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Thread: DIY Professional Photos!

  1. #1
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    Default DIY Professional Photos!

    I was chatting with a friend about getting professional pictures taken and she said .. "Why spend $500 for a photo shoot when you can buy basic equipment and do it yourself". This made sense to me because this way I didn't have to wait for a photographer to be available to add photos to my website. I'm very good taking pictures of others so why not do it myself right? As an escort new photos drive in business. An update every 3-6 months can do wonders for one's escorting business or camming business even. A friend of mine sent me a video of Monica foster taking her own photos and that inspired me to take my own photos.

    Here's the video of Monica taking her own photos:


    I must say I was very impressed with how creative this woman is.

    However I've decided to take a more professional approach by buying
    a professional lighting system, a tripod and a cam with 14 megapixels.


    Instead of the work lights I'll be getting a soft box for $15.
    At the end of the day all this stuff will cost me no more than $80.

    I will be shooting boudoir style photos and I want the perfect location so I'm shelling out $161 on a one night stay at a boutique hotel in my area.
    The room is PERFECT for what I am trying to do.

    I wanted to know if any of you take your own professional pictures. I don't' mean camera phone pictures AND I don't mean photos taken of you by a friend with a disposable camera. Do you take your own professional pictures? If so can you explain how you go about it? I would love to hear more ideas. Thank you!

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    Veteran Member sexandgrammar's Avatar
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    Default Re: DIY Professional Photos!

    You're absolutely right, there's no need at all to spend $500 on professional photos, when, especially if you're handy with a camera, you can capture more closely what you're looking for--for a fraction of the cost, if anything. I've taken semi-pro photos for others, as well as for myself, and I always get complimented on them.

    The room you're shooting in sounds awesome, as does your set-up. Most new digital cameras have pretty good automatic focus, exposure, etc., but it's also really fantastic if you're able to set the white balance manually. If not, there's always Photoshop, after the fact.

    This is probably really obvious, actually, but I can't stress it enough--Photoshop is such a fucking brilliant little tool. As long as you don't go overboard with the soft-focus, high-contrast, glow-from-within type filters, which I see a lot of girls do, and which I think makes even the most beautifully composed photo look pretty amateur-ish.

    It's also great that you'll be using a tripod. It'd be really easy to set it up close to the bed, crank it high up, & shoot "from above" photos of you sprawled in all your gloriousness, across the sheets.

    Hmm, what else. Satin or silk sheets will photograph awesomely, unless you're using flash (which I highly suggest you don't, especially because your tripod will allow you to do really slow shutterspeed stuff), in which case every little piece of dust will show up in high focus--not sexy.

    There's lots more that I'm spacing on, clearly, but you seem really together, & I'm sure it'll go beautifully--I'd love to see the results!

    She wonders how much he'd pay to see her innards, what it is guys think girls are hiding so that they always want to see them in every place.
    - Virginie Despentes,


    All I wanna do is get my pussy sucked / count a million bucks in the back of an armored truck.
    - Lil' Kim, "Suck My Dick"

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    Default Re: DIY Professional Photos!

    Hey hun,
    Thank you so much for the kind words. After reading articles and seeing monica foster shoot herself I knew I could do it on my own for damn sure. I also found amazing articles such as this one: that's really helped me. The hotel I am shooting in is a 4 star boutique hotel. I am shelling out $161 for the room but I figured after I'm done with the photos it would be well worth it and I'll be able to use it later with my bf..and maybe take some photos just for him .

    To be honest with you and here I'm going to sound arrogant, I have never used photoshop in my pictures ever. In fact, in the past when I have shot with photographers I asked them not to use photoshop. In escorting a lot of ladies go crazy with photoshop and the photo ends up looking amateur for one and at the end it looks NOTHING like them. Even when I was camming full time I never edited my photos. I didn't feel I have to do much. They say the best photos are the ones where you don't have to do much editing right? This time around I wouldn't mind using a little photoshop. I have no photoshop skills but I guess me and you will have to talk business (I will send a pm).

    I am very excited about this as you can see. I actually contacted photographers in my area about shooting me and they were all even willing to shoot me. Some wanted to shoot me free of charge after they saw my pictures but they wanted to own the right to my photos. Being in the business that I am in that is a no-no. So this is what i have to do for now and I'm not complaining one bit. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade right?

