Comic Relief

Not everything I shoot is sexy and dramatic, some is just comic relief. It’s hard work shooting nudes that are personality based as I do. Sometimes my models have to blow of a little steam and be themselves. I find that I often love these shots more that the money shots that we do because they show the absurdity of life. The models personality comes out and the good time that we are having. The trust too come shining through as well as the confidence that we share. I love these shots for the spontaneous nature of them, the sheer joy in them. I’ve had girls acting down right silly, that is a part of their charm. That is a part of them that I cherish and try my damnest to capture.

It’s that sense of play that fascinates me, that sense of self that I want to evoke and try to capture. That’s why I choose nudes to work with rather than clothed model. I don’t want anything to get in the way of the real person, the essence of her self. Once you have clothes you make a judgement on her style, the period of time and her sense of wealth. Many subtitle habit come into play for the viewer especially a sense of time. I want my models to be as timeless as possible but not ageless. A small distinction to some but of great importance to me. I want my models to represent themselves as the age they are but I encourage them to those ageless qualities that I find so important. In all other aspects of life they are required to “act your age”. With me I want them to just play, use their minds and be the age they feel at that particular moment in time and place. That’s what I’m trying to capture on film, that discovery of self. Those periods of timelessness of the person with the backgrounds not providing a distraction.

I want for my backgrounds to provide a complement to the overall construction of my image. Whether it’s a barn or churchyard or a plain wall in my home I want it to fade from thought. I want for the model to take center stage to play the major part in my image. And for the focus to be on her, what she thinks and feels and who she is. That’s the role of my model, that’s the focus of my images. I want for nothing else to distract from that moment that we are trying to capturing, nothing. I want for my model to be as unaware of me as possible too. For me to fade into the periphery of their consciousness as a minor distraction. So they can imagine and play the roles that they envisions in they’re minds.

It’s that ability to hide in plain sight that I value in my shooting as well. In the event photography it’s an invaluable assets. To be able to blend into the background so perfectly that I’m not really noticed. It’s a lot harder when you’re working with a model and it’s just the two of you. That why I seldom use music to set a mood, I want my model to create her reality. That’s a big part of what I value in a model, that ability to create a mood and a sense of who she is to give my creations life. I want them to feel able to just let go and be who they are and to try on different personalities to see how each fits. Women are so wonderful at playing; I guess it’s a hold over from childhood and playing dress-up. You can’t fake this ability, you either have it or you don’t. In my work that’s what sets the really good model apart from the mediocre. To forget herself so completely that’s she’s operating on sheer instinct and a really endearing side is shown. No matter what I’ve asked of my model in this context it’s that ability to ignore what I’m up to and concentrate on the self. It’s that ability that allows me to create my vision of them for a moment in time. I too need that ability to forget about the mechanics of what I’m doing to create the space for magic to lend a hand and let us create something of beauty and grace. I can’t thank my models enough for this opportunity to be creative. To place themselves and their trust in me and my abilities as a photographer.

Trust

There been some talk lately about how you can’t trust photographers once they have taken nude photos of you. I resent that kind of take as untrue, I have many models I am protecting from harm. I think it’s part and parcel of being a nude photographer and working with such young models. I prefer models who have some life experience and are at an age where they can make responsible decision. Never the less it take age to bring home decisions we all make as young adults. The things we’ve all done take on a different responsibility once we get into our thirties.


I would certainly hate to be judged by the decisions I made in my early twenties. I always felt that at age twenty-four I was just becoming an adult. It took me another six years to feel that I’d grown into myself. To feel that I finally had some responsibility for myself and others. I couldn’t denied it any longer..., I was an adult. In my twenties I was still experimenting with myself, getting used to the way the world worked. I was trying on different personalities, different lifestyles to see which ones fit and which ones still needed to be tweaked. I see young people making decisions that affect the rest of their lives and having to live with the consequences. And in some cases having to die for the consequences so I’m willing to cut some slack to my models.


My ideal model is age twenty-four but I will shoot with a girl as young as eighteen if the circumstances are correct. I feel if a girl has started modeling or dancing then she is entitled to the best photographer she can interest in her. For these young women I feel a real protective streak in me. I want to help shape their careers and life choices. A few time I have run afoul of their growing experiences and of the age that they are. A few models have pointedly said that they already have a father but if that’s the worst they can say about me I’ll live with that. I forget that some battles are timeless and well fought out. But some girls don’t have an effective father figure or adviser who can help steer them. A few girls are left to flounder and to fend for themselves as best they can. Life can be a hard scrabble for them and a steady influence is welcome.


I feel as though I owe them that chance at their dream or the vision that drives them. I am honest and fair with them, I shoot a polaroid of every setup I shoot and encourage them to ask for one if their unsure what I’m getting. I’m asking for their trust in me and my vision, I show them contact sheets for their approval first before I ever ask them to sign anything. I have some models who I work without a release, asking their permission before I publish anything. With some girls I ask them for a particular shot and if their not happy with it I won’t use it. I’m asking them to allow my vision free range and we’ll deal with the appropriateness later after we’ve had a chance to view the final work. Trust is of paramount importance to me and for my models. I have the responsibility to hold that trust and it’s a responsibility I value.

Thea