Advice for finding reputable photographer for nude photos

May 28, 2007 9:45 AM

How do I find a reputable photographer who will take artistic nude black and white photos of me?

So I'm staring 40 in the face. I've been fortunate enough to have some free time this past year and I've taken advantage of it by getting in pretty good shape. Because of that, I'd like to memoralize this stage in my life. Someday, when I'm 70 (hopefully), I want to look back and say, "wow, I was sort of a babe back then." The thing is, these photos would only be for me -- not for display and not to show anyone but my husband. While I'd want them to be sensual, I would hate for them to look like the typical boudair photo which resembles a "glamour shot" taken with the subject in a feather boa and a polyester teddie. I'd want something in black and white that emphasizes the curves of the female form; me on my back showing the curvature of my butt or shot of leg as it extends to my hipbone and stomach. Basically, nothing that would require me to stare into the camera and feign some kind of look of passion.

So my questions are: 1) who would do this kind of photography? Do I look under artistic photography, erotic, nude, etc.; 2) Look where? In a phone book? Is there a professional organization for nude photographers that has more than one member named Billy Bob who swears he'll destroy all copies?; and 3), not that anyone past the age of 55 would be interested in looking at the naked form of a 39-year-old woman, but I would hate for these to be anything other than a snapshot for myself and my husband of a specific time in my life. God forbid my photos start showing up on craigslist or something equally humiliating. How do I ensure this doesn't happen?

Although I don't live there now, in approximately 4 weeks, I will be moving to the DC metro region where I assume my choices of photographers will be much improved. Do I troll art galleries looking for nude photos I like and trying to contact the artists? (Can you tell I'm completely flummoxed here?) Also, while I want these to be professionally done, I am by no means wealthy so someone world-renowned for their artistic nude photos would be way out of my price range. On the flip side, someone with 3 megapixel digital camera and a red shower curtain as a backdrop isn't what I'm looking for either.

So -- any words of wisdom from the hive mind?

posted by anonymous to clothing, beauty, & fashion (18 comments total)

If I were in your position I'd look around on flickr for photographers who's pictures you like. I imagine there are probably a lot near you (or in the DC area) who take great pics, and would probably like to take some nudes if they had the chance (and you'll probably find lots of nudes you like, if you take the time to really dig around). Not all of them would have time but I'm sure they'd appreciate an inquiry.
posted by delmoi at 10:04 AM on May 28, 2007

I have worked as a professional photographer and videographer; here's my advice:

1. Search the web for photographers in your local area who have websites;
2. Find a half dozen whose style you like;
3. Initiate contact with them via e-mail. Have a polite, flattering, to-the-point letter that you can paste in;
4. Tell him or her what you want in terms of how many locations, how many hours of time, what size shots, etc.
5. Tell them that you're interested in digital shots in the 5+ megapixel range, and ask what kind of flash cards they use;
6. When you settle on one photographer, arrange to bring y
our own flash cards. A single 2gb card should be sufficient, and should cost about $50;
7. Ask the photographer to shoot in PICT or TIFF, which are lossless, but don't require the fancy handling that RAW format shots do. At the end of the photo shoot, take the memory cards with you

Some professionals may deride me for taking this approach, or say that you're going to have a hard time finding a photographer who would be willing to work like this, but this is exactly how I handled the excellent photographer who shot my wedding. I took the memory cards and paid him for his time and expertise. I posted an ad on Craigslist--$400 for 4 hours-- and got dozens of offers. And a handful of angry letters from photographers saying that no one was going to go for it. They were wrong.

The only thing to worry about is post-production. Ideally, you know and trust someone who can do some post-production on your digital images--light and color correction. This may not be necessary if the shots are mostly outdoors. Good luck, and have fun! It sounds like a great way to celebrate 40!
posted by squirrel at 10:18 AM on May 28, 2007 [3 favorites]

I say that you do this with several different photographers if you can afford it. It is very interesting to see oneself through the eyes of different artists.

