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Stick figures vs. curves
Here's the question of the day: Why is it I hear all the time that most people, both men and professional photographers alike prefer a woman with curves to a really skinny woman yet when it comes to hiring someone like me with curves I'm not wanted, they always wind up going with the waify girls? Why is this? Makes me assume that everyone is a liar, geez, I understand this industry well enough to know that thin apparently is beautiful, and any amount of meat that isn't ALL muscle is apparently grotesque. Why is this? Can someone explain? I guess I just feel that I am NOT fat or overweight by any means, but what's wrong with curves? Why will the chik with a washboard stomache, no hips, and often no breasts get a job over me? Sep 14 06 09:42 pm Link Maybe it has to do more with your tattoo than your weight. Just an idea... it's not always about curves vs beanpoles! Height might be a factor, though. Or, maybe they're just looking for the "usual" model look. I'd guess that not a lot of photographers even know how to shoot plus-sized (not trying to offend.. you are pretty, and your waistline is nice). Designers don't really design for plus sizes, either.. so it kinda depends on what genre you're trying to do. But there are several photographers on MM here who do amazing work with some beautiful curvy models. And there are several beautiful plus-sized models as well. Perhaps you could find them and check them out, see what sort of stuff they do. You do have some high quality images, but it could also be about experience. Make sure you practice poses that are most flattering to your body.  Sep 14 06 09:56 pm Link Well I doubt it's the tattoo thing since those that do hire me are more than happy that I have ink. Most of the "types" I shoot fall under the alternative or gothy category anyway. I can see your point with flattering pix and what not, it doesn't help that I got stiffed on my photos from my last shoot which, from the handful I saw before I left the shoot were fantastic and very flattering! Argh! Sep 14 06 09:59 pm Link I may have the washboard abs but I got ass for days, and I hear you trust ME my waist may be tiny but the hips and ass cud never fit in a size 2 or 4. So that throws me out of the glamour catagory .... I guess you just gotta stick to what fits you. So I stick with the King and FHM and Smooth kinda stuff. You just gotta find your place and say "F everyone else who thinks different" Shoot thats what I do. I wish you luck mama' And thick is in haha :0) Sep 14 06 10:02 pm Link Anicia Shali wrote: Ass is important. Just make sure that you keep that ass. Sep 14 06 10:39 pm Link Personally, I find curvey women more attractive. Especially ethinic women. Don't get me wrong, slim women are attractive too. slim is what the fashion industry is looking for. For me, from a photography point of view, it just depends on what I'm trying to do or looking for. Sep 14 06 10:42 pm Link Anicia Shali wrote: Your ass doesn't look that big to me! Sep 14 06 10:45 pm Link Anicia Shali wrote: ??? Sep 14 06 10:46 pm Link e-string wrote: Well it depends on how you view big. If you mean wide, then no. But if you mean someone with some backside that sticks out,, then yes she does. No she doesn't have the biggest ass out there. I've seen many ethnic women her size and height with alot more, but she doesn't have the chalkboard look. Sep 14 06 10:50 pm Link RedheadRobyn wrote: You have a perfect figure. I don't think any photographer would pass up shooting with you because of that. RedheadRobyn wrote: The term "stick figure" also kind of offends me. Sep 14 06 10:56 pm Link Wynd Mulysa wrote: And why are u so insecure? The statement wasn't directed towards you when she said that. If you go around the forum you'll see that term being used and alot worse to indentify skinny women. Sep 14 06 11:00 pm Link Legacys 7 wrote: I didn't say that her usage of the term offended me more than anyone else's. Sep 14 06 11:04 pm Link LOL I love how my ass became the new Topic hahaha Silly and no chalk board booty here. But like I said do what fits you .... Sep 14 06 11:07 pm Link i have a really small butt. Sep 14 06 11:13 pm Link Anicia Shali wrote: I agree with Anicia, there's a market out there for all of us, but it may not always be the market we'd hoped for. Just like I'll never be on the runway Sep 14 06 11:14 pm Link Well, the OP said she does mostly alt. / goth modeling. There is no standard body type for that. She looks good, so I don't think it's a problem. Sep 14 06 11:16 pm Link i think you have a great body , and look ... we're somewhat close as well ... if you want to shoot ... let me know Sep 14 06 11:20 pm Link RedheadRobyn wrote: Well, I'll assume that usually when a photographer is shooting 'curvy' woman, there still are standards that the model should meet. Naturally some girls are larger, and there is NO problem with that. That's why there is plus sized modeling. If you look at plus sized models though...they are in better shape than alot of the 'skinny' model types. They are healthy but naturally larger. So ask yourself this.... Sep 14 06 11:25 pm Link Wynd Mulysa wrote: No we aren't close friends. I don't know the woman. Buit I understood her point. It's a topic that gets disgust on here often. Sep 14 06 11:46 pm Link Legacys 7 wrote: Are you really arguing with me about whether or not calling a thin person a "stick figure" should be offensive? Sep 14 06 11:52 pm Link If I have a shoot that is fashion oriented I have to use a fashion model; that means skinny girl with the body of a 12-year-old. If I am shooting glamour or anything else along those lines, then I choose my models and I choose them very curvy and enjoy the shoot a lot more because I have the type fo woman I like in front of my lens. Sep 14 06 11:57 pm Link Why can't we all be happy with the bodies we have and choose the kind of modeling that is in line with our bodies natural structure rather than worry about all this