    I don't plan on using flash but I do plan on using a softbox .. is that ok? I am more interesting in shooing with natural light. I think the photos will be better looking that way. So I guess.. just open the windos and set up the softbox and shoot?
    I am really looking forward to this. If you have anymore tips please let me know. I'm looking to do this sometime next week or the first week of april. My website (escorting) is up and I did a damn good job on it. Now all I need are pictures

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    Veteran Member taylormadison's Avatar
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    Default Re: DIY Professional Photos!

    I can't find a decent photographer with decent rates to save my life. This is a much needed thread for people like me (especially with budgets). I am looking forward to more people sharing advice!

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    Featured Member london's Avatar
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    Default Re: DIY Professional Photos!

    My Logitech Pro 9000 takes extremely high quality, high-definition pictures.

    On my site, I have

    -'amateur' photos, taken with my built-in cam when my Logitech isn't in a reachable distance and I feel inspired

    -'candid' camera phone pics that I just really, really like for certain reasons

    -'the uber high-def' pictures with my Logitech or taken with high-end traditional video cameras.

    When I take pics with the Logitech by myself, I either put it on a timer, so I have time to pose how I'd like or I adjust the angle, clarity, etc so that it is set exactly how I want it to look and when I see the preview window is aligned perfectly, I just 'click' it on my webcam software to take it.

    I do like that once you have the 'right' equipment, the quality speaks for itself and you spend less time taking and re-taking what looked like it would be a perfect shot, but came out all blurry after you took the snapshot.

    So, basically, I'd recommend to anyone wanting to self-shoot high quality images that they purchase the best possible camera or webcam they can afford (look for discounts/gently used ones, too!) and hopefully one with a timer.

    Then make sure to experiment with natural light and different types of lighting and just devote some time to seeing what works and what doesn't.

    Oh, and you may also want to test out photographing inanimate objects as well: a cool lamp, desk, piece of furniture, plate of food, champagne glasses, etc set to different backgrounds and angles. And another tip I've read is to put objects you want to photograph in your bathtub and take pics that way.

    The whiteness of the bath tub will really highlight the object you want to photograph and, if framed correctly, no one will know the picture was shot in your tub! I like these sorts of "not-me-but-by-my-hand" photos because you can incorporate them really well with blog posts, twitpics, etc...
    The Official Sandra London Website and Blog

    My Live and Grind Emporium:


    Listen to Playtime with Sandra Radio.


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    Default Re: DIY Professional Photos!

    Hello London,

    I have a Logitech quickcam stx and a Logitech pro 9000. While they do take damn good photos, It is no secret that tHe cameras sometimes makes things appear a bit bigger. For example with my pro 9000 my boobs look way bigger than it really is. While it is a great thing .. the last thing I want to do is falsify my appearance. This is known issue with most Logitech cams. Another thing is webcam photos is frowned upon in the escort industry. If you were able to make the photos look professional to where it's impossible to tell it was taken by a webcam. I would love to see the photos, Please pm me.
    Last edited by TouringGirlfriend; 03-16-2011 at 02:10 PM.

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    Default Re: DIY Professional Photos!

    You can use a timer, but you might want to get a wireless release. You attach one piece to your camera, the other piece is a remote control that will let you snap photos without having to go back and forth to click the shutter. I've only used Canon DSLRs - you might want to just check to make sure that the camera you're using is compatible. I think most are, though.

    For lighting, totally go with the softbox - hard light is brutal. Something else that's pretty flattering is an egg crate grid. It sharpens the focus of the light, like a spotlight, but the effect is still soft, highlighting your contours, especially when you use it with a softbox. And super-super flattering is an LED light, which you set on your camera like a flash, but the light is continuous.

    (Btw, if you're using a hotel room, hide your gear when you check in. Those fuckers will either turn you away or charge you extra for using their space as a shooting location.)

    That said, with the right camera and right settings, you can do a lot with just regular lights.

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    Veteran Member sexandgrammar's Avatar
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    Default Re: DIY Professional Photos!

    Quote Originally Posted by nocturne View Post
    (Btw, if you're using a hotel room, hide your gear when you check in. Those fuckers will either turn you away or charge you extra for using their space as a shooting location.)

    I didn't know this! Super-helpful info, nocturne!

    She wonders how much he'd pay to see her innards, what it is guys think girls are hiding so that they always want to see them in every place.
    - Virginie Despentes,


    All I wanna do is get my pussy sucked / count a million bucks in the back of an armored truck.
    - Lil' Kim, "Suck My Dick"

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    Default Re: DIY Professional Photos!

