer I work with.Supposedly I'm really good at posing myself.I don't know why or how. Feb 17 06 04:19 pm Link I was on OMP for a few months with no offers, so when someone wanted to shoot with me I was ecstatic. Looking back, it was just because I had nothing but digital camera pictures on my profile and I guess people weren't willing to take on a new, unexperienced model. I also never thought I was model material but I wanted to try it out. Anyway, the guy I shot with was amazing. He was young and had been a model for a few years before he was a photographer. He was also incredibly gorgeous, which made me freak out even more when I arrived. Since he had been a model, I figured he'd hate everything that I did and be disappointed that I wasn't very good...but he ended up teaching me how to pose and what types of lines look good and which don't. He basically held my hand through the whole thing. Once I got those shots up, less than a week later I got another TFP offer from a different photographer. He also taught me a bit, and introduced me to MM, where I currently get most of my offers. I was lucky to be found by people who were willing to be patient and kind of coach me a bit. Now when I go on shoots I do my own thing until I run out of ideas and then I consult the photographer and see what he wants me to do next. Some of my best shots have come from playing around with different angles and positions. Like someone before me said, whoever you're shooting with knows you're a beginner. If he/she wasn't willing to work with a beginner, he/she would have chosen someone else. Bottom line: you have the look he/she wants to add to their portfolio, (or they want to help YOU), so no need to be nervous. Just concentrate on what you're doing, RELAX, and listen to the photographer. Be sure to take criticism well, and stay focused. I too am still learning. I feel that you learn something new from every photo shoot you go on. Practice makes perfect, right? I'm sure even Heidi Klum has off-days. Good luck with your career!! Feb 17 06 04:56 pm Link Jayne Jones wrote: It probably varies from shooter to shooter, but I would think that it's unusual that you didn't start to relax after the first hour (if not earlier). I generally choreograph my shoots pretty heavily so even inexperienced models are generally not required to perform much free style posing. I also joke around a bit. Feb 17 06 05:46 pm Link It applies to the photograher as well. Even though I had been shootting for 15 years, it was only five years ago I photograpjed my first nude. Two guys and and girl for some clay-mud statue shots. After the first10 minutes, I was so focused on the shot, it was no big deal. Today many of the models I work with are first time shots and these apply to nude shots as well. To be honest, I wa more comfortable with the females than the nude males, but again, I got over it and now enjoy the process with little stress. Just keep these in mind, bring someone with you for support, be professional, be on time. research the photographer you going to work with and have fun. Be safe!!! Feb 17 06 06:14 pm Link It ain't only models.... I don't get nervous shooting landscapes.... Feb 17 06 06:34 pm Link Which zany stories do you want? The ones where I forgot how to put film in the camera or the ones where I babbled like an idiot. It gets easier...really. -Don Feb 17 06 06:55 pm Link My first shoot with a model was with Eve Ellis. I was so.....out of my league!!! She's the nicest, most easy going, "put-you-at-ease" LADY! She really made me feel like less of a bumbling fool than I probably looked like. Thank God she was my first! And Second. Feb 17 06 07:52 pm Link Dave Krueger wrote: Oh no no. . .I meant the shoot was over in three hours. I relaxed after maybe the first half hour. Having my friend there really helped. Glad to see I wasn't the only one out there that was nervous out the gate. Although. . .I don't really know why I thought I would be the only one. Great stories guys! Really encouraging. Feb 17 06 11:56 pm Link my first shoot i got but naked and bathed in a tub of baby pink balloons i made my very black eye make up run down my face accross my extremely red lips it sounds hot but i looked like a joke ill see if i can find a pic ps i had black hair Feb 17 06 11:59 pm Link jeskavardinski wrote: Jeska I don't see how you could ever look like a joke. If they dressed you up like Homie the Clown you'd still be hot. Heffer! :-) Feb 18 06 12:12 am Link https://www.modelmayhem.com/posts.php?t … 946&page=2 go to the bottom of this page for the pics:( told ya i accidently posted it on the wrong one:( Feb 18 06 12:17 am Link That's okay Jeska. I think they somewhat reel you in though. I agree the setting wasn't all that flattering for you, but the pics still draw you in. Feb 18 06 12:47 am Link My first "shoot" doesn't really count as it was my wife just before we divored. We went down along the Mississippi river and shot some nudes; it was fun - she had fun flashing people across the river (she was wearing a trench coat). It was fun, but the photos were quite bad, with maybe a couple exceptions. I didn't know about camera shake back then, so I didn't know why some of them were blury. And then I put the camera away for a couple years and picked it up again after the divorce was done and I had moved on. So, my first ever photoshoot was completely awefull; the photos were really bad and I had no idea what I was doing. I shot color film using a set of Smith-Victor hot lights (bulbs, not real "hot lights") with my Nikon N6006 mounted on a rickity tripod I bought at Best Buy. This was towards the end of December, 1995, and it was of my ever-patient friend Susan. Actually, a couple of the shots came out ok; I had one light behind her head so I did this halo effect but it was way over exposed, but it worked. I was amazed. But most were terrible, and I wasn't very impressed. But I kept at it... eventually I learned how to (sort of) do lighting ratios, although I didn't know they were called that. And I started colelcting equipment, built a darkroom, and experimented as much as I could. And that's the story of my life as a photographer... Aren't you glad you read all this? I'll shut up now. -P- Feb 18 06 03:53 am Link D. Brian Nelson wrote: LOL.....really. I've always been the picture of the ultimate professional...yah... right: Did I tell ya about the time I got to the studio all set to shoot except for one tiny detail...forgot the camera bag at home. Feb 18 06 07:55 am Link Awwww!!! Can't you just feel the love???? Group hug! I'm so happy to hear that both the model and the photog get the jitters the first time. I don't know why I thought it would be one sided. Thanks guys! Keep 'em comin!! Feb 18 06 04:26 pm Link -Don Did I tell ya about the time I got to the studio all set to shoot except for one tiny detail...forgot the camera bag at home. Whoopsie?? Feb 18 06 04:27 pm Link Jayne Jones wrote: The first time? I always get jittery before a photo shoot... I think it's a bit like stage fright and I'm always worried about screwing something up. But once I'm shooting the jitters tend to go away, especially if the photos are looking good. Feb 18 06 04:33 pm Link Merlinpix wrote: I assisted my friend with her photo shoot this past Monday (or was it Tuesday) and one of the things I needed to bring were my two five-foot umbrellas. So, of course I called her before the gig and told her I had the umbrellas and a couple soft boxes, as well as the shoot-through umbrellas... everything we'd need. No problem! So, when we got there and started setting up guess what I was missing -- one of the five foot umbrellas. Because we were doing a high-key background we had to have both of them. So, feeling totally stupid, I went back home to get it while she set up the lighting. That's not what I'd call a particularily good assistant... do'h! Mental note: Check all gear bags before leaving... Feb 18 06 04:36 pm Link my first time was okay... it was only okay because i wound up getting lost and traveling alone of public transit, always worrying if my stress would make me look bad in the pictures...so worrying about worrying made things even more stressful haha... but when i got there the photographer was awesome. i had visioned what the shoot should be like, and kinda played out what i would do in my head a couple of times. he told me i was a natural and gave me a ton of encouragement. since it was my first time, the pictures show me blushing a lot. i enjoyed it a lot, became really tired afterwards because of all that worry and "workin it"...but really gave me a lot of hope. i scheduled another shoot the next morning...those came out even better... so don't worry about it, things get better with experience. always imagine yourself being totally awesome, and you will be Feb 18 06 04:39 pm Link first time? I wasn't really that nervous about the shooting. (i think it's because my first photographer was a: female and b: the same age as me, I was an ancient 24 at the time.) Now changing my clothes in the parking lot of a mini mall... hmm, that threw me for a second! LOL (but there's little kids over there... I don't want that four year old to see my butt!) ha ha.... funny. (Now!) It's probably cause I'm an old fart, getting your picture taken isn't so scary anymore, course, I'd been acting a while. Now my first film? then we can talk about nervous! Arrgh. couldn't understand a word I said I was so quiet. granted, havent been quiet since, but...wellllll...  