Photoshoots for Websites

Why we have photoshoots:

Investment in business: I am of the school of thought that one must invest in business in order to do well. Investing means taking the time to do a photoshoot and can mean a serious cash layout if you get shots professionaly done. Before you decide how much to spend on a photoshoot, do the math and work out how much you want to invest back into your business. Sometimes a few home made digital photo's can be a wiser idea than investing thousands into a professional shoot and it literally costs THOUSANDS.

Refresh the image: how best to describe this would probably be in terms of porn collections. Guys will have multiple DVDs or puter things with porn on it. Boys start out with one porn movie, thrash it to death and then after 3 - 6 months or so they purchase another porn movie. They continue to watch and love the old porn movie, but really really enjoy the new porn movie. In reality all porn is the same, but there is always a need to buy new porn to love. Pics are the same. You keep the old ones because guys will have their old favourites, but you need to get new ones to remind people how glorious you are when they are desenstised to your old porn pics.

  First ever picture I had taken     Updated now to look like this a few years later
                                                                                               (a little more sophisticated and sexy to match my personality and
                                                                                                  service which as changed as time has passed by - more accurately
                                                                                                   reflects my current image and service)

Altar your image: I am doing my photoshoot this time to show the lovely, less scarey side on myself. Yes I can be sweet (HA!). My photo's at the moment are very edgey or have a sharp edge to them which is just a little side of myself. I have decided I want lovelier, friendly kind of pictures. So I suppose you have different types of photos to give people a complete picture of who you are. It's all about balance. A girl dressed in latex is not going to get many offers for dinner bookings, so if you want to go for the market in dinner bookings, it means you must have appropriate feminine girlfriend type of images taken.

  scary devious market .... changed to...... lovely GFE market  

Promotion: we may get new pics taken if we want to promote a special service we are offering. I had a whole bunch of photo's taken when I went thru a latex phase of my life and wanted to have more kinky, devious sex. All the pics taken were of me wearing latex. You may also find a new doubles partner and want to promote doubles so have some pictures taken together, or it may be Easter time and you want to have some pics taken in a PlayBoy Bunny outfit to run an Easter Special.

latex promotion for Lucy

Change markets: if we want to completely change who you see you may need to take new pics. So If you're going to have a price rise from $200 up to $800 an hour, you would probably need glamour professional photo's taken. Men at that end of the market demand a certain style of photo and it makes a dramatic impact announcing your arrival. To men paying $100 - $200 an hour they arent as fussed about someone paying $3000 upwards on photo's.

  $200 market home made self taken pic for Lucy      $400+ market glamour shot

To keep existing clients happy: men like it when a woman puts in a bit of effort. A photoshoot is like buying a new set of lingerie, dress or pair of stilletoes to be bonked in by your partner. All men like it when their girlfriend goes out, buys something new and then bends over to be bonked in it. It's called 'making an effort'. I like that about men; It's honest, it's appreciative and its sweet.

Deciding on a photographer

This is an issue! When I was trying to find someone to take photo's for me I called over 30 photographers until I found one who would work with someone from the sex industry. I have had photoshoots done with 4 different photographers now and all but 1 has ripped me off. When you get ripped off with pics it is a HUGE deal. Not only does it mean you can generally kiss at least $1k away, but it takes a huge amount of time to get ready for one and they are very tiring.

The style of photography you want must be taken into consideration. Some photographers take studio type shots as is in my current pictures, some photographers do more laid back photography, some do glamour and some will do Earthy shots. If you decide to have glamour shots taken, you need to be sure you can back it up when the front door opens. If you want to offer a more laid back service and not appear in a full face of makeup, manicured/pedicured with a $500 dress on, then glamour shots may not be the way to go for you. Many people will judge glamour shot ladies a little harsher and be on the look out for false advertising, so you need to be sure you can back it up. THe look and feel of your photos will dictate the type of service you provide, the type of environment you will be entertaining in and how you will look when they front door is opened. Your style of photos should reflect the look and feel of yourself and your 'service'

I'd always only work with a photographer who has worked with people in the sex industry. They have a good working knowledge of the type of pics we need, the poses we will want and don't ask stupid questions. As always working with a professional who is an expert in your field is only ever going to help.

