blog – markp.com photography

Here’s my list of 6 photographer things that need to die in 2017.
We should all be striving to be better, hopefully this fun list will help you take steps towards that.

1. Ditch the nifty fifty.

Yeah the 50mm is a great lens. BUT, if you’re using it 24/7 you’re missing out! Go experiment with other focal lengths, throw a zoom in there, expand your horizons, literally.

2. Group shoots.

Group shoots are fun when you’re a beginner and for many “gigging” models, it’s their life blood. But, if you’ve been to more than 5 group shoots, it’s time to move on. Hire a studio yourself. Experiment. What’s the point of going to a group shoot with 12 (or more) photographers, all using the same props, same backdrops, same model, same poses, same lighting.

Forget that! Who needs 100 slightly different photos of the same model from 12 different photographers?

I mean, I get it. I understand. When you’re new to photography, group shoots are a great way to ease yourself in to photography without spending too much, but come on, you’re past that now. If you’re at a group shoot and you look around to see some guy using his iPhone, or struggling to use a point and shoot, it’s time to move on. This isn’t snobbery, it’s about you progressing as a photographer.

Find yourself a cool location, and go shoot there:

3. Shitty backdrops.

Leather. A book case. A Brick wall. They can look cool as backdrops for your photography, but NOT when it’s cheap shit wallpaper, badly slapped on to a temporary wall. Just don’t do it. It never looks good. It always looks fake, the shadows are wrong and more importantly cheapens your final image. Come on, you’re better than that.

While we’re at it, every time I see another photo of a model on a chaise lounge, I think of George.

4. Giving your work away for free.

Your work is good right? So why work for free? Don’t. Ever! No amount of publicity is worth your time for free. Especially for online magazines that are free, but full of adverts. Those advertisers are paying someone, so why aren’t you getting a cut of that dough? Giving your work to online magazines, websites, facebook pages, instagram accounts for free, is madness. You’re allowing someone else to get rich from your time, work and effort. Don’t do that. Concentrate on growing yourself, without giving yourself away for free. As a great man once said “Fuck you, pay me“.

5. Saying you’re “Published”.

This was a thing in the 90’s. Now magazines are dying and any dick with a copy of indesign can create a magazine.

Wow a bizarre fanzine, used your image on page nine! You must instantly update all your profiles to say you’re published! The world must know this important fact! It’s not important. Stop it.

6. Butter skin.

You know what I mean, skin so smoothed it looks like the model has been in an industrial accident, or could body double for Barbie. Yes spots are bad. Bags under eyes sometimes need lightening or removing, but come on. It looks so fake and unreal. I’m not saying you have to use high end, time consuming, frequency separation on all of your images, but surface blur is generally a no no.

Some techniques take seconds:

Have I missed any? Send me a message and let me know.

Who the hell is Markp?

I’m a full time, professional, “published” photographer, based in the UK. I have been shooting for a little over 10 years. I have worked for tiny companies and some quite large ones. I mainly shoot modern glamour, pinup, boudoir and lingerie but occasionally venture in to the realms of fetish work. Rarely, I also write angry blog posts. I love you guys really though 🙂

I’ve been considering writing something like this for a little while. A nice concise blog post for mainly new models on what to do before your shoot. There are a few common problems or niggles we all run in to and if you do the things on this list, you should avoid most of the problems and make your photographer want to work with you again.

Preparation

Prep is everything for a shoot. If the photographer is putting time in to finding a location, creating multiple lighting setups, finding a MUA/hair stylist, working with them on your look, the very least you can do is be prepared.

Depending on what you’re shooting, a day before the shoot you should:

1. Wax/shave/thread/remove hair – This means anywhere that will be on display, eyebrows, top lip, armpits, legs, back, even the “lady garden” if it’s going to be on show. Don’t ever think “Oh the photographer can photoshop that out” – if I’m working on 10 or even 100 photos and they all need your stubble photoshopping out, I’m not going to be a happy bunny. BUT, if you were prepared and sorted all that out the day before the shoot, I’m going to think you’re professional and WILL work with you again.

2. Nails – get your nails done! Even if you’re just putting on fakes. They don’t have to be talons or crazy elaborate things. Just slap some paint on and make sure they’re even. No chipped nail varnish please.

3. Hair – Unless specified, make sure your hair is washed and clean, ready to be styled. No, dry shampoo is not a substitute for clean hair.

4. Don’t go out the night before – Yes you may think you’re Kate Moss, living life in the fast lane, but in reality you’re probably not and coming to a shoot stinking of booze with bags under your eyes will not get you a call back for the next shoot.

5. Skin care – we all have break outs from time to time, but don’t spend the night before squeezing your face so you show up looking like Freddie Kruger. That’s not cool. Leave it, the MUA will have ways to conceal and cover up any spots or blemishes on the day. If it really is a nightmare, contact the photographer beforehand so they can speak to the MUA and see if there is a way around it. YES, they can probably photoshop it out!

6. Fake tan – Everyone likes to look tanned, a healthy glow if you will, but orange smear marks all over your body are not cool. Get a professional spray tan a few days before so it has time to not be so Oompa Loompa orange that’ll be great! Also fake tan in between your fingers, behind your knees and on your elbows goes really dark! Avoid this!

On the day of the shoot

1. Be on time – Seriously, do I need to explain this? Show up where and when you’re supposed to. If there are problems, let the photographer know as soon as possible. If you can’t be bothered to get out of bed, great, I don’t care, just let the photographer know so he can get a more reliable model to take your place. Any shoots you cancel on last minute, what ever the reason, make you look unprofessional and photographers just won’t work with you again. If you respect their work, get there on time!

2. Wear loose fitting clothing – If you’re shooting anything where you’ll be displaying skin, don’t wear a bra 2 sizes too small that’s going to leave huge red marks across your body. This is more work for the photographer to remove. Also, skinny jeans, very bad idea. A long red seam running down both your legs is not a good look when shooting lingerie. Wear something loose a pair of sweat pants and a hoody top is more than enough to cover you without leaving awful marks all over your body.

3. Take a strapless bra and seamless pants – What ever you’re shooting you should always take a pair of seamless pants with you, so you can wear them under other clothing; your normal bright Bridget Jones polka dot pants will show through under studio lighting.

They’re not going to win you any sexy undies prizes, but they will make your photographer book you again!

4. Have fun – We’re very privileged to have a great fun job. Enjoy it, be professional and you’ll go far!

<img class="wp-image-4483 alignright" src="http://markp.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/50mmlens.jpg" alt="50mm lens" width="116" height="119" />1. Ditch the nifty fifty.