And I'd be perfectly comfortable speaking to someone in the art department of a university and asking them to refer a few great students, who will be way more willing to cooperate with your demands and who will work for peanuts.
posted by hermitosis at 10:48 AM on May 28, 2007

Hey anon-
I just so happen to be a professional photographer and will be moving to the DC area in July. I'm a photojournalist by trade, so not only does that involve shooting car accidents and courtrooms, but lots and lots and lots of portraiture- clothed and otherwise. You can check out my website in my profile if you wish. I'll be putting up a new portrait section by the end of the week.

Oh, and don't listen to squirrel. Two points to consider:
-you get what you pay for, and
-you don't want to pay someone else to do post-production if you don't know how, and everything needs to go through processing, no matter how good the light is. Especially portraiture.

Good luck
posted by TheGoldenOne at 11:08 AM on May 28, 2007

See what I mean?
posted by squirrel at 11:42 AM on May 28, 2007

If you're looking for a reputable professional photographer, I wouldn't recommend Flickr -- just because someone takes a good picture doesn't mean they'll know how to respect your particular needs. There are a ton of online forums for professional fine art photographers, which is really what you're looking for.
posted by jjg at 11:56 AM on May 28, 2007

Both the Golden One and Squirrel have a point. Most photography will have to go through post production and you are much better getting the photographer to do it.

Ownership of the photos is obviously going to be very important to you and the best thing you could do would be to make sure you have a very good contract written up giving all ownership to yourself and not allowing the photographer to use those photos for any purpose. Getting your own memory card is a good idea, but really... get someone you feel you can trust and you should be fine.

As these photos are going to be very special I would find the best photographer in the area with a strong portfolio in the style of what envisage. It may be expensive but it will be worth it.
posted by twistedonion at 12:00 PM on May 28, 2007

I like what squirrel has to say, except for this:

> Ask the photographer to shoot in PICT or TIFF

Reputable digital cameras like Canon, Nikon HP et al only shoot in JPEG or RAW. JPEG should be fine for your purposes.

If you know PhotoShop, you can do the post-processing yourself. If you don't - then *trust* the person who will do this post-processing (and in that case, shoot in RAW). The trust is needed, because they will need to transfer the images from the CF or SD card onto their computer to do that work.
posted by seawallrunner at 12:12 PM on May 28, 2007

I agree with TheGoldenOne's points. Would you hire a photographer and tell him/her to give you prints and destroy the negatives?
If you aren't going to bother with RAW files and post-production processing of your shots, don't bother with a professional photographer. Most professionals will be shooting the shots in RAW anyway. They will have to process the photos to give you TIFF or PICT files. (I _think_ the only Digital SLR to offer in-camera processing to TIFF files are the Fuji - but someone can correct me if I'm wrong. Most D-SLR offer RAW files or JPG-you don't want JPG)
The RAW files will serve as a digital negative and should you want to re-print your shots in the future and want some different processing or effects, you'll be glad you have the RAW files to work with.
The important thing, as has been mentioned, is to seek out photographers in your area who's work you are interested in. They don't necessarily need to have nudes in their portfolio either. Contact the ones you think might be able to provide the shots you are looking for and see if they will agree to letting you have exclusive rights to the finished shots and explain that you would like to keep the (digital) negatives.
Be very careful when signing any model release forms as most of these will include some provision allowing the photographer to use your shots as portfolio or gallery pieces.

