Not Your Average Photographer
By Jimmy McRoberts
5 Jun 2009
Not Your Average Photographer
I believe that it's time for the model industry to change from its shallow views on how models should look to be featured in a magazine, on a runway, or in a shoot. The most common reason I have heard for why a model is turned down is because they don't have the "model look" or that they are too big to be a model, which I believe to be one of the most ridiculous reason for a model to be turned down. Everyone has beauty. It's in the eye of the beholder, and I think everyone can capture that if they want.
Photography, to me, is about the art and capturing the beauty there. I don't care what you look like; I can capture beauty in anyone, that's my motto.
I'm a photographer who as been shooting for about a year now, and I'm working on my degree in Photography with a minor in Photojournalism. I network through a couple of sites to find models that like my ideas and want to work with me. After going through several pages of models, I noticed that there is a norm for one type of male and one type of female model, and don't get me wrong. I don't mind shooting the norm type model at all.
Here are the things I look at when I view a photo of a potential client/model:
1. Eyes
2. Lips
3. Measurements
4. Body Modifications
My definition of the normal type of female model is tall, skinny, blonde hair, blue eyes. For males it's muscles and abs. Not that this is bad, but it's all you see within the main modeling community, and I hate it even worse when I see someone is trying to model something that they aren't meant to, for example, someone who doesn't belong on a Hot Topic website or in an alternative clothing magazine.
My favorite types of models have multiple tattoos, piercing, look at the photos that are from my most recent shoot. While some people are not in touch with what photography is all about, she screamed every bit of unique and amazing.
I did a photo shoot a couple of weeks ago with a model. She was beyond your average model, and she was great to work with, but since I've posted the photographs, I have gotten some rude comments about them. Here are two comments I got from people who are not models or photographers:
"That was just degrading to women."
"You broke every rule of art."
I give my models ideas for clothing I would like them to wear based on their style and what kind of shoot we are doing. In the shoot I just did, we picked what we liked and went with it. The photos turned out great in my opinion, as well as hers. She felt comfortable, and that made my nerves go away. We talked, laughed, and had a great time shooting.
I know that photographers all have their own taste for what they want in models and how they want to work with them, but I believe that there are a lot of narrow-minded photographers out there, and every time they turn a model down that isn't their normal model type, they are losing a chance to create some great photos.
I also believe that models that don't fall into the normal category should start standing up and showing that they can be models and can do the same thing as the "normal" models. Then, I think the industry would be forced to listen.
Jimmy McRoberts
McRoberts Photography
8 responses
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Kayla Drake gave props (5 Jun 2009):
LOVE IT!
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Michael Adams gave props (5 Jun 2009):
Great story! Really like the model with all of the Tattoos. I think you have done a great job showing her and her personality.
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Kayla Drake said (5 Jun 2009):
You're exactly right... not every girl has the same body type. They shouldn't have to starve themselves to do something they're passionate about! =)
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Michael Comerford said (5 Jun 2009):
"You've broken every rule of Art" - and yet some of the greatest art ever made is because the normal "rules" have been broken. Well done for going outside the mundane.
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Enric Martinez said (6 Jun 2009):
Well, besides composition and the technical part... WTF are "the rules of art"? I suppose this comment was made by the average idiot who's idea on photography is cupcakes and cheesy sunsets with a couple kissing (I'm going to throw out!).
Kudos for you and your work! And your models definitely rock! -
Gladys White said (7 Jun 2009):
Right on. I believe women are most beautiful in their imperfections. I wish more people were willing to consider this. Keep up the good work.
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Kimberly Deverell said (10 Jun 2009):
you're so right. beauty is in the eye of the beholder. not every person's body is going to be perfect, and i think not everyone realizes this. as far as i'm concerned, there are no "rules" in art. if you create it, via paint or photo, it's art.
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Nicole Hillison said (14 Jun 2009):
well composed and very nice images. And who ever stated that art has rules, they obviously have not met an artist! We don't make rules, we break them and create master pieces!! You just keep shooting away! Good job jimmy! ;)
