I'm pleased to announce that there will be new Project 40+ books for 2013. Here are the topics and guidelines:

Book #4: “Cars & Bikes”
Book #5: “Muscle & Fitness”
Book #6: “Retro/Pin-Up”

Common to all three:
• Submissions will begin on January 1, 2013 and end on December 31, 2013.
• Pictures must have been taken between January 1, 2008 (sic) and December 31, 2013.
• The model must have been 40 years old (or older) at the time the picture was taken.
• Creativity is strongly encouraged!

Answers to previous FAQs

Nudity: Verboten. When determining how much skin to show, ask yourself if this would get you banned from a public beach (but not a beach on the French Riviera). There will be circumstances when more exposure will be passed while less might be rejected. An example of this situation would be a posing suit at a bodybuilding show vs. a bikini at a car show.

Retouching: Ask yourself if this picture is a realistic representation or does it make you look like you’re 25? The standard I use in my pictures is, don’t do more editing (read that, ‘altering’) than a good layer of make-up or some time at the gym would accomplish.

Image Quality: No amateur snapshots; professional quality only. (See exceptions in Book 5)

Previously-Seen Photographs: These will be accepted for consideration, but don’t simply send in half your Model Mayhem portfolios or Facebook albums. Unpublished pictures will go to the head of the line.

Technical Standards
• Image files should be no less than 2200 pixels on the long edge, 300 DPI; JPG is preferred but I can work with other file types.
• No logos. Photographers and other contributors will be given a credit line beneath the picture or elsewhere on the page.
• Horizontal pictures are OK but vertical is MUCHO preferred.

Guidelines for Project 40+ Book #4: “Cars & Bikes”

• A motorized vehicle, or portion of a motorized vehicle, must be present in the picture. (Don’t just hold up a hub cap; otherwise, it would more likely qualify as a pin-up.)
• Anything from a bikini to mechanic’s coveralls is fair game.
• A ’59 Cadillac convertible makes a good backdrop; a 2003 Dodge Caravan does not.

Guidelines for Project 40+ Book #5: “Muscle & Fitness”

This is a book for the gym rats: bodybuilders, powerlifters, fitness competitors, bikini competitors, Ms. Fitness competitors, etc., or your stronger-than-average woman. It is not necessary to have competed in a sanctioned event to be considered for this book.

Contributors must fall into one of the two following categories (or both):
• Possess a degree of muscularity greater than the average woman, accomplished primarily through a rigorous workout routine.
• Have undergone a weight loss that resulted in a significant alteration in overall appearance, accomplished through a rigorous workout routine, strict diet, and lifestyle modification.

The types of pictures we’re looking for:
• Stage shots taken during competition. (Due to the inherent difficulties in locating photographers for a given show, waivers can be given on the ‘no logo’ rule; but quality must be an overriding factor.)
• Gym shots.
• Posed portfolio shots.
• ‘Before’ and ‘after’ pictures. (Due to the likelihood that ‘before’ pictures were not professionally taken, snapshots that don’t meet the preferred technical standards will be accepted.)
• Casual, unposed pictures that display enhanced muscularity will be considered on a case-by-case basis, although this is not the first choice of style.

In my travels, I’ve learned that nearly every woman who’s pumped some serious iron has a story to tell. And we want to hear yours! I strongly encourage all contributors to send in a narrative, or provide a link to a narrative, that tells how you got to this point. I would like to be able to do a work-up—an integrated bio and gallery—for every contributor.

Guidelines for Project 40+ Book #6: “Retro/Pin-Up”

This is an opportunity to release your inner Bettie Page!

The parameters for this one are simple:
• Pictures can represent any era.
• Clothing need not be confined to polka-dotted sun dresses or black stockings & garters—be as creative as possible.
• Swimsuit shots will only be considered if they portray a pin-up-type pose/genre.

The underlying theme behind this book is, if your picture is hanging on the wall of Joe’s Garage, will it be so distracting that the customer won’t even pay attention to all the add-ons and upsells Joe tacked onto his bill?