Ashley S. Getting Started

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Page created December 12, 2010
Sitting date:  May 29, 2010

 

It's no secret:  I like working with experienced models.  They are beautiful, confident, and skilled at posing & moving.

When I was just starting out photographing the nude, there were plenty of more experienced people (models, photographers, teachers) who were happy to give me guidance & encouragement.  I owe them a karmic debt, and I pay that debt off by occasionally working with a beginner model.

Ashley is one such beginner. 

  

Ashley contacted me through my web site.  She has never posed nude before, but she wanted to try that out with a photographer who "knew what he was doing".  She asked if I would be interested.

Most often these requests don't go anywhere.  Indeed, most often, the potential model lives nowhere close to me.  In any case, I directed Ashley to my "Would you photograph me" question in my FAQs.

Ashley read the FAQs carefully, and she sent me a charming photograph of herself -- it was a snapshot of her during an evening out with her friends, and she had this wonderful smile on her face.  I agreed to photograph her, and we set up a sitting right away.

 

 

 

At first, Ashley was nervous & excited.  She didn't know what to do with her hands.  Making eye contact with the camera was unnatural for her.  Working with experienced models, I've taken it for granted that they instinctively knew these things.

But one thing I love about working with inexperienced models is that they can get very excited & enthusiastic.

Ashley, in particular, was always laughing.  She was energetic, sweet, and smiling all the time.  In short order, she lost her nervousness, and her true nature shined through.

 

 

 

 

I should point out that "nervous" is not the same as "shy".  Ashley is quite comfortable with her body and is happy to show it to me.

But I can sympathize with a beginner model being nervous.  I'm not sure what is best to do in such circumstances, but I have a few ideas:

  • Keep a conversation going, on any topic.
  • Give the model something to do with her hands.
  • Provide only a few instructions at a time.
  • Give continuous feedback & encouragement.

At least, that's what I do.  I think that by the end of the sitting, Ashley wasn't nervous at all.

I just want models to be themselves and not "act" in any way.  Below, you'll see Ashley's signature move -- a great big smile covered by a hand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

While this is Ashley's first nude modeling session, she is definitely interested in picking up some modeling jobs here & there.  She is setting up a profile on some online modeling sites, and she needs a variety of images to post there.

So, we try to create a few different kinds of images.  Here, we ditch the chair & clear the floor for some standing images.

 

Below:

  • You can't stop Ashley from laughing.  I didn't know I was so funny!
  • I find the color for this set distracting; that's why nearly all of these images on this page are sepia toned.

 

 

  

 

 

In the interest of creating a variety of images for Ashley's online portfolio, she slips into some lingerie, and I change up the lights.  To be honest, I don't like the job I did -- the lighting is pretty uninteresting.  I'm going to have to refine this setup -- it always looks interesting when I'm making the exposures, but they seem to fall short when I get around to editing them.

More of these images are on the next page.

 

 

We are off to a great start.  Ashley is so happy & funny -- she is very engaging.  She is hecka cute.  And you got to love someone who is always laughing.  She's starting to get over her initial nervousness, and we are having a great time.

Big Chair

 

(Remember -- feedback is always appreciated) 

All images (c) 2010 Looknsee Photography

Ashley S., First Visit Out Takes

Roughly 90 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.