Part 6 The Course

Firstly let me apologise to you all for the loooong wait for part 6. Work and commitments now mean time for writing is precious, but as always enjoyable.

So let's begin. Part 6 is the first of the 2 final chapters aimed mainly at those of you who want to be professional. I use professional meaning, earning an income from your pictures. And if you want to earn an income then you will need to spend some money out. If you have been a regular reader of my articles then you will know how I prefer outside lighting to using a studio. Yet, especially here in the UK you cannot always rely on the weather. So if you intend to use a studio regularly it really needs to be professional and have props and sets you can use.

Selling glamour pictures is not about how much kit the model gets off, but about the ambience the photographer sets with his pictures. There are many different ways you can sell work.

Internet sets. These are usually a set of 70 to 100 pictures of a model from fully clothed through to totally naked and usually showing everything plus. It really doesn't pay that well as a set generally pays around £100.00. Sometimes the best that's on offer is 50p per picture. Obviously having a fetish, or a theme that is unusual can earn you a far better pay day, however you do really need to understand the fetish inside out.

With the above sort of work it is really about how much kit the model removes and how far she goes.

A good Intermediate photographer can earn as above so this article is going to concentrate on the higher end of the market.

All the above pictures are fully clothed as you can see, but each is a very sexy little picture in it's own right.

The ideal situation is to sell a single picture for say £300.00. Logic will tell you that you could produce 4 saleable pictures with one model on a single shoot. To produce a single saleable picture needs time, patience and something a tad special. The picture needs to appeal to a general audience and at the same time say something about itself. Preperation is above all the most imporant item you will need to learn. The model is going to cost. The setting will probably cost and there is your time. It has to be worth your while after all. Add to that processing and print costs and it soon adds up.

All the above pictures are great and would look fantastic in anyones portfolio. As an image buyer though what would any of these pictures say to me? Maybe number 3 could be popped into a calendar and number 4 into an art nude coffee table book. Other than that they are not going to earn as single pictures. There really needs to be a story there. Of course great standard glamour will always sell and buyers will be keen, but they do need to stand out from yhr crowd.

All the above pictures have something a little special and fall into the saleable single image catergory. The first is a beautiful model with a mermaids tail that adds a little double take to the image. The back ground lighting on the second and the form created by lighting on number 2 makes this an interesting shot. In number 3 the model is found in a state of undress and looks defiantly at the viewer. Finally number 4 is voyeuristic in so much as the viewer has caught the model apperantly unaware as she undresses. Remember what you are selling is fantasy. A picture that hangs on the wall for a month at a time needs to entice and titilate the viewers imaginination. 1 3 and 4 all do this to some degree.

I like to create something even a little more different. Once you have ideas you will be surprised how quickly they start to multiply.

There is the obvious shot that places a model in a situation that you wouldn't expect. It allows the viewer to think, " Cor I should be so lucky as to find her there."

The 2 pictures above, capture that sort of feeling described.

For ideas the best place to look is in old photo books. Take the old ideas and modernise them and make them 21st century, but keep the visual ideas alive.

Below are some from the 1940's, dated now of course, but could be turned into excellent modern pictures.

So here are some ideas and now it's up to you to put something together. Until next month good bye for now.

©Paul Tyler 2003 4 GP Online.

©Glamour Photo OnLine 2003