lets go

[TEV-Photo]

mainly do portrait stuff, wanna get into more “maxim” “playboy” style stuff but right now ill shoot anything pretty much, after all a subject is a subject and light is light so its all fundamentally the same

modelmayhem.com/stephensmith

this is my modelmayhem, some of it is older, thus more overdone and fauxtogy but my newer stuff is a little more natural and toned down.  i dont charge for this yet, although i have shot some events where i got paid

 

thanks

 

stephen

[IHF]

I hope you are ready for this, because is going to be harsh

 

I hate to tell you this but you sir are a fauxtog if you start charging.  The only thing keeping my respect for you at this point, is the fact that you aren’t charging.

I decided just to pick an album and critique all the images within

I chose Leah Marie
1) you made her look so old.  She looks like a cut out (a badly done cut out) in front of a crooked horizon.
2) This pose is not very attractive.  Her facial skin around her mouth almost looks zombie-ish
3) This one is a little better.  Although I don’t like the unevenness of her eyes
4) Another unattractive pose.  Look at her neck/chin.  Her skin tone is also very odd
5) again with the weird neck. ditto
6) ditto
7) better pose.  horrible backdrop.  She’s been cut in half
8) The lighting is HORRIBLE!  Half shade half full sun.  Again with the neck.  Very unflattering
9) The pose is a touch better, but still not up to par.  You cut off her feet. AND her eyes are the focus dude!  Not her ass, no matter how lovely it is to look at
10) Horrible back drop.  Bad shadows, and the same pose that was used through out her session

 

Number 8 and 9 is what convinced me you aren’t getting it.  No photographer would put #8 in their portfolio ever, and #9 well, this just gives me the impression that you like to take advantage of beautiful woman and take their picture for fun.

[IHF]

“after all a subject is a subject and light is light so its all fundamentally the same”  this statement lso rubbed me wrong.  i dont think you have a good grasp of photography and what it intails

[MBChamberlain]

I will preface this with the hope that I am wrong about this, but from your presentation here, on mayhem, and on facebook, this is what you look like.

I don’t even have to look at your work and based on this post I have 3 letters for you, and a two words.

GWC. Please Stop.

But you wanted to know if you are a fauxtog, and the answer to that question is most definitely, and beyond that, you are the most reprehensible kind. You present yourself as a photographer, use that misdirection to get women to shoot with you, then you treat them like meat. The pictures don’t show respect for the women you shoot, and that makes my blood boil.

That isn’t to say that shooting nudes, or even shooting “sexy” photos is necessarily a bad thing, or that it makes you a creep. But no women who shoots with you would ever come out the other side looking like a stripper. It is very easy to get attention by shooting photos like this, but it detracts from you and from your work, plus, it teaches models that this is what it takes to get work. and I can’t stand that. Instead, the challenge of shooting a beautiful woman is to make her desirable and sexy without either compromising her femininity or tarnishing her image. The challenge is even greater when you shoot nudes, there is a very very narrow area where it is done well, and to one side is amateur porn and the other side is gratuitous nudity.

Again, I really really hope that you aren’t actually the guy that your work, posts, and websites make you look like you are. But don’t set out to shoot that type of work. If anything, doing it well takes even more skill than ordinary portraiture. When and if you’re good enough to pull it off, that type of work will come to you.

[Nightrose]

I hate to say that my first thought was also “GWC”.  The reason for this being that you state you will shoot “anything pretty much, after all a subject is a subject”….so why are all of your photos of scantily clad women? No male models? They’re subjects too!

I think your best album is of Gabrielle Scarlet – I like the contrast of colours between her hair and the blue hoodie, and the majority of her poses are strong and flattering. This album indicates you are trying to do something fun and creative, rather than focus on the lack of clothing.  You should do more photoshoots like this one.

The album of Leah Marie is the least successful, as a lot of the poses are unflattering and lean towards the “skanky” side of things. This group of photos screams GWC.

Remember that sexiness is not necessarily overt – smouldering eyes, strong poses and flattering outfits are usually far better than parading around in skimpy bras and knickers!

[fstopper89]

The whole idea of Model Mayhem rubs me the wrong way. I’m sure there are a lot of great photographers and models on there, but I’ve stumbled upon a few older creepy male fauxtogs who shoot nothing but skanky, trashy models and only get likes because the women are half-naked. They use harsh flash and have no visible technical knowledge. There’s a creepy guy who hangs out at the bars in my town and asks girls to do photoshoots of them. He goes to their houses, picks out their clothes, does their hair and makeup, and then takes their pictures and over-edits them. Some of his “models from florida” images look like he superimposed the girl on an ocean background.

[Author]

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