Touch

What is that one thing that is rather acceptable at a photoshoot with an average person (client who hired a photographer to make some good pictures for themselves) but not very acceptable at a shooting with a model, especially when she is posing with minimum to none clothes?

TOUCH

There are a lot of important things that photographers should learn, at the moment when they already have some experience in photographing their friends, family and dogs so they want to start photographing models too. And one of the first one:

Friends, family and dogs -(if you asked them and got a permission) - sometimes it is ok if you touch them at the photoshoot while helping with posing. When photographer is working with a person who has no modeling background, that person expects some help with "how should I stay? "where to put my hands?" "shall I look in the camera or where?" And sometimes the words "Chin up! Shoulders in my direcrion! Nose to the window!" can confuse a person or lead to not exactly the result that photographer was expecting. So it is easier to just take that chin or shoulder and move in a correct direction.

But the main reason while it is acceptable in this situation - the photographed person is in a dominant position - it is a client who hired a photographer. So the client more likely will not feel objectified or harassed.

 💡 When it comes to model photography there is a difference. Let’s start with a fashion shooting. Normally a photographer at such shooting never needs to cross the personal space of a model, cause there are other people who are allowed there - stylists, make up artists and hair stylists. Their job includes those situations when some part of an outfit, make up or hair should be fixed. 

💡 In a rare case of a fashion shooting where there is only a photographer and a model, and he sees that something have to be fixed and a model can not do it herself, a photographer asks the model for a permission and than comes closer to fix the dress, hair etc. But it is never to move body parts of a model to sculpture a pose, posing models do by themselves.

In case of a nude shooting, the person who is posing naked in front of a photographer, feels much more vulnerable. So if a minute ago photographer was shooting at a safe distance of 2 meters, and now suddenly he grabs my arm or shoulder and pulls it somewhere for no reason, it is UNEXPECTED

STRESSFUL

ALARMING

UNPLEASANT

AND ALSO it blocks the posing flow and the body just stiffens instead of being malleable clay for sculpturing a perfect pose :)

Some people think that if they ask a model in advance, it eliminates the problem, but even if you enter the personal space with a permission, it still lowers the level of trust and comfort for some time.

And sure, the majority of people at nude photoshoots are people who are totally safe, they come for a shooting only to create good photos, and they spread their arms to the model only cause of a creative rush. But still, better not to do so :)

How to solve this situation:

• Talk with a model before the shooting. First of all it helps models to see that you are not a creep, and second - you can explain how you usually work.

Some photographers like to shoot fast, some take time for each frame, some people like to shoot only natural poses, others prefer to search in posing for something unusual or bizarre. Sometimes photographers prefer if models stays still, so they can shoot several frames of a same pose. All of that varies from person to person and a good model usually feels what type of posing is better for each client after they took a few photos, but still, models are not telepats, so you better discuss it :) And ask if a model feels comfortable with you fixing her outfit or pose from time to time.

Pro tip. Most of models will answer to that question “yes, sure”. But please pay attention how sure she sounded, cause sometimes models just want to be nice, but are too shy to confront. 

• In some cases it helps if you invite a female assistant for a shooting with a female model (make up artist or stylist who will do all the adjustments for you)
• Every time you are about to come closer - say about it
• And the most obvious -  try to minimise the situations when you want to touch a model :) 

Photo: Hans-Jurgen Oertelt, 2017