Olesja Mueller wrote:
My 2 cents - learn to confront bright light without squinting:) At the recent beach shoot I had the model pose with her eyes closed, and open them only when I say, otherwise she was squinting horribly, and ruining my shots:))) So many wear sunglasses all the time, I really think they should look at the light more:)
It will also help the model, not to pose blindfolded:))

I tend to blast my poor models with a reflector of nice, harsh, Los Angeles sunshine. You want models who won't squint? Have them shoot with me a few times first. By the time I'm done with them, they'll have no problem keeping their eyes open.

lavive wrote:
o    Keep jewelry to a minimum- The same necklace in different shots and different outfits detracts from the impact of all of those images.
 
o    Wear solid colors - Avoid clothes that are covered with patterns and prints.
 
o    Make sure the clothes fit - Swimsuits, for example, should be snug, with no gaps showing when they move. They also shouldn’t be too tight.
 
o    Vary your hair style - When trying to create a variety of looks, short hair can present a challenge. For variety, try a wig. Don’t forget hats-- except for cowboy hats, which are way overdone. Hats can change the look of a model’s portfolio photos, too; look for fun and interesting hats in thrift and discount stores.
 
o    Makeup - Vary your makeup and color when changing hairstyles or outfits. This makes each portfolio image look truly different.
 
o    Footwear - Wearing the right shoes can make as much a difference as the right makeup. Ask a model to bring along at least one pair of shoes with the highest heels they have--or can borrow. It changes the way they stand and gives them a bit of height that all but the tallest models can use.


 
•    Posing Tips
o    Do not hold your breath  -  during a photo session for a pose. The concentration usually shows in the picture.
 
o    Hold in your stomach - to give a more toned appearance to the abdomen (even if you are in great shape).

o    Maintain a good posture - Most people, including models, do not have very good posture. Unless you're going for a casual look, keep your back straight and your shoulders up.
 
o    Strike a pose - Don't keep both arms entirely straight unless directed to do so for a specific pose. Bend one or both arms, even if only a little, to make the pose look less artificial. Likewise, don't keep both legs entirely straight.
 
o    Don't always look straight at the camera -  Instead, use a variety of head and eye positions: Try turning your head, tilting your neck to one side or the other, or looking off to the side for some poses.
 
o    Don't use a big smile for every pose  -  Sometimes try a small smile, a pout, a laugh, a scowl, or even a frown, to give some variety to your facial expressions.
 
o    Listen to what the photographer tells you  -  He can see you through the camera. You can't.

excellent advice.. i agree. a lot of times, i look slightly above his head or over his shoulders

Brandy Love wrote:

excellent advice..

Thanks   BTW, I love your photos, you look amazing

Olesja Mueller wrote:
My 2 cents - learn to confront bright light without squinting:) At the recent beach shoot I had the model pose with her eyes closed, and open them only when I say, otherwise she was squinting horribly, and ruining my shots:))) So many wear sunglasses all the time, I really think they should look at the light more:)
It will also help the model, not to pose blindfolded:))

I hope MM community will support this, I really want to hear everyone's opinion.


Olesja

Slight problem. Light eyed people can't adapt and direct glare from silver/gold reflectors will even make dark eyed models squint. I've had models that try to be superwoman or superman and not squint, feather the reflector and give them breaks to rest their eyes.

Also if light eyed people don't wear sunglasses, they are prone to get cataracts. However, if you want to start putting money into a cataract fund for models, we'll accept donations. Advice to photographers - don't pontificate unless you understand the model's problems.

Lora wrote:
I have fairly light eyes, too. I can tell you that as many times as I've tried not to squint, looking right into the sun is VERY painful!

If you're working with someone that wants you to do that, dont lol...not worth the long term effects

Fotticelli wrote:
Advice to models: learn which one is your right and which one is your left side. Practice before the shoot.

Or work with me as I have not mastered the whole left right thing in 35+ years.

NewBoldPhoto wrote:

Or work with me as I have not mastered the whole left right thing in 35+ years.

I usually am looking upside down and reversed and can guarantee on any given shoot that I tell someone to move left when I mean right... I end up pointing one way or the other with my head down, and this doesn't work either---damn optics

Olesja Mueller wrote:
Dear fellow photogs:) What practical advice would you give models, to make your collaboration easier and more pleasant experience?

My 2 cents - learn to confront bright light without squinting:) At the recent beach shoot I had the model pose with her eyes closed, and open them only when I say, otherwise she was squinting horribly, and ruining my shots:))) So many wear sunglasses all the time, I really think they should look at the light more:)
It will also help the model, not to pose blindfolded:))

Now, dear models - what practical advice would you give photogs to make your experience more pleasant and that would help the shoot?

I hope MM community will support this, I really want to hear everyone's opinion.


Olesja

Sunglasses protect you from glare, Eyestrain, Cataracts, Macular degeneration, Pterygium: Membranes that grow over the cornea, lots and lots of those here in SoCal. Far more than I saw at The Cornell Medical College in New York, maybe 20 times as frequent. It's very common with Sailors and Surfers. People who don't wear sunglasses are asking for huge troubles later in life, often as early as their 40's and 50's. Many of my patients with Pterygium are as young as their mid 20's

Abnormal corneal vascularization with clouding of the cornea.

Olesja Mueller wrote:
learn to confront bright light without squinting:) At the recent beach shoot I had the model pose with her eyes closed, and open them only when I say

E|||B wrote:
I tend to blast my poor models with a reflector of nice, harsh, Los Angeles sunshine

man! gotta disagree with both of you! why don't you make it a little easier for the model to do his/her job? use a scrim & subtract light, thereby making a squint-free set? we as photographers wouldn't wanna have to deal with the flare of having a direct light source come blazing into our cameras, right? goes both ways ...

FML

Olesja Mueller wrote:
Dear fellow photogs:) What practical advice would you give models, to make your collaboration easier and more pleasant experience?

My 2 cents - learn to confront bright light without squinting:) At the recent beach shoot I had the model pose with her eyes closed, and open them only when I say, otherwise she was squinting horribly, and ruining my shots:))) So many wear sunglasses all the time, I really think they should look at the light more:)
It will also help the model, not to pose blindfolded:))

Now, dear models - what practical advice would you give photogs to make your experience more pleasant and that would help the shoot?

I hope MM community will support this, I really want to hear everyone's opinion.


Olesja

Are you serious?  I have never really worn sunglasses and that doesn't change the fact that it hurts my retinas if I stare into the sun.  Or anywhere near the sun in a bright sky.  Of course you want your models to look into the sun because their faces will have the perfect light on them, but the best way to do that is exactly what you described:  Have the model close her eyes until you tell her to open them and then take a photo.

On that note, my advice to photographers is to not be so insensitive!  Haha.

I also would like to let you guys know not to worry about thinking you're bad at giving direction.  Every so often, I like it when a photographer doesn't tell me exaaactly how to pose.  I can do my own thing and it might even impress you.  .

Leonard Gee Photography wrote:

Slight problem. Light eyed people can't adapt and direct glare from silver/gold reflectors will even make dark eyed models squint. I've had models that try to be superwoman or superman and not squint, feather the reflector and give them breaks to rest their eyes.

Also if light eyed people don't wear sunglasses, they are prone to get cataracts. However, if you want to start putting money into a cataract fund for models, we'll accept donations. Advice to photographers - don't pontificate unless you understand the model's problems.

a yeah, dont pontificate like this guy. And shoot with me.