I have published many photos and stories and written books. My photos have been in photo exhibits on the East Coast. Everything is copyrighted, but you can pass this story along for personal reference and use. I just wondered if anyone would be interested in reading what the models thought of their photo experiences as related and seen through their eyes. If you like this story then others will follow. YOU BE THE JUDGE!!!
Hi, my name is Ali. I was asked to relate my experience as a model to a very unique photographer. I know for a fact that, if I live to be 100, I will never forget the few times I was modeling as I experienced the greatest peacefulness, pleasure and passion I will probably ever experience in my entire life.
It all started when I was walking through a collectible show. A collectible show, of all places, to be the beginning of a strange new adventure that would change, forever. my outlook on life. I saw a sign seeking models. I have seen this kind of thing before where guys are just trying to pick up girls. ( Am I right girls? There are all kinds of nuts out here.) Well, it got my attention so I went over to see the sample photos he had on display. These were not standard studio shots taken by amateurs. Most were taken outside in real picturesque settings. There were waterfalls, water wheels, and other truly beautiful backgrounds you never see in a studio or even in most fashion magazines. His inside photos were not the usual standard studio shots either. The background was solid and extreme. If it was black, it was pitch black. If it was white, it was pure white. The poses were natural. There was nothing artificial. You could immediately see these were not a 5 minute special, but that these poses took a lot of time and planning. The models were so natural, so relaxed and yes, even exotic. I have never seen such a display of truly unique photos anywhere before.
Well, I had always wondered what it would be like modeling. Every girl dreams of modeling, but to most it is only a dream. Here I was standing in front of a very ordinary guy who was looking for models to start a new portfolio. He asked if I was interested and said that I would earn some dollars and free photos. Well, as I said, I always wondered what it would be like modeling, I really could use some extra dollars and, if this was a sample of his work, I could not get photos like these for $1,000!!
Again, I was surprised by his next statement. Photography and seeking models is usually a pick-up line. Girls, how many times have you been asked to model by guys who had only one thing on their mind. This guy was different. I had expected a quick, meet me here and lets get started. Was I ever surprised. He said I had to go to a interview!!
I had to go to a interview! I was bewildered. I do not think I have super model body, but I am no dog either!! But the more I thought about it and the more I looked at the pictures on display, I could see these models were not just anyone who walked by and wanted to model. I agreed to an interview.
We met in a restaurant where he bought my meal. He said this was a neutral ground and that he did not want anything to be interpreted as A ONE NIGHT STAND. He wanted only serious girls who truly wanted to model. This in itself was refreshing. I was a little nervous going to this interview, but as he pointed out, it was on neutral ground and I could leave anytime I felt uncomfortable. He asked the usual age, address, height, weight etc. questions, yet he did not ask for my measurements. He said that was not important at this time. Girls, is this not what you would expect going to be a model? Your measurements! Yet, as I have said before, this was not even remotely what I had envisioned from a person set up at a collectible show! He was every way - the professional.
After we got done with the normal questions and he showed me his portfolio, he began to ask about outfits that I had that I could model in. He said I would be more relaxed in my own outfits. I had to describe various dresses, skirts, pants and other outfits. We all have a ton of clothes in our closet, yet have you ever been asked to describe them in detail? It took quite a while for me to come up with only 10 outfits he thought would be right for a photo session. He said most people really do not know what to wear when they go have pictures taken. The outfits were nothing unusual, but they had to be something that would work for what he had in mind. He then asked me to describe two bathing suit outfits, preferably bikinis. He said personally he did not really care for bathing suit shots, but that he needed them for reference!
His next question really took me by surprise, yet I should have expected it. He asked me to describe 5 lingerie outfits! Girls, have you ever tried to describe, in detail, your most intimate apparel to a total stranger! We buy our lingerie mostly for ourselves and the one we care the most to show off for. Now this total stranger wanted me to describe 5 outfits in detail! Yet, I should not have been surprised by this question because the photos that most intrigued me WERE GIRLS WEARING LINGERIE!! They were in the woods, in tall grass, on trees, but always wearing lingerie! As I said, many of his photos were truly exotic, yet very classy. To see what most of us girls wear only at night, photographed in the outdoors was eye catching, yet none of his photos were offensive, just very, very SEXY!.
Now this part of the interview was starting to get me excited. Girls, you know what I mean. I started to describe my lingerie outfits. The more I describe them, the more excited I was beginning to feel. The more excited I was feeling, the more detail I was telling him on how they fit, how revealing they were and well you know how carried away us girls can get talking about sexy outfits to other girls. Well, here I was talking to a total guy stranger about my most sexy and revealing outfits as if he was my best girl friend.! Believe me, things were starting to get very uncomfortable, yet we were in a restaurant and here I was started to get really excited. Well, the interview ended with the sexy outfits and he said that if I was still interested I had to call him. Here again, it was my move. He was more interested in really serious models than he was in getting my phone number. Here I was concerned about going to this interview and finding he only wanted my body, now he was leaving and I was in a state of excitement I seldom get on a date!! I really had to go home and do something about my excited state. Girls you know what I mean!!
Well, I called several times and left messages. After I convinced myself he no longer was interested, he called back saying he wanted an inside shoot and to bring various outfits including my lingerie. Just his phone call was starting to excite me all over again. Here was a guy that was turning me on without the slightest indication he was interested in me, but was bringing out feelings even my boyfriends could not compare to!
I went to his studio, if you could call it that. I had expected lots of photo drop paper, lots of lighting, lots of camera. He had none of this!! The walls were different colors. The black was pitch black. The white was the purest white I have ever seen. The pastels were shades I have never seen before. He said " Do not question that which you do not understand. I do not need it. You have seen the photos. Just watch what happens."
He had me posing in jeans, in skirt outfits, and in dresses, yet he never used extra lighting!! I have never seen the background he used, yet he seemed to know what he was doing. He said this background was taught to him by an old photographer and few professional people knew what he used to give extreme background contrast. I was posing in very natural poses. The more I posed the more relaxed I became. He was constantly complimenting me. Girls, you know how nice it feels to be complimented occasionally. Here was a guy giving complement after complement. These were not pat phrases either. Why he even asked "where I got those beautiful Texas eyes?" How did he know I was born in Texas?
Well, as you might imagine, the constant posing, the complements and the extreme one on one personal Attention was starting to get to me! I was getting more excited with each change of outfits. The poses were getting more teasing, yet never trashy! One rule" NEVER WEAR A BRA!" Talk about starting out in a sexy way. Try wearing a button down shirt with jeans and he says only use 3 buttons. He never once asked me to do anything I felt uncomfortable with, but I will tell you, it was really getting to the point I was getting really uncomfortable wearing any outfits! Girls, you can probably relate to this. Yet how do I tell him what I really want!! We then went to the swim suits. Here again, I started to get even more excited with showing even more. Then he said, Now lets try the lingerie!