Flickr is a good place to look, but you can also do searches on places like Net-Model or MuseCube. Beware of the hobbyist pros on these sites though. If you aren't able to establish their professional status, make sure you ask for references when you contact them. Actually, you should probably ask for references regardless of their status. If your husband doesn't go with you to the shoot (if they are to be a surprise for him for example), make sure you take along one of your girlfriends or someone you are not too modest with.
posted by medium format at 12:21 PM on May 28, 2007

I've never used it, but the Adobe Photographers Directory might be a good place to start looking. It has a regional search, and you can narrow down the results by specialty. Most listings have a small portfolio or a link to a web site.
posted by (parenthetic me) at 2:04 PM on May 28, 2007

I've seen three exhibits by Mara Rago at a now closed gallery in Pittsburgh. I'm not an artist, and your opinion of what's beautiful might differ from mine, but I do think that Mara has a great grasp on what makes the female form beautiful. I've given her mountain biking calendar as gifts to several people who aren't bikers, but appreciate the beauty of women.

Photos from "The Work of Women"; Photos from "Stripped"- I can't find the other ones online. FWIW, I've met Mara several times and she's a hoot, to put it lightly. I think she'd be a ball of fun to pose for, and that you'd feel sexy as all hell by the end of the shoot.
posted by librarianamy at 2:12 PM on May 28, 2007

For what it's worth, I agree that the RAW format is ideal. I suggest PICT/TIFF only because I hear you suggesting you want maximum control over the images. RAW is the far better format, but you have to know a little about digital images to work with it.

As for the "you get what you pay for" comment, it's true. And these days you can get a lot more for your money than you used to. These days, you can get absolutely stunning photos without negatives and without the "package" approach that many old school photography pros will try to sell you.

When we were shopping around for a wedding photographer, I heard several horror stories about operators who tack on hidden charges and essentially hold the prints ransom. Also, a lot of old school pros won't give up their negatives, ever. Of course, not all pros are like this, and that's way I advocate being very clear and up-front about what you want, and what you're offering.

Lots and lots of extremely talented photographers are happy to sell a few hours of their shooting expertise, even if they don't make the big money on the back end--post-production and printing--such as the old model of studio photography required. Again, good luck.
posted by squirrel at 2:14 PM on May 28, 2007

If you live anywhere near Portland, Maine I can make a recommendation. The post-production work is to make sure the color balance is good, and maybe fix some lighting. It might not be essential. If it were me, I'd want the memory card. If you are at all concerned about where nude shots of you will end up, get references. Check them. Even a totally honest person may get hacked or have cheesy staff. You can also ask for names at some photo shops.

Yes, you get what you pay for, but you may not need Ansel Adams. You need someone who has good cameras, lenses, lights, some kind of studio setup, and skill/talent. There are many good photographers. Many have websites with portfolio pictures. Find someone whose style you like.
posted by theora55 at 4:43 PM on May 28, 2007

If you live in a largish area, your city's Craigslist page may be a good place to start, in the "creative services" area. Most of work there is a "time for prints" (or new-fangled "time for CD") barter system, in which you get prints or CDs and the photographer gets license to display the photos. So, make sure that the photographer understands its "work for hire" and not "TFP" or "TFCD".

Insist on seeing a portfolio in your first communication.

I admin the B&W group on Flickr, and I see a lot of good work, so if you have further questions or want advice about potential photographers you find, feel free to contact me privately.
posted by cmiller at 7:13 PM on May 28, 2007

I think Squirrel makes some good points, but it's hard to say whether that would be a good approach for you, because it depends on whether you're comfortable doing the postproduction, and what kind of results you're looking for.

I don't think you'll have a problem finding a photographer who's willing to just "expose the film" for you (shoot on your memory cards and turn them over at the end of the shoot). You probably won't get any established pros, but there are probably plenty of people who can do what you want who'd be willing to do it for the right price. But you're going to have to be happy with whatever comes out on the card, which might be pretty rough. (However, this might be a low price to pay to absolutely guarantee your privacy.) Just makes sure they shoot JPEGs, which honestly I think should be fine for your purposes.

