damon wrote:
tell him to think about beau arthur.

really, it's not that much of an issue.  Unless you are shooting porn, posing for a photographer isn't sexual at all IMO. 

You can also suggest he... take care of it prior to shooting.

The thing is that we're friends, so...we're really comfortable around each other...which is why I think he's so worried about it being an issue.

I actually DID suggest he do that.

He seemed to think it was a pretty genius idea.

I'm still curious though...will anyone be willing to share? 

I've never actually heard a story.  I mostly hear that it's a non issue.

I've worked with two male models, and that was definitely the case.  Non issue.

HAHAHAHAHAHahahahah I just realized you meant Bea Arthur.

Oh god.

Steve March Photography wrote:
Well as a photographer I have sent a model away to relax and if necessary "take care of it".  I didn't make a big deal of it since I too am a proud owner of a penis.

As a model this too has happened to me and none of the photographers (male and female) that I've worked with made a big deal of it.  Pretty much told me the same thing as I've done when I was the photographer.

Hope that helps.

It does.  That it what I was considering, just leaving the room to give him time to relax.

Well, actually...my first thought was to shoot anyway, in ways that featured other parts of the body, but I figure that might not exactly be comfortable.

RobertDestefanoPhotogra wrote:
keep him busy thinking about positions and posing, etc. If he gets an erection, let him go off somewhere to "calm down"

No biggie...  treat it like any other professional situation

That's what I told him, there is too much else going on.

I think, as bad as it sounds, that if he wasn't my friend I wouldn't have asked for input...but because he is, I want to treat any prospective situation even more nicely than I would otherwise.

My first two thoughts (one of which I mentioned already):

act like I don't notice (which might totally be the case anyway...I accidentally grabbed a models penis during a shoot while reaching behind
me for his thigh...I didn't even notice until everyone started laughing because of the shocked expression on his face.  I didn't even pause to left I just continued posing)

leave for a bit

Shandra wrote:
I will be shooting two friends this weekend (separately), both male, both nude.

One is a close friend of mine, who is a little worried about getting an erection or being nervous.

Are you shooting them or posing with them?

Steve March Photography wrote:
Well here's a story of when I was a photographer working with 2 women and a guy friend.

Working on an outdoor shoot in a train yard with two women and a guy friend.  They were all really close.  The women were closer since they were lesbian lovers.  I did not know this till later.
During the shoot the ladies were doing some lovely work together.  Invited their guy friend to join.  The ladies started to strip and then they both started stripping their guy friend.
Nothing much was happening just a lot of sexy posing with the three of them.  Then the ladies started teasing the poor guy and he of course got arroused.  The ladies loved this however since I don't shoot porn or errections I asked him to step away for a bit and if necessary "take care of it" and return when comfortable.

Non-issue.  Ladies giggled of course.  He walked away and when he returned he asked for a cigarette.  Everyone got a good chuckle out of it and we resumed with the shoot.

Non-issue since we're all experienced adults and understand how the human body can react to specific stimuli whether intented or not.

Awesome.

Thank you.

I just needed to know how the model felt, ya know?  I know that for me it's a non-issue...but I didn't know if there are any men out there that would just be totally mortified.  Not just for this one instance, but for all the future shooting I will do.

The fact that he asked for a cigarette and was so calm, is just really great.

Mark Fortenberry wrote:

Are you shooting them or posing with them?

I will be shooting them.

I've done a few self nudes and this will be my first time shooting anyone else, not including family stuff when I was on vacation last week.  Ha.

I'd very much like to be a photographer and am working on it.

Glenn Worton wrote:
As a figure model during my college years ( and occasionally since) the erection issue isn't  - never had that problem - As a photog - I wish ! - I've been wanting to do a series  of "classical" poses where the model has an erection to contrast with the usual "limp" poses - unfortunately a dearth of male models about this area -

Too bad you're not in Colorado.  I've risen to the challenge from time to time and been 'happy' with the results.

Jfaro wrote:
Well, it's a cultural thing. Similar to how we react to females being topless in public. An erection is part of life. It's how we all got here with the help of all the many vaginas out there. So to me as an artist, I just shoot life as it happens. If you are shooting for an agency or other western media project, of course you can't show the erection.  There is no need to make any deal over it. Males are not extraterrestial aliens that females have never seen before. An aroused penis happens. It's life. Get over it and your model will too. If he has a problem or anxiety over it show him that you are mature about it. With time it will go down. Just ask if he needs to take a break, then both go and take a breather. 
This is nothing to be shocked, amazed, confounded or troubled over. After all these are friends, and that's an even bigger challenge for most in this westernized world where friends (especially of opposite genders) seldom see one another naked.
If you are really courageous, just disrobe and say "ok there...now you've seen me naked too...now I'm gonna get dressed so we can finish this shoot!"

