Does Anyone Have Experience With The Softcore Glamor Porn Industry?

[mythtrav16]

I'd like to know a bit about how a glamor softcore photoshoot works behind the scenes; particularly in terms of the staff present. I'm not talking about the cheap amateur stuff here. I'm talking about the quality pay-site stuff like MetArt or BodyInMind.

Obviously there needs to be a model and a photographer. But would there be more than one photographer, typically?

Additionally, those women always look so fabulous, I'm sure there must be hair and makeup people on hand. Would this be one person or two?

Also, the shoots often involve the model stripping out of some clothing; so there would probably be a wardrobe person present? Some of the clothes you see them in is very elegant; certainly not the sort of thing you'd pick off the shelves at KMart, so there would almost certainly need to be a wardrobe department.

The locations themselves are also often quite grandiose, so I would assume the team would need to include a location scout? Though I'm guessing that he/she wouldn't need to be present at the actual photoshoot.

Shoots also sometimes feature special props e.g. baroque furniture, so would there need to be a prop manager?

And for indoor shoots, would I be correct in assuming that there would typically be a lighting guy? Or has modern digital photography moved beyond the need for specialist lighting?

Would catering be present? Or are the shoots too brief to make it an issue?

What about on the management side of things? Is there anyone from the company supervising to make sure that the photographer and the model are producing the sort of material they want to slap their brand name on? Is there anyone looking out for the model's interests, e.g. a personal agent?

I'm writing a story that involves a photoshoot for a softcore glamor website, so any insight that people in the know can provide me about the workings of these shoots would be most appreciated.

 

[NotWise]

I'm sure the staff present will vary from shoot to shoot, depending on the requirements.

I have no experience, but I've seen behind-the-scenes photos from at least two high-end photo shoots. One was with Little Caprice in a wedding veil and the other (several years earlier) was with a Russian model I think they named Goldie A. There are a lot of Goldie's, so to disambiguate, this is her.

There were at least three photographers, a lighting crew, and two models at the Goldie shoot. There were people to do her hair and makeup, but there was no wardrobe unless you count the sheet she was wrapped in when she wasn't posing. Probably the most widely-circulated photos from that shoot are candids taken behind the scenes.

There aren't quite as many candids from the Little Caprice shoot, but there were clearly quite a few people involved. For reference, here's a photo from that shoot.

I expect they might even need caterer's. Outdoor shoots probably need security.

Those were very high-end. For FTV, I understand the models supply their own wardrobe and do their own makeup.

 

[ChasingAnna]

I'd like to know a bit about how a glamor softcore photoshoot works behind the scenes; particularly in terms of the staff present. I'm not talking about the cheap amateur stuff here. I'm talking about the quality pay-site stuff like MetArt or BodyInMind.

Obviously there needs to be a model and a photographer. But would there be more than one photographer, typically?

Additionally, those women always look so fabulous, I'm sure there must be hair and makeup people on hand. Would this be one person or two?

Also, the shoots often involve the model stripping out of some clothing; so there would probably be a wardrobe person present? Some of the clothes you see them in is very elegant; certainly not the sort of thing you'd pick off the shelves at KMart, so there would almost certainly need to be a wardrobe department.

The locations themselves are also often quite grandiose, so I would assume the team would need to include a location scout? Though I'm guessing that he/she wouldn't need to be present at the actual photoshoot.

Shoots also sometimes feature special props e.g. baroque furniture, so would there need to be a prop manager?

And for indoor shoots, would I be correct in assuming that there would typically be a lighting guy? Or has modern digital photography moved beyond the need for specialist lighting?

Would catering be present? Or are the shoots too brief to make it an issue?

What about on the management side of things? Is there anyone from the company supervising to make sure that the photographer and the model are producing the sort of material they want to slap their brand name on? Is there anyone looking out for the model's interests, e.g. a personal agent?

I'm writing a story that involves a photoshoot for a softcore glamor website, so any insight that people in the know can provide me about the workings of these shoots would be most appreciated.

I'm not directly involved with the industry, but I know a bit about the subject generally.

There are all levels, but many portrait photographers are either Solo or small teams. It's generally one photographer, a backup photographer for events, wardrobe/stylist (could be 2 roles). Props and location are generally the role of the photographer. Keep in mind that the whole location might not be glamourous, it might be one interesting wall or corner of a place that is on the whole quite plain. Photography involves a fair bit of cropping out what you don't want.