Finding a photographer

The problems associate with this are HUGE. Not only do you have the issue of finding one who will work with you because your a sex worker but other problems we have are:

copyright: finding a photographer who will assign you copyright/publishing approval so you can put them on the internet

ladies can be unhelpful: I have asked many ladies to give me the names of their photographers and they generally refuse. They dont want to help the competition. Politics within the industry are quite foul as well. For example I am now unable to use my old photographer as other people who use his service have threatened him with legal action or refuse to use him again if he takes pics of me again - once again a competition issue. If you pick the right photographer however, this does not have to be a major issue. It's about finding a photographer who doesn't buy into politics and one who knows the legal and ethical issues involved with taking photographs

appropriate skill level: finding a photographer who can actually take a picture can be a drama. You'd be suprised how many photographers cant take pictures. THe time it takes to do a photoshoot can also be a drama. Some photographers take 12 hours to do a single shoot which is a nightmare. Photoshopping skills are also something you must take into consideration. Can a photographer shop your pics enough (aaah shock horror we shop our pics hahaa) to take away any identifying freckle so your mother doesnt catch you and blur your face, without making you look like someone completely different?

Turn around time: how quickly you need the pictures must be considered. A photographer who says they can have the pics ready for you in a month, if you need them in 2 weeks is not ok. If you're needing to tour to Qld in a month and need to submit your pics to the PLA for approval (takes weeks) so you can put them up, a quicker turn around time is vital.

do they have a hair and makeup artist on site or one who will travel with you? If not by the time you go to the hairdresser, get professional make up done and get to the photoshoot, chances are your hair has fallen out and makeup faded off. Finding a photographer who has a hair and makeup artist on site also means you are able to achieve different looks in one shoot which can be important.

Things to consider when taking pics

what style of picture do you want? whats the look and feel your after?

who is your target market

do you need to buy clothing and lingerie for shoot

if doing a location shoot, where is the location? if your going to be working in a house at Dural it wont be a good idea to take pics in a unit overlooking the Harbour. Guys will get annoyed because your selling the Harbour view as well as yourself in the pics. Can you get
permission to use the location? If you dont have permission to use a hotel room and you do - BIG TROUBLE! If you tell them your using the room for a commercial shoot (which you are), they will charge you the normal room rate then a commercial loading on top. Commercial loading can be anywhere from 3 - 6k. So if taking pics without permission do it during the day so the flash isn't seen going off and be very careful.

whats your concept/ theme? What exactly are you tyring to promote?

do you have all the clothes and accessories you will need for a shoot? I always take at least 10 changes of clothes with me and end up using 2 or 3. You'll find different things work on the day and will suit certain locations and photographers. For example, my latex would not suit a suite in the Observatory Hotel as the hotel is decorated like your Great Great Grandmas bedroom was.

do you have the time and money? they take forever and cost a fortune for a professional shoot. There are lots of hidden costs like manicure/pedicure, clothing, lingerie, accessories, hair, makeup, taxis, renting location, room service, blaaaah blaaaaah. To give you an idea, tomorrow I will have to write entire day and night off. At 10am I will have a manicure/pedicure - $80, 12.15pm hair - $120, 2pm makeup - $95, 3pm taxi home to pick up suitcase - $15, 3.30pm leave for hotel in taxi - $25, 4pm get to hotel and pay for room - $600, shoot 4pm - whenever $1200, taxi home $25. Add on cost of room service. Im lucky in that I dont have to buy anything new beyond maybe one or two sets of lingerie probably at $600 a set and the photographer is giving me a brilliant rate. Total: around $3000. Shite I should never have added that up :(

do you want your face in the picture? In Australia it is a rare girl who puts her face in her pictures. Overseas in the UK and US, nearly every girl has full face shots, but it is just not the norm here. Guys here seem to value discretion for you and themselves. Think VERY carefully on this point before you show your face in a picture. It is a fundamental marketing decision that will impact many aspects of your business.

Things you NEED to ask a photographer and get straight answers for (preferably in writing)

When hunting for a photographer, you need to have a conversation with them and bring it down to very basic language and terms. I am pricing a photographer now and I was referred to one by a friend because of his price. We went along to visit him and I asked him very basic questions that needed one word responses. He was unwilling to give me the answers in front of her because he is going to try to make me pay more and rort me. With photographers EVERYTHING is negotiable and to negotiate you need the basic information such as...

1. how much are you going to charge me per photo prior to photoshopping?

2. how much are you going to charge me per photo to have it photoshopped?

3. so if it's $150 per photo to buy unshopped, and then you charge $50 per photo to have it photoshopped, that means you are charging me $200 per photo fully photoshopped right? - be VERY specific with pricing and get him to repeat it over and over again. Let him know you are NOT taking the price of photo's lightly and you will NOT tolerate him charging you more after the shoot is done.

4. will you allow me to put the photo's on my website? - if the answer is no walk away

5. will you charge me extra money to allow me to place my photo's on the internet/my website? - if the answer is no, walk away 

6. will you respect my privacey and not publish my photo anywhere without firstly asking me (whether it be on his website, placing your photo in a hardcopy portfolio for his customers to look at, on a wall in a gallery, ANYWHERE)

7. how long will it take you to have my photo's photoshopped and returned to me?

