starting out with human photography, the misinformation

*You have to start somewhere. If you're starting out and you try to shoot with the most-gorgeous model, you're likely going to get ignored.

Reasonable in a way, but am I supposed to do nothing but photograph people that i cant form some sort of interest in? if i cant form enough attachment to a person for a photograph, I think ill go photograph empty beer cans in the parking lot at work.

*You ( the photographer) have to create a wonderful atmosphere of comfort for the model.

If the model feels good at the initial meet, she wont need an escort. If she doesnt think im the ultimate "woke" moron, well she can keep walking.

*You cant touch the model with OR without permission. MUST create a reputation for being "hands off".

Self obvious here, if the model cant figure out how to position her hand from a verbal description, or looking at a photo on my cell phone, what the hell am i supposed to do?

*There are millions of women who want to be models. ONLY a moron cant find one..

Well there are millions of women who THINK they are a model. Oddly enough, the most vocal ones are the ones that have no concept, arent interested in doing more then talking about it, and never show up.


*Your just the pervert "guy with camera" trying to get some "spank bank materials" by photographing naked ladies for minimal money UNLESS you have a studio, rent a studio, have a massive amount of sets, cameras, lenses, photo shop, hair and make up people on set. Have massive amount of photos in online portfolios, 100% perfect review by every model youve even TALKED to..

* You HAVE to allow the model to bring "bruno the knife" along as her escort for the photo shoot to keep her comfy.

Most of the ones shoving that down my throat, REFUSE any sort of escort for the model. And I agree, no escort unless its a female thats going to help with hair and makeup, and participate in things that require a second person. And thats if i vibe correctly with the escort before hand.

No interest in most of us in getting robbed and killed because the "escort" with 5 felony convictions decided to kill us because we had the "ultimate edition pokemon" DS switch on the book shelf..

*In order to learn photography you need to pay through the nose for online classes, work shops, courses, be a paying slave to a "mentor"..

This is sort of the most common one, normally from people who have had no photo education beyond reading the Horenstien photo book, or the Time Life Library Photography books. Also normally by the people TEACHING this workshops, courses, etc.
And ive always found the concept of a paid mentee being forced, and EXPECTED to pay for studio rentals, transportation costs, model costs, camera gear rental costs, just to stand around and hold a reflector to be ludicrous.


These are my favorite whimsiscal "truths of photographing people" I have recieved from a different website, all by "professional photographers" Some with current and past industry accreditation, gallery showings they did not pay to run, massive online portfolios, studios, etc.

What are your professional thoughts and rebuttals to these fun mis information's I have received? Whats your favorite one?

Do you have any pictures for sale of those beer cans in the parking lot? I might be interested in that.

momus said:

Do you have any pictures for sale of those beer cans in the parking lot? I might be interested in that.

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not on hand, but i may have some photos of all the used drug needles.

respectfully, is the glass half full or half empty?

jvo said:

respectfully, is the glass half full or half empty?

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Yeah... I don't know what this post is trying to say.

Well those are common myths and lies that hit people starting out in photography.

Perhaps the obvious point of this post was to get a list going of the most common, or most interesting lies being told to people interested in photography, in an attempt to force them to purchase massive amounts of equipment they dont actually need?

Some of the those quotes are amusing but verge on a kind of "nerdy" and "in you face" form of unintended black humour for me but as it is Monday morning and I have only just seen this thread, I thank you for cheering me up. I try to construct a kind of a face and attitude to each quote. Most faces and attitudes are for a maximum of a 30 second acquaintance and not a "getting to know you" evening in a small room

pentaxuser

I also can’t make sense of the OP’s point. My guess is that he is frustrated trying to get models to pose for free. Working as a model is a job, and worker expects to be paid. Not easy work, especially for painting and sculpture. Never used a model for photography simply because not my style, preferring to photograph people in everyday situations.

It is the attitude that counts.

You can get models to pose for free if they get something out of it. It is called co-operation. In co-operation attitude problems cause wrong signals pretty fast.

I think every a bit larger city there is co-operation groups between models and photographers with target to get experience both sides. In those groups trust exists and there is no reason for escort or other strange stuff. Everyone is being nice to eachother, working together and having fun.

I tend not to photograph people. I do photograph people sometimes but absolutely not models. If I want photographs of models I would rather work on CGI (computer generated graphics) that is where models should come from.

tballphoto said:

*You have to start somewhere. If you're starting out and you try to shoot with the most-gorgeous model, you're likely going to get ignored.

Reasonable in a way, but am I supposed to do nothing but photograph people that i cant form some sort of interest in? if i cant form enough attachment to a person for a photograph, I think ill go photograph empty beer cans in the parking lot at work.

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So, you have zero interest in photographing women who don't look like supermodels? You're going to have an interesting experience. Those beer cans are going to look a lot more appealing if you persist in cultivating that attitude of yours. If you expect to make a career in photography, you better decide that EVERY person who steps in front of your lens is worthy of your time and energy.