But if you're not interested in doing your own editing, then I think you should go with a more established photographer -- one who does it more or less as a business and is familiar with copyright issues (Yellow Pages ought to have a lot, in addition to more modern sources; skip the ones with big ads, though). Expect to pay more than their usual rate, in order to obtain the full copyright and to exclude them from any further rights to exhibit the work as part of their portfolio or for advertising, and expect some of them to flat-out refuse. Don't argue, just move on.

Basically, you want to find someone who's willing to work as a "hired gun" for a day and then forget about the whole thing. Oddly, although photographers tend to balk at such arrangements, it's more common with video -- I used to do freelance stuff, and do gigs (usually depositions, also research interviews and other odd stuff) where I'd walk in, set up my gear, record something (or sometimes just turn the gear on and walk out), and then turn over all the tapes at the end. Never bothered me any, for a hundred bucks or so a day plus tapes, mileage, and equipment rental, it was easy money. I'm sure there are some starving-artists out there with DSLRs who'd jump at similar opportunities.
posted by Kadin2048 at 9:54 PM on May 28, 2007

I've worked with Morten before. Reasonable rates and a great eye. Experienced, respectful, and fantastic at making you comfortable.
posted by whitneykitty at 10:48 PM on May 28, 2007

I have a friend in DC who is a very good, nice, kind, reputable photographer, who I know does nudes as well. His name is Michael Woodward. He also has a Flickr page where you can see him... I think he even looks trustworthy. Check his sets.

While not nudes, he took some of my favorite photos of me and my wife.
posted by terrapin at 6:53 PM on May 29, 2007

Follow-up from the OP.

I'm fortunate enough that someone else has agreed to post a comment for me
under their own name because even though I'm thinking of having nude
portraits done, I'm still pretty shy about it (soccer mom + nude artistic
photos don't seem to go together and I'd hate if someone identifies me and
we have to talk about it over Chablis at some backyard BBQ; well, just
Chablis in general at a backyard BBQ sort of horrifies me).

But, more to the point, I really appreciate all the extremely helpful
information people have provided. I can completely understand why someone
whose livelihood depends on taking photos and approaches it this medium as
an artist would want to include a great pic they took in their portfolio -
regardless of my personal squeamishness.

Having said that and having looked at some of the work linked in other
people's responses, I retract my original paranoia about having my picture
displayed on the condition I wouldn't mind IF my face was not in the shot.
And, upon pondering it more, I've realized that the pictures I envision
probably wouldn't have my face in the shot, at least not in a clearly
identifiable way. Several people pointed me to some really nice work of
individual photographers but the one person who really hit the nail on the
head was librarianamy who recommended Mara Rago. I do NOT have the
physiques depicted in her work but the fact that, in my opinion, she focuses
on the body as art form comes closes to what I envision my own photos
looking like. Someone else mentioned Ansel Adams and when I picture his
black and white sand dunes, I realize that's what I want my own photos to
look like. For example, complete darkness in the background with me lying
on my side with a photo running from the curvature of my hip to my breast
and shoulder. While I absolutely Ms. Rago's photos, she doesn't live in DC
or especially close to DC and I although I don't know her prices, I'm
betting I can't afford her.

So, I'm amending my original question slightly. Where would I find someone
who does these kind of artistic nude photos. Several people recommended
Flickr and I don't mind using that as a starting point but isn't there some
sort of professional photo guild (like doctors or lawyers have) where all
photographers register and display some images from their portfolio that
would give a person an inkling of their style? Is this merely a pipe dream
of mine? Oh, and one more thing, I do not have the skill do the
post-production so I would have to rely on the photographer for this as
well. However, being an attorney, I could probably devise a pretty good
contract that would allow the photographer to use only the pictures I okay'd
or that didn't identify my face in his/her portfolio. And yes, I know, that
still leaves me open to nefarious post-production people but you can't
control everything in life and I can give up control on that aspect.

Finally, librarianamy, if you have an "in" with Maro Rago and she doesn't
mind working with more flabby-types, hook me up!

THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE!
posted by jessamyn at 9:23 PM on May 29, 2007