You are very open minded and unafraid to ask about this subject which for some is so taboo. That shows you are enlightened about the human body and have no qualms capturing the body in its natural state.  And by the way, an erect male is the other side of his natural state.  We all, both males and females, have 2 natural states aroused and not aroused.  I think it is funny how many of us refer to the beautiful male penis as "it" as in "go take care of it," as if the penis is some kind of thing that just arrived on the scene.

An erect penis is not pornographic nor is a wet vagina or a woman's erect nipples (or a man's nipples for that matter...which we commonly see every day). One make's something prurient within its own context by posing the model in a certain way or by outright display of an obviously sexual act that could offend those who do not wish to see this.
Anyway...
Please let us all know how it goes. I bet your friend will not even get an erection and the shoot will be something you all laugh about years from now.
Have fun
Hope I've helped in some way

You have brightened my day.  Everything said was on point and wonderful.

I think my problem is that I am very, very much an empath.  I like to make sure everyone is comfortable and happy, because it makes me happy.

The thing is, we've already worked together..but in a different context.  He's seen me nude for the sake of his art, but not been nude for the sake of mine.  I think that might be part of the problem.  The fact that we're friends might cause us to be too relaxed.  When we worked together the first time, he had to concentrate entirely on the task at hand, and this project will take less precision, where the mind has room to wander, where it did not before.

But, such is life.  I think you are completely right.  Nothing out of the ordinary will happen.  Penises are pretty ordinary, and so are erections.

You've been most helpful.

EDIT: Thank you for the other advice as well.  I've heard of that but forgot until just now.

Also, FABULOUS first post.  Wow.

Steve March Photography wrote:
Well like I've mentioned above it was a non-issue in the case when I was the model.  For both my male and female photographers.

We're adults and I do smoke too.

Only off comment made was by the female photographer and it was something like; impressive but not what I'm looking for at this moment.  lol

Brilliant.

Mark Fortenberry wrote:
I have limited experience shooting male nudes but have had it go both ways ( no pun intended) One model just shriveled up and was embarrassed at that fact. The other one maintained a semi erection for a while..... I politely put the camera down........ made some lighting adjustments and then I guess the feeling just went away with all the other things going on. Everything went well after that.

If I were a nervous man, I'd be more of a shriveler (I know it's not a word). 

But, it makes sense that it could go either way.

Anxiety causes the heart to speed up, which causes the blood to pump faster.

Shandra wrote:
If I were a nervous man, I'd be more of a shriveler (I know it's not a word). 

But, it makes sense that it could go either way.

Anxiety causes the heart to speed up, which causes the blood to pump faster.

I'm not a shriveler.  Comes from my upbringing and a previous profession I once held.  Plus I'm a bit of an exhibitionist.
The human body is just skin to me.  Some are male.  Some are female.  Some are skinny, plump, tall, short, hairy, etc.  You get my point I hope.  The human body is beautiful no matter the state of arrousal if at all.  It's just our perception and what is forced down my throat by government and church/states that I have a problem with.

EDIT:  OOPS was I ranting again?

Steve March Photography wrote:
I'm not a shriveler.  Comes from my upbringing and a previous profession I once held.  Plus I'm a bit of an exhibitionist.
The human body is just skin to me.  Some are male.  Some are female.  Some are skinny, plump, tall, short, hairy, etc.  You get my point I hope.  The human body is beautiful no matter the state of arrousal if at all.  It's just our perception and what is forced down my throat by government and church/states that I have a problem with.

EDIT:  OOPS was I ranting again?

Well, I DID say if I were a NERVOUS man.

Good thing nudity doesn't make me nervous. 

My second shoot-ever- was a nude shoot and I dropped my robe without a moments hesitation.  It wasn't until that exact moment that I realized I was a nudist.

Skin is glorious.

Shandra wrote:
Skin is glorious.

Amen sister

It wasn't till I was a dancer (wearing too much) at Chippendales (20 years ago) that I realized the same thing.