    Or u could also go on model mayhem and get TFP work done with a photog for free.

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    Default Re: DIY Professional Photos!

    Quote Originally Posted by Arialandre View Post
    Or u could also go on model mayhem and get TFP work done with a photog for free.
    The point of my post was I didn't want to have to deal with someone owning right to my pictures. I also want to be able to update my gallery with no problem whenever I want. TFPs wouldn't work in my situation.. I do not want photographers to have my picture in their portfolio. I rather take my own and have full control.

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    Default Re: DIY Professional Photos!

    Quote Originally Posted by Arialandre View Post
    Or u could also go on model mayhem and get TFP work done with a photog for free.
    True true. OModel Mayhem or One Model Place (which is a tad more professional, at least in my experience). Or, if you live in metropolitan area, search craigslist for TFP (trade for prints) or TFCD (trade for CD)--there are always student photographers, for instance, who are perfectly good, & are eager to plump out their portfolios with some pretty ladies

    But I actually love your idea of taking your own pictures! Learning how to take a good roll of film is a skill that you'll carry with you. And you can't control how your image is created and propagated unless you're behind the camera--at least figuratively.

    She wonders how much he'd pay to see her innards, what it is guys think girls are hiding so that they always want to see them in every place.
    - Virginie Despentes,


    All I wanna do is get my pussy sucked / count a million bucks in the back of an armored truck.
    - Lil' Kim, "Suck My Dick"

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    Veteran Member sexandgrammar's Avatar
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    Default Re: DIY Professional Photos!

    Quote Originally Posted by TouringGirlfriend View Post
    The point of my post was I didn't want to have to deal with someone owning right to my pictures. I also want to be able to update my gallery with no problem whenever I want. TFPs wouldn't work in my situation.. I do not want photographers to have my picture in their portfolio. I rather take my own and have full control.
    Eeep, simultaneous posting extravaganza. Get it, girl!

    She wonders how much he'd pay to see her innards, what it is guys think girls are hiding so that they always want to see them in every place.
    - Virginie Despentes,


    All I wanna do is get my pussy sucked / count a million bucks in the back of an armored truck.
    - Lil' Kim, "Suck My Dick"

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    Default Re: DIY Professional Photos!

    Quote Originally Posted by sexandgrammar View Post
    Eeep, simultaneous posting extravaganza. Get it, girl!
    LOL! We'll have to work together.

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    Veteran Member sexandgrammar's Avatar
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    Default Re: DIY Professional Photos!

    ^ Yes, PLEASE!

    She wonders how much he'd pay to see her innards, what it is guys think girls are hiding so that they always want to see them in every place.
    - Virginie Despentes,


    All I wanna do is get my pussy sucked / count a million bucks in the back of an armored truck.
    - Lil' Kim, "Suck My Dick"

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    Veteran Member xxxevexxx's Avatar
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    Default Re: DIY Professional Photos!

    I went on Model Mayhem and found an awesome Photographer in my city, literally like 3 miles from me. She a total sweetheart and working on building her portfolio, she said the types of pictures I want aren't reall something that would mesh well with her portfolio though so she is charging me, but get this... 50$ for a few hour session every month or more often if I feel a need (: I think there are a lot of people like this on there, taking your own pictures sounds fine and dandy but I would rather have someone else do those and edit them for me too, can't beat that. Besides i am too busy working and making other content like amateur pic sets and video ect. It would be nice to have that kind of set up in your own home to mess around and see how new look translate to print

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    Default Re: DIY Professional Photos!

    I agree that you don't have to spend that much on a photo shoot. Besides, there are photographers who will do TFCD shoots (you don't have to pay $, and you get a photo CD), or you could use a high definition webcam, such as the Logitech HD C910, and have plenty of gorgeous photos.
    My referral link for models to join the Boleyn Models daily pay program
    https://cammodelpay.com/ref?page=&campaign=&affToken=NDcx

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    Default Re: DIY Professional Photos!

