02.13
So, I’ve decided to become the next Mario Testino. Eventually. Fashion photography isn’t something you can just walk into. It’s like the Mafia. To be the Don you need to have started as a grunt and worked your way up through the ranks, proving at each stage that you’re prepared to do anything to reach the upper echelons of the Organisation. Of course you’ll get the odd hotshot who just rocks up one day with his smooth talk and a glint in his eye. He knows Little Big Mickey Blue Eyes in Kansas and manages to muscle his way in to the top deck. Whether he stays up their is another matter. If he’s found to be an imposter he’ll end up swimming with the fish in his nice, new concrete slippers. In any case he’s the exception, not the rule.
Likewise in fashion it’s a hard road to the top, especially if you’re trying to bypass the hard graft of assisting that most of the top professionals did for many thankless years.
As you may know I joined ModelMayhem.com to build up my experience of photographing models and collaborating with the other members of the photoshoot tool kit: the wardrobe stylist, make up artist, hair stylist, designers etc. The fallout of this massive online community (coupled with the accessibility and affordability of DSLR cameras) is that there’s a huge amount of wannabe fashion photogs snapping any model that will give them 5 mins so they can build up their portfolio. Likewise there are girls galore believing that their 32Cs will propel them to supermodel status if they can show them off in as many skimpy swimsuits shots as possible and post them to Zoo, Ralph and FHM. In summary: chaos, and a harder job for photogs and models who are seriously trying to develop their skills.
Ron Davis
Shawna Rencher
Enter Ron Davis and Shawna Rencher. Ron is a successful studio photographer and Shawna a model, actress and film director. They are both active on ModelMayhem and based in Houston, Texas and their regular collaborating led them in a new direction – to create a podcast aimed at amateur photographers and models who are trying to break into the fashion and beauty industry. The result is The Photographer & Model Podcast.
Each week they interview a guest photographer or a model for around 30 mins, virtually all of whom are active on ModelMayhem. The interviews are very chatty, open and lighthearted and so make for easy listening. Content covers a range of topics including the guest’s background, current activity and future ambitions; what they think makes a good photographer and model (from turning up on time to being prepared to step outside comfort zones); horror stories and moments of controversy (some great “Guy With Camera” situations!); and their personal definitions of industry terms such as art, beauty, glamour, erotica and fetish. Plus there are insights into each guest’s particular field of interest e.g. fine art photography, pin-up photography, conceptual art, use of Photoshop etc.
It’s a format that is simple and very effective as each week brings a slice of life of fellow photographers and models who are on ModelMayhem to do essentially the same thing as me but with their own particular slant or objective. I love the fact that if I listen to someone that sounds interesting, I can then check out their profile and portfolio on ModelMayhem, send them a message and add them as a friend. It brings the site to life, giving it a much more human dimension than just a collection of avatars and faceless profiles. After all we’re people not numbers right?
The podcast is available on iTunes and on the photographerandmodel.com website. I encourage you to subscribe even if you’re not interested in fashion and beauty photography as the interviews, stories and insights make great listening!