Beware bad advice, my friends.
Added 2017-07-29 16:20:29 +0000 UTCThis is another photo from the BHOF Photo Safari a few years back. This was the last of three locations so we were allowed to shed some clothes.
Burlesque and pin-up modeling go hand-in-hand. They're both part of the retro revival movement, and many burlesque numbers are link pin-up poses brought to life.
One of my first experiences with pin-up photography was with a photographer who felt the only way to get good photos was for the model to be hella uncomfortable in the photo. Instead of relaxing the fingers, they had to be filled with tension. The head had to be craned in an unnatural way that led to neck pain later. Photoshoots required physical warm-ups and heating pad recovery with this technique.
It's no good. Yes, some positioning tweaks aren't the most comfortable. You can't capture magic if your model is pained. The tension comes across in the eyes and face. One of the joys of the Photo Safari was not being directed to do certain tense poses. We'd stop, pose and have our photo taken by whichever photographers were nearby.
I'm not opposed to direction but magical things happen when the model relaxes. Let's face it-- I'm adorable in this photo. Yes, the photographer didn't crop my bra, dress or water bottle out of the image. I'm relaxed and happy. I think that makes a better photo than unnecessary tension.