When I was in my twenties, photography was still booming and people built great careers for themselves (I'm talking pre-digital times), but there was always a contingent that had this "I'm going to be God's gift to photography and gorgeous women are going to line up in front of my camera!" attitude. I can attest that 95% of those people either changed their attitude and realized that kind of glory had to be earned and it was HARD WORK and they either got down to business earning it, or they went on to do something else, bitter and angry that they didn't magically get what they wanted out of photography. You seem to be cultivating the bitter and angry thing already.

I vastly prefer photographing any person, including myself

Some are models, most not

However I am still not letting anybody inside my studio, so it's all about me

If you wish to photograph professional models then you must act and behave professionally.
So there should be no need for "Bruno the knife" to tag along.

Unfortunately, this type of photography has a bad reputation, thanks to some TV and film depicting the photographer as a peeping tom or dirty old man type of character.

Back in the early 1990s, before the web, there was a photographer that used to "tour" the west coast of where I live. He would put adverts in the local papers looking for young models and a chance at a modeling contract. There was always a large supply of young women that answered the advert and the photographer hired a hotel room and set up his studio. He even encouraged the would-be models to bring along a friend or family member just to show he was above board. These sessions were his weeding out process. Only the ones he was interested in or "saw potential" were earmarked for a second studio session.

The second session took place in the evening and it was on a "one to one" basis. It was then that he asked the model to go topless and more. A few did but most were traumatized by the experience.

How do I know all the details? Well, first I got inquiries from some of these young women, asking me as to how a studio session should go. (I was a professional photographer with a studio etc) After the third or fourth inquiry I thought something was up, asked the young women for some more details and contact a friend of mine who was a cop. The young women I spoke to, said they felt stupid for letting themselves get into that situation, they were embarrassed and didn't want it know what had happened.
Long story short, the police did "meet up" with the photographer, on the quiet and that was the end of his studio session. There was no prosecution.

foc said:

The second session took place in the evening and it was on a "one to one" basis. It was then that he asked the model to go topless and more. A few did but most were traumatized by the experience.

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I've known way too many wannabe photographers whose prime motivation was to use their craft as a tool to get pretty women to get their tits out for him. Loathsome creatures. We can do without that crap.

hmmm... the OP has disappeared... too bad.

i find, that i usually get what i expect...

jvo said:

hmmm... the OP has disappeared... too bad.

i find, that i usually get what i expect...

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I don't expect him to come back. He has no sympathy he expected. Starting out really one should shoot beer cans.

*You have to start somewhere. If you're starting out and you try to shoot with the most-gorgeous model, you're likely going to get ignored.

Reasonable in a way, but am I supposed to do nothing but photograph people that i cant form some sort of interest in? if i cant form enough attachment to a person for a photograph, I think ill go photograph empty beer cans in the parking lot at work.

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There is so much wrong with this that I don't know where to begin. Yes, when photographing models that you want to use for commercial purposes (fashion, glamour, nude/fetish, whatever), you want models who are attractive. But far more important for a successful photo shoot are models who know what the hell they're doing, know how to take direction, and can convey emotion through their expressions and body language. That the model makes you horny is the LEAST of your concerns - if anything, you NEED to be able to put that aside and look at them dispassionately rather than as a sex object. Models can tell if you're leering at them through the camera, even if you never do any of the typical "creepy" things mentioned in the post.

jvo said:

hmmm... the OP has disappeared... too bad.

i find, that i usually get what i expect...

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look at the profile page for the OP. It says the profile account has been restricted or locked down. THAT means someone here somehow got their feelings hurt and deactivated the profile.

BIG difference from simply getting angry and not coming back, versus having a so called moderator block you out of getting into your profile.

horacephoto said:

look at the profile page for the OP. It says the profile account has been restricted or locked down. THAT means someone here somehow got their feelings hurt and deactivated the profile.

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Does that mean we can talk now about Foma film real ISO speeds, Xtol replenishing and about charasteristic curves?

I like his profile statement: "suck your restricted access you pompous bitches"

Nice fellow. I hope we see him back real soon.

Gee, "horacephoto", it's so kind of you to wake up this appalling thread to stick up for "tballphoto". Hmm...

horacephoto said:

a so called moderator

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Are you referring to the long time voluntary moderators who have devoted so much of their time and efforts over the years/decades to keep this place running and providing a benefit to so many members here.
You know, those people whose judgment is both respected and appreciated?
Or perhaps the decision to restrict access was made, after consultation, by the site's owner, who also has put in incalculable amounts of time and lots of money to provide this site.

Andrew Patteson said:

Gee, "horacephoto", it's so kind of you to wake up this appalling thread to stick up for "tballphoto". Hmm...

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I suspect the same...

Well it must have all gone wrong in the last few days only as he was seen as recently as Friday. Something must have seriously "gone wrong" Most causes of restricted access can be seen building up but this one seems to have been very serious and sudden and without any sign of a prior cause but yes he did become vitriolic based on his statement.

pentaxuser

pentaxuser said:

Well it must have all gone wrong in the last few days only as he was seen as recently as Friday. Something must have seriously "gone wrong" Most causes of restricted access can be seen building up but this one seems to have been very serious and sudden and without any sign of a prior cause but yes he did become vitriolic based on his statement.

pentaxuser

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I looked at his other posts to glean a sense of his general demeanor, and he was angry and complaining in almost all of them. Nothing to get him booted, but a pretty sour personality just the same.