Page created September 29, 2006
Sitting date:  August 15, 2006

 

I love third sittings with good models!  During the first sitting, you are just getting acquainted.  During the second sitting, you are using generic concepts -- ideas that can be done by any number of models.  But during the third sitting, you start to develop ideas that have been inspired by that specific model.

However, I was a little nervous about my third sitting with Natalia.  She's not local, so we don't get to see each other often, and our last sitting wasn't exceptional because she wasn't feeling well.  Little did I know that I was about to have one of my best sittings ever!

 

 

Normally, I get a week or two advance warning before a sitting, especially with a traveling model, but because of logistical problems, I got only a couple of days' warning, but I so enjoy working with Natalia that I jumped at the chance to work with her again.

Normally, during the time before a sitting, I plan a handful of concepts for that sitting, but because I didn't have much advance warning, I had only come up with one idea (the one shown on the last page of this set, Close Canyon). 

So, as I show Natalia that setup for Close Canyon, I admit to her that I was experiencing the photographer's equivalent of writer's block.  She turns to me, smiles, and says something that would set the tone for this wonderful sitting:

But, you like the way I dress!

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"You like the way I dress".

That is very true.  Her style is casual but unique.  I've like the choices she's made & how her clothes drape on her lovely figure.

I get as many comments on my writing as I do on my photography.  People seem to appreciate the insights I share here in my commentary, documenting my thought process & what was going on in the sitting.

However, I have never found a similar offering from a model's perspective.  There's probably lots of reasons for this -- models are not selected based on their ability to be verbally articulate (although many are quite intelligent & creative & articulate).  Further, models are hired by photographers, which may inhibit a model's willingness to be totally honest.

 

Now, I think I am successful in getting beautiful models to work for me.  I do well in large part because I treat models well.  I hope that when the sitting is over, the model leaves feeling appreciated & respected.  (Creating good images is secondary to that, for me).  I will note, however, that not all photographers put that kind of effort into such goals.

Natalia does a lot of fashion / lifestyle modeling and even more fine art nude modeling.  But when she said "You like the way I dress" to me, it was as if she was acknowledging that I appreciated her, the real "her", and not just her figure & face. 

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Now, I don't have to be close friends with my models.  In fact, being friends is fairly rare, especially since I'm often older than the model's parents.  All we need is some respect, a good attitude, and some creativity, and we can have gobs of fun making beautiful images.

Natalia is one of those models who tends to keep things private, and that's fine.  We have had some good times during our sittings together, and that's enough for me. 

 

It is rare that I get meaningful feedback from a model.  At most, I would typically get some polite compliments.

But when Natalia said, "You like the way I dress" with her pleased & happy smile, that meant a lot to me.  It meant that she took a good look at the images we had made previously and that she had read & remembered my comments from those sittings.

I always assume that when someone models a lot, her experiences will tend to blur together.  In fact, one rare downside to experienced models is that each experience tends to become more & more routine.

But by telling me "You like the way I dress", Natalia was telling me that we had something special that was unique to our chemistry together.  That made me feel special.

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During our previous sitting together, when Natalia posed while not feeling all that well, we spent nearly the entire sitting with Natalia partially clothed.

Before this sitting, I told myself that I'd make more nude exposures of Natalia.  But then she said "You like the way I dress", and that made me happy.

As you can see from the images on this page, we were slowly moving towards total nudity.  Partway through this process, I noticed her t-shirt, which I liked.  For the past several sittings with various models, I've photographed them topless, wearing jeans & bare skin, and I liked that.  Natalia were heading in that direction today when I decided to do the opposite.  I asked her to put that t-shirt back on but to be otherwise nude, and we made tons of exposures that way.  See those on the next page.

 

 

So, a few key points:  

  • A simple comment from Natalia made me feel special & unique, and with that little extra inspiration, we had an exceptional amount of fun.
  • "Chemistry" is an undervalued aspect to good photography, and Natalia's simple comment filled me with excitement, and that sparked a gob of creativity.
  • We made some exceptional images by doing the opposite of what was called for.  Here, instead of being topless, we made exposures of Natalia wearing nothing but a top.

This sitting continues with The Clothed Nude

 

(Remember -- feedback is always appreciated) 

All images (c) 2006 Looknsee Photography

Natalia #3 Out Takes

Over 100 more images from this sitting are available in the Out Takes Galleries, which are available to those who have made a donation to the upkeep of this web site.  See this FAQ question for more details.

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