Photographing the Male Model

[dv8tmind]

So this last year, has been amazingly busy.

One of the things keeping me busy, just in photography, is capturing the male model. Now that my portfolio has grown I need some good old constructive criticism. Operative word is Constructive.

I am photographing them, more with women viewers in mind, but I am sure there are some men, that will enjoy as well. To me it isn't all about the naked as much as the art and beauty of the male physique.

So every few days I'll post another. And thank you for all your input!

 

[ErosArtist]

So this last year, has been amazingly busy.

One of the things keeping me busy, just in photography, is capturing the male model. Now that my portfolio has grown I need some good old constructive criticism. Operative word is Constructive.

I am photographing them, more with women viewers in mind, but I am sure there are some men, that will enjoy as well. To me it isn't all about the naked as much as the art and beauty of the male physique.

So every few days I'll post another. And thank you for all your input!

Bravo for working with the male figure.

I've been a photographer of the nude figure for over a decade now, and while I've worked with male models in the past, I don't any longer. From the fine-art perspective (selling images to collectors via galleries, through art shows and exhibition and in artist specific gallery promoted and hosted exhibitions) there simply isn't a viable market in the US for them.

Unfortunately, (and I am speaking in broad generalizations), most people, collectors of fine-art photography among them, associate the figurative or erotic male nude with gay porn. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth, but this a case of perception being reality. That's been my experience through years of gallery representation in US based markets. I hear from my European based friends that male nudes are more broadly accepted. And FWIW, I've found that women are more drawn to artistic depictions of the female figure than the male - again, a generalization, but also my experience.

Bottom line: artistic male nudes are challenging.

So what is your goal in shooting these images? To sell? To create? Both? If it's to sell, you may have limited success on internet galleries or through your own website, or possibly in small, niche galleries in cities with large gay populations. I'm sorry if this is discouraging. If your goal is to create and to appreciate, you're already there.

I think the image looks good; I believe it could be a bit brighter on the model's face...but only slightly, no more than +1/4. For me, the feel of the image is more that of erotic-art than figurative art. My only valid criticism is that his knee and leg are cut-off by the frame...and that's more a personal peeve than anything else. All around, it looks good.

Please show more of your work.

 

[dv8tmind]

Thank you.

I have also found the same thing. I started off trying to get the experience. Women are a pain..makeup, hair, stylist, the shoots get expensive. Guys? Show up with hair cream..LOL

Yes, the US has misconceptions of male art vs female. Have run into allot of it. Even other photographers, when they find out I shoot nude males. And no it isn't gay. Unfortunately it will take allot to change to perception.

In the meantime, I have been marketing more 'Over the Pond'. My ultimate goal is to photograph the male full time. I am working on *fingers crossed* meeting with other photographers, that do this for a living. Hoping they will have some 'inside assistance'.

Thank you for the kind words. I'll post some other....

 

[ErosArtist]

I wish you all the best in becoming an art photographer full-time. I'll be honest and frank; it will be tough to do art and only art. You'll likely find it necessary to continue doing commercial photography work, or to start doing it if you don't already. I hope that's not the case for you; it most definitely was for me. The appeal and romance of the noble but starving-artist lifestyle was very quickly lost.

My experience in working with women has been almost an opposite of yours. For figurative art, I seldom bother with make-up or stylists; if the model is being paid for her work, the paying party (that would be me...) determines the style and direction of the shoot. If it's a trade session, (the model gets images in exchange for modeling - and this is how I work 80% of the time), then the model has more leeway in determining the shoot direction. Usually, if they want makeup and styling, they have to pay for those services themselves, and if we're doing additional 'looks' for that model's portfolio, the make-up, etc. becomes a necessity. I should add my trade sessions are not just modeling for images, but for other pro services I offer, such as portfolio development. I also share full copyrights and usage rights with models in my trade sessions.