Feb 19 06 11:18 am Link ...Stacy wrote: Sheesh!!! So my starting at age 28 must make me a step away from a dinosaur. Good to know. Feb 21 06 01:53 pm Link David Moyle wrote: You lucky Dog.. I have watched her images for a couple of years.. and would die if I had the chance to shoot with her.. but I dont think I am ever gonna get that chance.. Feb 21 06 02:13 pm Link My first was May 2005. My first...her second shoot. I had 2 cheesy hot lights and 1 backdrop (I now have 5 cheesy lights and 3 backdrops! ...progress.. ) in my small studio. I was VERY self-concious about my less-than-stellar gear. Did I mention my camera was my Yashica 24? (Oh.....you still shoot film?) However about 15 minutes in, we started to get comfortable with each other. Her mother was her escort and fortunately the 2 of us were on the same wavelength. She could translate what I was envisioning in a way her daughter could understand when I couldn't make it clear. At the end, I THOUGHT we had some good shots, but was thrilled with how they actually turned out. In hindsight, most were pretty crude compared to my later shots as I got a better handle on lighting, etc. Still it got me started with a positive experience and haven't looked back...though I still get nervous every time I shoot with someone new..Feb 21 06 04:25 pm Link groupw wrote: Isn't that how life is supposed to work??? Grow with age/time/experience. Hmmm. Feb 23 06 04:56 am Link My first time was kinda cool. I was rather stiff, but the turned out ok. Feb 23 06 06:43 am Link I actually started out modelling though ive always felt uncomfortable in front of the camera, I dont know why. My first shoot was when I was 16 with a close friend it wasnt for anything in particular just to have a look to see what I could do, this was when i first started working with my mentor. The shoot was nice, i had a deep look but i couldnt do happy, lol. I just dont enjoy it. I prefer to be the driving force behind these things. Feb 23 06 09:27 am Link I was blessed to have a sister that started to take photography classes at the age of 12, I am a year and 3 months younger so she used me as her model for practice alllll the time and still present day! Through out her classes she volunteered me to help out other photogs trying to get use to the camera and build portfolios so I kinda always felt needed and comfortable cause they were practicing and were not EXPECTING anything from me. But once I decided to venture out into acutal "modeling" I was just more nervous to work with people I didnt already know. With my sister I was always directed, with other photog friends they always came to me with a specific idea in mind. So on my first shoot the photog was like see ya there peace..I was like but ummm what do I wear,.wait umm how do I do my hair..do umm I need umm to bring my umm own make-up..hahahah I was spoiled with all the rest but I actually took my sister on my first shoot with me and she did my hair and make-up and was very good at building my confidence. We made up a secret code for her to tell me if a pose looked dumb or if my hair was in my face ect..hahaha. My only rule for her was that she couldnt tell the photog that she also was one cause I didnt want him to feel intimidated..well that worked for a bit then she busted out with Photog talk.."your shooting with a canon something something..blah blah blah.." and he was on to her..from that moment on he relied on her just as much as I did, he was just as nervous as I was.In the end we ended up with really good pictures. And now I love everything about it. That nervous feeling you get to meet someone new, that thought of gosh I hope I dont do the same 15 poses over and over again, talking yourself into believing you are the best all over again..hahaha. Good times. Feb 23 06 11:19 am Link Awww!!! You guys!!! *tear* Feb 23 06 02:02 pm Link AndrewG wrote: I helped her with some web development a couple years back, that's how we met, so I just got lucky that I met her at the right opportunity. Feb 23 06 02:04 pm Link |
