Going Beyond the Portrait
With the abundance of people offering themselves as as 'photographers' who take pictures, there is no shortage of Portrait Shooters. There are many reasons for such a plethora of "People Picture-Takers", the foremost of which is that the NOW MONEY in Digital Photography (just like in the days of film) is in making 'staged' pictures (portraits) of people. Other styles of Professional Photography like Landscape, Fine Art and so on, are more of a "slow burn"; some sell right off and others make not catch on for years but thy are more suited for the long term.
There are those who have tried to go beyond the regular portraits, and there are multiple reasons for this as well but two of them fall under one word "MONEY". Yes, money is their motivation plain and simple; if they aren't getting paid, they aren't getting their camera out. Is this wrong? Not necessarily; a healthy respect for money and how hard it can be to make a buck helps to make sure that a reasonable value is attached to the work performed or at least it should be.
The other reasons for these Instant Photographers trying to go beyond the portrait are not so easily understood unless you are able to discern actual Professional Photography from Photoshopped Snap-Shots. This is because the word "Art" is being used as code for lazy photographic habits and/or a serious lack of knowledge about their camera. Funny though, there are sure a lot of these 'photographers' wanting to learn how to "fix" their lousy images with Photoshop or Gimp or whatever.
I go Beyond the Portrait mostly for Serious Clients and Professional Models or anyone needing to show a range of "looks". Some may regard these as 'racy' photos and some of them do have a very strong feeling or implied feeling to them but this is no more than playing a type of character and can be accomplished with Taste and Professionalism. I can make a photograph that looks like it was taken while the subject is showering without them ever having to be unclothed. Of course, these kind of images are made for a specific reason and not in an exploitative way. They also require an element of trust between the model and photographer. Personally, if an image cannot be made Tastefully and Professionally, I won't do it. Period.
There are some of the inexperienced (both Instant Photographers and would-be models) that think that a woman can make a better sexy, beautiful, whatever kind of picture of a woman than a man can. After all, every male with a camera is always trying to get a woman out of her clothes, just watch a movie or tv show or read a book. THAT IS the STEREOTYPICAL MALE PHOTOGRAPHER - A PERVERT. Of course, there have always been a certain kind of woman who believes that EVERY MALE WANTS HER. If that is what they believe, then maybe they need to look at their own emotional neediness and/or hang-ups with photography and being photographed. AND if we are going to start making judgements according to stereotypes, then why would a woman want another catty female taking her picture when the 'lady' photographer isn't about to make another woman look her best UNLESS that models best is less attractive than the woman photographers opinion of her own looks.
UNFAIR, ISN'T IT?
BUT NO MORE UNFAIR THAN THINKING THAT EVERY MALE PHOTOGRAPHER 'WANTS YOUR BODY'.
Below you will find samples of what I mean when I go Beyond The Portrait. You may like them and you may not, your perceptions are like your opinions; they are yours. However, like them or not, there is not one of these images that is not tastefully done. With just a few exceptions, these poses were chosen by the models as were the wardrobe and accessories. I have a pretty big selection of Jewelry and peripherals like hats and capes/jackets and some tops but I could never afford to have a full wardrobe for every model so I have them bring whatever they want to wear.
And not matter what your personal feelings are about them, none of them could even be considered remotely pornographic by any normal person.
There are those who have tried to go beyond the regular portraits, and there are multiple reasons for this as well but two of them fall under one word "MONEY". Yes, money is their motivation plain and simple; if they aren't getting paid, they aren't getting their camera out. Is this wrong? Not necessarily; a healthy respect for money and how hard it can be to make a buck helps to make sure that a reasonable value is attached to the work performed or at least it should be.
The other reasons for these Instant Photographers trying to go beyond the portrait are not so easily understood unless you are able to discern actual Professional Photography from Photoshopped Snap-Shots. This is because the word "Art" is being used as code for lazy photographic habits and/or a serious lack of knowledge about their camera. Funny though, there are sure a lot of these 'photographers' wanting to learn how to "fix" their lousy images with Photoshop or Gimp or whatever.
I go Beyond the Portrait mostly for Serious Clients and Professional Models or anyone needing to show a range of "looks". Some may regard these as 'racy' photos and some of them do have a very strong feeling or implied feeling to them but this is no more than playing a type of character and can be accomplished with Taste and Professionalism. I can make a photograph that looks like it was taken while the subject is showering without them ever having to be unclothed. Of course, these kind of images are made for a specific reason and not in an exploitative way. They also require an element of trust between the model and photographer. Personally, if an image cannot be made Tastefully and Professionally, I won't do it. Period.
There are some of the inexperienced (both Instant Photographers and would-be models) that think that a woman can make a better sexy, beautiful, whatever kind of picture of a woman than a man can. After all, every male with a camera is always trying to get a woman out of her clothes, just watch a movie or tv show or read a book. THAT IS the STEREOTYPICAL MALE PHOTOGRAPHER - A PERVERT. Of course, there have always been a certain kind of woman who believes that EVERY MALE WANTS HER. If that is what they believe, then maybe they need to look at their own emotional neediness and/or hang-ups with photography and being photographed. AND if we are going to start making judgements according to stereotypes, then why would a woman want another catty female taking her picture when the 'lady' photographer isn't about to make another woman look her best UNLESS that models best is less attractive than the woman photographers opinion of her own looks.
UNFAIR, ISN'T IT?
BUT NO MORE UNFAIR THAN THINKING THAT EVERY MALE PHOTOGRAPHER 'WANTS YOUR BODY'.
Below you will find samples of what I mean when I go Beyond The Portrait. You may like them and you may not, your perceptions are like your opinions; they are yours. However, like them or not, there is not one of these images that is not tastefully done. With just a few exceptions, these poses were chosen by the models as were the wardrobe and accessories. I have a pretty big selection of Jewelry and peripherals like hats and capes/jackets and some tops but I could never afford to have a full wardrobe for every model so I have them bring whatever they want to wear.
And not matter what your personal feelings are about them, none of them could even be considered remotely pornographic by any normal person.
