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03/06/2008 03:52:07 PM · #1 |
Hey everyone,
I have a question for you all. My wedding business is really starting to boom (was anticipating 4 or 5 weddings, MAYBE,this season, ended up withe 11 over the next few months) and I am loving it. I was just approached by a great friend of mine who wanted to do a swimsuit shoot. 1) she's absolutely beautiful 2) she has an amazing body, great for this style of fashion / suit line, and 3) it's something new I could add to my portfolio, so why not?
Well, my town is the type that if anyone was to come in here and open up a photography studio and knowingly sell artistic nude, etc they would go belly up in no time. I'm not complaining, because personally I'm not into taking photos such as those (I do not see anything wrong with them at all, but just do not go out looking for that type of work), but I was wondering if anyone else faces this type of dilemma, main because I would like to post these swimsuit pics in my portfolio but do not know how it will affect my business. I'm marketed as the family photographer, but my question is in your opinion will posting bikini shots of a beautiful girl, tastefully done (nothing more revealing than a Victoria's Secret swimsuit ad).
I'm just looking to see if there's anyone out there that has faced this same problem, faced it already, and /or what you did in this situation.
Just very curious.
Thanks!
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03/06/2008 04:06:56 PM · #2 |
| You could always get someone to start a porno film studio across town, thus diverting attention from your much less unacceptable business. |
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03/06/2008 04:10:04 PM · #3 |
You might be surprised! I'm also from a small, conservative, semi-rural southern town and I've had a fair amount of interest in nude photography. I'm actually seriously considering launching a branch of services geared as "Gifts for Him (or her for that matter)". The idea is to stand out from the crowd. I would imagine that if your town is like mine, there aren't many "mainstream" photographers who offer those types of services. I plan to proudly offer the services... If a client is interested, they have an outlet. I do see your trepidation, but if you are upfront, professional, and honest about what services you offer, it "shouldn't" hurt your business to offer different areas of photography.
ETA: What you don't want is for people to say "I heard from a friend's mother's cousin's aunt that he asks you to take nekkie pictures when you go for your bridal portraits". Instead, nip it in the bud and display whatever work you're interested in pursuing and then let people draw their own conclusions.
Message edited by author 2008-03-06 16:12:31. |
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03/06/2008 04:11:15 PM · #4 |
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
You could always get someone to start a porno film studio across town, thus diverting attention from your much less unacceptable business. |
Is that a suggestion or an offer ??
:- )
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03/06/2008 04:11:52 PM · #5 |
I'd say if you are that worried about reputation, then don't post the images in your portfolio. Period.
If you want to attract that type of business in the future, then put them in your portfolio and damn the nay-sayers.
That's all.
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03/06/2008 04:19:39 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by idnic:
I'd say if you are that worried about reputation, then don't post the images in your portfolio. Period.
If you want to attract that type of business in the future, then put them in your portfolio and damn the nay-sayers.
That's all. |
+1
If you don't want to advertise it, don't put a huge print in your storefront window. Do the shoot, and if anyone asks about something similar in the future, pull out this portfolio and show the interested client...don't show it to the woman asking about maternity/family/wedding/etc. |
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03/06/2008 04:48:25 PM · #7 |
thanks so much, i'm beginning to see the way i need to go. i really appreciate the insight,and anymore will be appreciated as well :)
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03/06/2008 04:50:36 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by drewbixcube:
Originally posted by idnic:
I'd say if you are that worried about reputation, then don't post the images in your portfolio. Period.
If you want to attract that type of business in the future, then put them in your portfolio and damn the nay-sayers.
That's all. |
+1
If you don't want to advertise it, don't put a huge print in your storefront window. Do the shoot, and if anyone asks about something similar in the future, pull out this portfolio and show the interested client...don't show it to the woman asking about maternity/family/wedding/etc. |
yeah. what they said...
nothing says you have to advertise every type of photography you do to everyone...
you could also do the shoot and take some shots that really minimize the body/suit part and focus on the face... take them with the intention of adding them to your regular portfolio and leave anything overly "revealing?" out of the public sphere...
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03/06/2008 04:51:26 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by Jedusi:
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
You could always get someone to start a porno film studio across town, thus diverting attention from your much less unacceptable business. |
Is that a suggestion or an offer ??
:- ) |
Hmmm, not me, I have no desire to be tarred and feathered then run out of town. Pretty sure they still do that down there. |
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03/06/2008 04:56:20 PM · #10 |
I don't see the issue but one option if you think it would seriously hurt having both types of images is to setup a different website domain for that specific type of photg (a small town people would know anyway, so I don't see the issue). Easiest to do it as a sub-domain with the new name pointing to it but you could keep them separate.
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03/06/2008 05:08:53 PM · #11 |
Why not set up a whole shoot around swimsuits. Have the Mum (your model) in a swimsuit and a couple of kiddies, and sandcastles and a picnic on the beach and do a family style shoot, Mum, Kids together, Mumand Kid, Kids by themselves which would naturally lead into some swimsuit shots.
I woudnt put it in you rmain portfolio though, not with the Weddings and such, but you could have one on the counter and when people browse then they will see it. |
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03/06/2008 05:21:02 PM · #12 |
..
Message edited by author 2008-03-06 17:29:06. |
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03/06/2008 05:37:40 PM · #13 |
Perception is reality. In the customer's mind anyway. I know a photog in rural Ohio that started with playboy type photography and now does a lot of HS seniors - and it's not an issue for him. In some places the rumour mill would do in such a photog in no time at all.
Show the work you like and people that that like it too will be your clients.
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03/06/2008 09:17:08 PM · #14 |
thanks everyone
i believe i'm going to post a few of the not-so-revealing shots, w/ non-seductive expressions, and that way the ones that want to know i do that type of work will know
thanks so much! i really appreciate the great comments :D |
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