    Quote Originally Posted by xxxevexxx View Post
    I went on Model Mayhem and found an awesome Photographer in my city, literally like 3 miles from me. She a total sweetheart and working on building her portfolio, she said the types of pictures I want aren't reall something that would mesh well with her portfolio though so she is charging me, but get this... 50$ for a few hour session every month or more often if I feel a need (: I think there are a lot of people like this on there, taking your own pictures sounds fine and dandy but I would rather have someone else do those and edit them for me too, can't beat that. Besides i am too busy working and making other content like amateur pic sets and video ect. It would be nice to have that kind of set up in your own home to mess around and see how new look translate to print
    In another thread you stated that you were an escort/or soon to be escort or retired escort. I really didn't follow the thread but if you are thinking about using the photos for escorting then buy the rights to your photos. If you don't and you use the photos on your escort ad or website and your photographer finds out, you could be in big trouble. The dilemma I am facing is that no one wants me to own the rights to my photos. It's that or they're wanting me to pay and arm and a leg to own the rights. I'm sorry but my brand is very important to me and I'm not going to let some photographer use my photos as his own.

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    Default Re: DIY Professional Photos!

    A lot of you don't understand TFP/TFCD. Yes in the end you are getting free photos but is it really free? Nope. If the photographer owns the rights to the images (which is usually the case with TFP/TFCD) He could sell the photos if he wanted. That's not what I want.

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    Default Re: DIY Professional Photos!

    Quote Originally Posted by TheBrownFox View Post
    I agree that you don't have to spend that much on a photo shoot. Besides, there are photographers who will do TFCD shoots (you don't have to pay $, and you get a photo CD), or you could use a high definition webcam, such as the Logitech HD C910, and have plenty of gorgeous photos.
    I love the way you think darling. It's all about saving money here.

  26. #20
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    Default Re: DIY Professional Photos!

    Quote Originally Posted by TouringGirlfriend View Post
    In another thread you stated that you were an escort/or soon to be escort or retired escort. I really didn't follow the thread but if you are thinking about using the photos for escorting then buy the rights to your photos. If you don't and you use the photos on your escort ad or website and your photographer finds out, you could be in big trouble. The dilemma I am facing is that no one wants me to own the rights to my photos. It's that or they're wanting me to pay and arm and a leg to own the rights. I'm sorry but my brand is very important to me and I'm not going to let some photographer use my photos as his own.
    I escorted from 17 till about this past summer(i m 22), but I recently started camming and going to stick to that for now so the pictures are for camming However she actually wants nothing to do with them beyond shooting/editing them and she knows what I do, I don't bullshit people I work with.(a flaw of mine-im very honest and open about my work) If I chose to use them for escorting I don't think i would have an issue.
    I have never had an issue with any photographer I have worked with giving me shit about what I do with my photos but when you say buy the rights, if she isn't using them for her portfolio and actually asked me not to use her name in reference to adult industry work, (something about not wanting her other clients to look differently of her, because we all know how close minded people are). Anyways would it be a good idea since she is not a friend of mine(most of my other photographers were so I never was worried about anything happening) to maybe have her sign something about the ownership of the photos being mine and that I can use them for whatever I desire? I doubt it would ever be an issue with her, but I could be wrong.

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    Default Re: DIY Professional Photos!

    ok so..?

    when you take pictures w a photagrapher they own the rights, meaning they can use them how they please? even if theres partial nudity?

    how to you get these rights? do you need to pay them or buy ALL of the pictures???

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    Default Re: DIY Professional Photos!

    ok so..?

    when you take pictures w a p they own the rights, meaning they can use them how they please? even if theres partial nudity?

    how to you get these rights? do you need to pay them or buy ALL of the pictures???

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    Veteran Member MonicaF's Avatar
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    Thumbs up Re: DIY Professional Photos!

    Wow, thank you ladies so much for checking out my DIY video and realizing that it's all about being creative and motivated.

    I actually have another example of taking my own photos on a recent broadcast of Monica @ Home - here's a link:



    Thanks again for the mention ladies.

    Monica Foster

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    Default Re: DIY Professional Photos!

    So I just did my photo set today and generally I am pleased with the results. However, I don't know what it was but a lot of the images cam out too white. Or maybe I am so damn pale I am now a glowing freak of nature..either way How in the world do I fix this? I am not very photo editing savvy but I didn't see an option on how to even out the colors...

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    Default Re: DIY Professional Photos!

    @sexxysadie

    it's really hard to diagnose without looking at the photo, but often that is exactly why lingerie models are SO TAN - do you tinker with Photoshop at all?

    So if you want to be with me
    With these things there’s no telling
    We just have to wait and see
    But I’d rather be working for a paycheck
    Than waiting to win the lottery
    Besides maybe this time is different
    I mean I really think you like me

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