8. will you deliever my photo's web ready? if so, is there any cost involved in formatting them this way? - If there is walk away, it costs them nothing either financially or time wise because it needs to be put into this format for photoshopping anyway. He is just trying to rip you off and add on an extra for a service that you've already paid for

9. will you deliver my photo's as high resolution .tif files - this is only necessary if you wish to reproduce them in print ie. if you want to make a calendar with them, postcard etc

10. will you supply a hair and make up artist? If so HOW MUCH?! - it may be cheaper to hire your own to come to the photoshoot or you can get makeup done for free at MAC or in Myer, David Jones etc before you go to your shoot. Hair may be cheaper to pay $50 for an updo at a hairdresser which you can then leave up for some photo's then take down for different looks in a shoot. A good photographer will provide a hair and makeup artist at the shoot. A makeup artist for a photoshoot should not cost more than $80 for the entire shoot (the girls at Mac will all jump at the chance to do it for you, and lots will do it for free just for the experience).

11. are there any hidden costs ie. do you expect me to buy you room service, lunch, pay for a hotel room for you to stay in for the night, taxis for you to get to work etc - you'd be suprised some of the hidden demands they make.

12. do I have to buy a minimum number of photo's? - if the answer is yes, I'd walk away. Why should we have to buy 2 - 5 photo's if they are all crap and he couldn't take a decent photo of us?!

13. when does payment have to be made eg. half upfront and half on receipt of photos? - always pay as little as possible upfront in case the photographer is an arsehole and completely incompetent (that is generally the rule with these guys rather than the exception to the rule).

14. have you ever taken the style of picture I need before and have you worked with hookers (if you're brave enough to tell him)? If they have worked with ladies before, they will generally be better at it or have a basic idea of what you're looking for

15. how long is it going to take the day of the photoshoot? A competent professional should be able to pull of an entire shoot and have at least 10 money shots taken for you within 3 hours (4 including time it takes to get your hair done).

16. have you got a portfolio of raw before shots and photoshopped aftershots? If he doesn't don't go with him. You need BOTH before and aftershots to see his photoshoppping and basic photo taking skills. You'd be SHOCKED the people who can't take a photo. If he has only ever taken pictures for magazines say NO. All magazine photographers do is press the little button on the camera. They have stylists, lighting specialists, make up artists etc who design the layout of the picture, the set design, where the model will hold her arms and head, EVERYTHING is done for them and they literally have NO IDEA how to take a good picture for themselves.

Alternatives to a professional shoot and what you need to think about when doing them

If you're just beginning out in the industry, taking some unprofessional pictures to begin with is a good idea. This way you can begin to understand how to take pictures, what assets you want to sell and gets you to begin thinking about look/feel and theme you're going for.

Loads of guys prefer unprofessional pictures. They feel like they are not being marketed to or bullshitted to. They feel like what they see is what they will get and in this day and age with so many girls using fake/stolen pictures, this is a huge plus.

If you're having them done this way, it is a good idea to have the pictures taken by someone you trust and feel comfortable with. This will mean you will be more relaxed in front of the camera and will feel more comfortable being naked or in compromised poses while having the pictures taken. It's also a good idea to have them done with a fellow sex worker or someone you trust, because alot of your pictures are going to be UGLY! There is nothing quite like a 3 dimensional body squished into a 2 dimensional picture. I can gaurantee you in some pictures you're going to look fat and ugly and your cellulite will be in full view. This happens with a professional shoot as well but it's somehow different when taking them by yourself. SO have someone help you take them who you can laugh with and is ok with you're screams of terror lol. It is actually a funny thing to share with a friend.

Decide what you're going to sell and photograph it. If you have a fat pimply butt with warts on it that wobbles and HUGE boobs, take all of your pictures of your boobs. They are your asset, they are what you need to sell. There is no point in having your worst asset in a picture - it will just work against you. I had a friend who has now retired and she was a larger size girl, so all of her pictures were of her boobs. She sold boobs and she made an absolute bloody fortune! Men use to love taking her to dinner, sitting across the dinner table and glancing at her boobs every now and then. Just because you take pics of one asset, does not mean you're going to market yourself into  particular corner.

  Selling boobs     Selling Chantals bottom  

Summary

Whether you have a professional or unprofessional shoot, there is pros and cons for both. If you don't have the money, then don't bother investing in a professional shoot. It is VERY expensive and time consuming, so unless you can gaurantee those pictures will get you 10 times the work an amateur shoot you do yourself with a friend, then I would suggest you don't do it. I've had both done and guys like both.

It is a serious decision to make and who you get them to do it and how should be written into your marketing plan. Please see attachments below for examples of professional versus amateur taken by me shots

Thankyou to Chantal for her image