other crap. I am too old fat and short to be a fashion model, but I love to get naked. As an art model, I find myself doing very well. Sep 15 06 12:31 am Link The trick (it seems) is all about EXPOSURE. It's tough to break into this biz and even tougher to stay on top. So when you get a chance, TAKE IT!!! Sep 15 06 12:41 am Link Instead of being let down by rejection you should be spurred on by it. I'd spend my entire life crying in the corner by candlelight if I let every 'no' I got get me down. (OK, so I have a sob every now and then... I'm only human  ) Own your look. Concentrate on what works and go for it. Confidence and strength show in pictures - just look at Shyly's port. It's absolutely amazing. Sep 15 06 02:36 am Link I agree with what some posters here said. Your port isn't all that flattering. Better pics=more work considering the industry that you're built for and trying to be in. Snap shots and polaroids work great for high fashion models getting in an agency, but for an alternative/glam/goth model such as yourself, a strong port will yield you more serious offers. Sep 15 06 02:45 am Link Wynd Mulysa wrote: RedheadRobyn wrote: You have a perfect figure. I don't think any photographer would pass up shooting with you because of that. Listen to the woman. She also speaks the truth. Sep 15 06 02:48 am Link Most of my paying clients specifically say "it doesn't matter, as long as she's toned or in shape", some of the less PC clients simply say "as long as they aren't too fat". Fair, no. Right, maybe not. But when it comes to getting paid, I've been known to pretty much go with what the client asks for. In the markets you mentioned "alternative and goth" you will probably not find as many jobs that actually pay compared to standard glamour and commercial stuff. Edit: I just realized that people may have misconstrued what I wrote hear. I'm not calling anyone fat, but if my client says "not fat" I'll be looking for skinny minny so that they don't show displeasure at my work. Sep 15 06 10:09 am Link I like stick figures that have SOME curves!  Sep 15 06 10:36 am Link RedheadRobyn wrote: Because for a fashion job, the photographer has to please his CLIENT, not himself. What men prefer is not relevant in a fashion shoot because men are not the target audience. It might seem logical that women dress to be attractive to men but look at what really happens. When a woman asks for a man's advice, she NEVER follows it, looks very closely at what other women are wearing and dresses to compete for the approval of OTHER WOMEN. To an extent, men are like that, too. Few of us would let a woman completely make us over. We often dress to attract not just the sexual attention of women but also to win confidence from people or express power, for example, choosing a solid, burgundy tie over the floral one a girlfriend may have chosen. Sep 15 06 10:54 am Link DigitalCMH wrote: lol Sep 15 06 10:58 am Link DigitalCMH wrote: LOL. Why is the MUA's head on fire? Sep 15 06 11:34 am Link You take paid assignments only, AND you want a "data disc of all original images"? Most TFCD models don't even get that. You're asking a lot, and plenty of people who might work with you under other circumstances are going to take one look at your profile and move on. You might consider that you're essentially pricing yourself out of whatever market you might otherwise be working in. You actually have an outstanding figure for art nudes, and I think if you concentrated on building a portfolio of stellar work in that vein you might get paid more often. (Check out people like Model Sarah and Lapis and MandyK for an idea of what I mean by a portfolio of stellar artwork.) Then again, there's not much money to be made from artists, so you might not. In my experience, though, art photographers are the most openminded bunch of people on the planet, generally speaking. If they'll photograph me they will certainly photograph you, with your killer proportions. You've just got to rethink your approach. Oh! And try any colleges that have art classes in your area. Art modeling for a school pays decently. (Not amazingly, but decently.) They love fuller figured models with a passion, and you might end up getting solo gigs from it. Never underestimate the power of the word of mouth recommendation. Good luck! Sep 15 06 11:35 am Link Envy wrote: Of course!! can't you tell my style? This is a behind the scenes look at one of my popular beach sessions Sep 15 06 12:08 pm Link Melissa Lynnette wrote: Those are streaks silly! Sep 15 06 12:08 pm Link The other posters are right. You only want paid work, you want all the images...and your portfolio isn't professional quality shots. You have a lot of very amateur-ish shots up there. If you were twig thin and had shots of that quality and were demanding that much you wouldn't get work either. It's not about weight...it's about impact...and according to your photos, you can't make much of one. Maybe you're capable of being an incredible model...but your photos don't show that...so no one's going to shell out money to take pictures of you when they can get someone with a better portfolio for free. Sep 15 06 12:16 pm Link DigitalCMH wrote: Yeah yeah sure. If you say so. Sep 15 06 12:28 pm Link Melissa Lynnette wrote: As the artist of the piece in question, it is whatever I say it is. Do not try to disparage my work just because you're jealous of my obvious talents with Photoshop and a mouse. Sep 15 06 01:06 pm Link I wouldn't work with you, because you want money AND all the images. I never give a model all the images, unless she's paying me - a LOT. Sep 15 06 09:42 pm Link Robyn--tattoos aside, you have the body type I prefer for artistic work. I've done some shoots with thinner/flatter models, and there were one or two shoots I wished they were "fuller" because the end shot didn't quite turn out as well as it could have (due to lack of body definition). Sep 15 06 10:49 pm Link I prefer stick figures because they're easier to draw. Sep 15 06 10:53 pm Link |