I'd probably have a model, photographer, and combined makup/wardrobe.

As for the undressing, you could always have a robe over the more revealing outfit that will be photographed. Pm if you want to talk about anything specific

 

[RejectReality]

Your musing about who might be there seems perfectly legitimate to me. Use whomever you need in order to serve the story, provide enough of such musing to establish the scale of the operation, and it should easily meet the bar of plausibility for readers.

The one thing you might want to do is not throw around any dollar amounts. That's where people might start calling you out. There may not be a single person familiar with the actual industry, but you are going to run into some familiar with photography, costuming, etc. The individual elements could bite you if you get too specific there.

I'd also scale back the crew to only the number of people necessary to serve the story. In an age of free internet porn, any such operation becomes more plausible and profitable with a tighter ship. The photographer could easily scout his own locations, manage lighting, etc.

In an economy steadily leaning more toward contract work, it's not implausible that things such as costuming could be managed on the cheap with new, but talented people who simply haven't found their big break yet. They could even be friends of the photographer.

If he/she is fresh off the boat, it's reasonable that they might have been running with a creative crowd that has the skills to serve the production needs. If older, and more established, then perhaps a connection to someone else on the crew provides that creative circle.

Creatively cut the costs as necessary. Seems to me you've given this sufficient thought to not need to worry about it, even if someone with inside knowledge doesn't present themselves.

 

[LupusDei]

First, not a porn shot, but fashion one, still I think it's comparable. They had scouted outside location I control, negotiated the session and didn't mind my presence during the short. There was two fashion artists (working together on the project) two photographers, props&makeup artist, two models. At least half dozen outfits, several takes in slightly different places etc, was there for an entire day.

Second, this is second hand, and a ready story. A girl, young journalist wanted interview with mega-famous photographer. He was there in our country in passing, less than 48 hours total, but not first time nor last. She was told she can get him during a nudes photo shoot session on the lakeside in ethnographic museum, at 5 am (utilising northern summer, it's full daylight already). There was photographer, manager, lights assistant (all males), fashion/props artist, makeup artist (both older women), two models and our journalist (three girls). You guessed where it was going she ended up as the third model. She said watching the two pro's and photographer at work for a while, it seemed only natural when he started ordering her around, and she didn't hesitate for a moment when clothing went away. Nothing even remotely improper happened some closely directed touching between the three models not counting. If I remember the story right, they eventually packed shortly before noon, completely ignoring fact that museum was already open for a while (but it's huge, and probably the relevant fisherman's house remained closed, it's nothing unusual for them to restrict certain expositions for whatever reason, also, we here are very tolerant around nudity).

Third. Well, I'm voyeur and an actual creep who won't miss a chance. So when I noticed interesting activity on the river I went to investigate, but seeing two women didn't reveal myself. Eventually I slipped between logs in a pit under a big pile of years old flotsam. At one point the model was sitting right on it. The photographer, a middle aged woman had a very big sports bag of stuff, and switched between two cameras and a lot of lenses, it all seemed very professional. The model was unreal. She looked photoshopped in the real life. Seriously, I would never believe those resulting images (I have never seen) weren't redacted wasn't I see the real thing. I don't know had she indeed full body makeup or what, nobody can just look so good. Anyway, she had started in a light dress but was in bikini when I arrived. When the nude part started she was so nervous the photographer took her own top off encouraging her. The whole thing lasted no more than an hour, and ended abruptly as people arrived in a swimming hole some hundred yards upstream, behind a small island not even in direct sight, but they covered up and packed away. It was extremely intimate especially considering the fact they were two obvious pro's creating a product for sale most likely. While leaving they discussed about finding another place, but the model was doubtful. I mused over idea to invite them further down to my place but couldn't quite work out how, nor it seemed likely to work.

 

[mythtrav16]

Thanks everybody, for some great insight. (Great stories, BTW, @LupusDei )

I think I have enough of a picture now to set the scene I had in mind. I didn't need to go into all the crews life stories; I just needed enough to be able to paint a decent backdrop of what a shoot looks like, mainly in terms of the amount of people present.