I look forward to seeing more of your work - and I'll see what I can find to post here as well. It probably won't be males; the last male I photographed was on film about 10 years ago. I still worked from my darkroom then, so I never scanned any negatives from that era.

Better yet, I'll start my own thread of artistic female nudes and not hijack yours -

Best ~

ErosArtist

 

[dv8tmind]

Oh I have been starving. But I just cannot seem to photograph the 'Wedding' thing. Which is big. Well everywhere it's big. I have never really been very good at capturing the essence of people. I'm working on it.

My Fine Art seems to be doing a tad better, but, yeah, still not paying the bills. Unfortunately. But I keep looking and aspiring. Most of the photographers, that are photographing the male form are older, I'm hoping one might want to retire...LOL.

I'm holding back going to agencies. Just not quite starved enough, yet.

 

[dv8tmind]

And let me know when you do, would love to see yours

 

[ErosArtist]

Oh I have been starving. But I just cannot seem to photograph the 'Wedding' thing. Which is big. Well everywhere it's big. I have never really been very good at capturing the essence of people. I'm working on it.

My Fine Art seems to be doing a tad better, but, yeah, still not paying the bills. Unfortunately. But I keep looking and aspiring. Most of the photographers, that are photographing the male form are older, I'm hoping one might want to retire...LOL.

I'm holding back going to agencies. Just not quite starved enough, yet.

I've talked with an agent about representation in the UK and Europe, but really haven't pursued it.

And yes, weddings are big and they are problematic. Every wedding I did was one too many. And now with digital technology, everyone's a photographer. I can't offer competitive services to brides and grooms that are willing to accept Uncle Louie's snapshots from his point & shoot to save a few bucks.

Other commercial work is out there; most of it is boring but pays the bills. Imagine sitting a studio for two weeks straight photographing auto-parts for a catalog. 'Nuff said.

I'll work on getting a thread up here at least by the first of January -

 

[dv8tmind]

I have to pick a few others to post here, but I have to resize them allot smaller. Working on that between shoots this weekend...

Ahhh yes the holidays!

 

[Marguerite01]

So this last year, has been amazingly busy.

One of the things keeping me busy, just in photography, is capturing the male model. Now that my portfolio has grown I need some good old constructive criticism. Operative word is Constructive.

I am photographing them, more with women viewers in mind, but I am sure there are some men, that will enjoy as well. To me it isn't all about the naked as much as the art and beauty of the male physique.

So every few days I'll post another. And thank you for all your input!

Hello there- great to see a serious photographer with an eye for the male physique.I really like the image you posted and the only criticism I would make is that I feel it is too cropped, I would recommend more of the body showing; I don't mean the whole figure necessarily, but perhaps pull the frame out a little so more of the legs are showing. From a woman's POV, great male thighs are gorgeous.

I think the mood of the piece is excellent as is the composition with the diagonal lines leading to the face. B/W is such a great medium for this subject, I also think you have made the right decision regarding stark contrasts. A stunning piece, I look forward to seeing more.
Marguerite

 

[JammyJimmy]

Hello all...
Another photographer here, specialise in portraits, commissions, and occasionally weddings. (Yes, I'm a sadist). I've done plenty female art-nudes and lots of portfolio TF shoots, but I've never shot male art-nudes.
Definitely on my to-do list though.

I like the shot.
Good eye contact, plenty of shadows to show off the contours on his frame.
The only thing I wanted to comment on was that my eye was drawn to the bottom right quarter of the picture, just above his thigh. It seems confusing.
I can't figure out if that lump sticking up is his hip-bone or if he has a mutated growth on his stomach, or if he's twisted and if he is, is that his left leg or his right.
In the same area, just above his thigh, it kinda looks a little like he's got a skeletal hand.
One of those areas of the shot that draws my eye, unfortunately.
A little more light, and a wider shot would definitely improve the image.

I realise that this criticism might seem harsh, and it is nit-picky, but I really want to repeat.
I like this shot.

Looking forward to seeing more.

JJ