Hope at the interview

Hope responded to a classified ad I placed on a popular free classified website. I had posted ads once or twice a week for the previous few weeks. The ads stay up for a couple of months, so there were about ten ads up. Hope responded to all ten, so I assumed she was probably hitting all of the ads she could find, what I call shot gunning. A model appearing uncommitted can be a yellow flag, so I needed to determine how deep her interest was. I responded quickly to Hope, knowing she was eager to get started and might soon be busy with other photographers. Here is the e-mail she sent me:
“Hi, I am interested in being the nude model for your photography. I am an artist myself and have painted some nude portraits so I understand. I would like to meet beforehand and maybe know a little about you before. I will attach one or two photographs of myself in semi-nude to see if I might be what you are looking for. I will check my email often for a reply. Thanks, Hope”

As it occasionally happens, Hope’s photos were not large or clear enough for me to determine her suitability for my projects. It was obvious that she had some attractive features, and the photos she sent me were unusually creative in their lighting and poses. This was substantially encouraging. Nevertheless, I still had some questions about her appearance that were difficult to answer via an e-mail exchange. From the small, dim shots, I could not see if her skin was smooth or if her muscles were toned. I was also concerned about her apparent shotgun approach. I decided an in-person interview would solve these uncertainties, as well as verify her interest and commitment. My reply to her first e-mail read, “Hello, Hope. I like what I see. I’m pretty flexible with time this weekend. If you send me your number and tell me when you’re available, we should be able to do something.”

I called her, and we agreed to meet at a coffee shop that was convenient for both of us. Hope was on time to the meeting and lively when she got there. She was, in fact, easily identifiable as the most attractive woman in the shop. On that note, I typically do not worry about how I am going to spot a model at our first meeting; if I cannot find her in a crowd, she’s probably not what I’m looking for. I introduced myself to her while she was standing in line. I bought coffee for both of us, and we sat. Hope reiterated that she was an artist, and concerning nudes, she said, “I get it.” She was emphatic, and I could sense she had zero qualms about creating images with me. After a few minutes, I suggested we step outside to see how well things worked with her, my camera, and me. We walked into the parking lot, and I retrieved my camera from my car and snapped a few quick shots, one of which appears on this page.

I did two shoots with Hope before she unfortunately had to move four hours away. For months, we did not do any shoots. I kept in touch with her through Facebook and we have continued to work together. I have traveled up to work with her over a weekend and she has come to me on occasion. When visiting her, we traveled to some of her mountain haunts, including some amazing waterfalls. She has posed with classic cars and at an abandoned Buddhist monastery. Hope is good at making a single prop work, whether it is a rope, chain, scarf, or bottle filled with water. I have photographed Hope at least eight times, each with spectacular results.

More about Hope and additional recruiting diaries appear in my book Up to My Eyeballs in Nude Women.

Modeling is competitive and the world of the figure model is no exception. If you work out three times a week, you may lose your next audition to the model who hits the gym five days a week. If you run two miles a day then treat yourself to fried chicken, there’s the girl who runs six miles and never sets foot in a fast-food restaurant. Here are some ideas to stay in shape, showcase your talents, and make sure you stay on top of the list of models who get called back for more work.

1. Fix your portfolio. Choose recent photos. It’s okay to keep one favorite, but old photos send the message that you’re not hired much. Choose photos that show how good you look; not how good the Photoshop is. Retouched photos make it look like you’re trying to hide something. Remember, it’s not an art exhibit, it’s a visual résumé.
2. Tone up. You’ve got to work out more than the competition if you’re going to beat them. Find exercise you enjoy so you won’t quit doing it.
3. Take care of your hair. Baby it. Don’t abuse it. Depending on its length, the ends of your hairs have been hanging around for a year or more. Don’t ruin your hair in one night with harsh chemicals.
4. Take the interview seriously. If you show up looking like you just rolled out of bed, you won’t get the choicest gigs.
5. Junk food is the enemy. You can lie to yourself, but your body will not lie to the camera. Treat junk food like a terrorist. Don’t negotiate with junk food. Drinks with whipped cream, anything fried, anything that drips grease, or has added sugar should not pass your lips. Whole, natural foods build a healthy body.
6. Keep a steady pace. Model regularly and in amounts that you can handle. Don’t overbook and don’t take extended holidays.
7. Fade those tan lines. Wear a variety of beachwear so you don’t have such a bad lines. Use tanning salons, but don’t overdo it. Buy one or more tan-through swimsuits. Use sunscreen. Avoid deep tanning.
8. Don’t smoke. The link between being smoke-free and a healthy, sexy look shouldn’t have to be explained.

Nude model outdoors. Model: Hope S.