preping skin for a nude shoot???

Hello,

 

Every time I see pieces of a photoshoot on TV, I see the girl-models

putting something in thier bodies (cream or oil). I was wondering if

someone here knew what that stuff was. I'm getting ready for a

boudoir photoshoot, mostly black and white, indoor with both

natural, and studio lights. Is there a product the girl could rub

on, that'll make her skin look even better.

 

Thanks in advance

 

I'll post the pictures as soon as I have them.

Most models will use gallons of make-up of one kind or another... to hide blemishes or the modify the "look" of the skin evening out different skin shades such as white marks under the breasts or in creases that just don't tan evenly, freckles, ect. White, or rather lighter toned, patches at the base of the spine are a common problem in all body types and skin tones from Caucasian to Asian and even in Black models.

 

For Caucasian skin "smooth" [and even a matt finish] is very important in photography and it should be even in tone. For heavily tanned Caucasian models, Black girls and brown skinned models a skin oil works well to bring out the contours of the body and provide a means to bring out some highlights - personally I recommend any inexpensive brand [the cheep brands are not as aromatic as the more expensive variety] of olive oil here rather than other stuff like mineral or baby oils that models invariably bring with them. The advantage to olive oil is that it can be literally mopped on and then the excess wiped off the surface with a dry bath towel whilst leaving a nice even sheen to the skin... AND... it is good for the skin too.

 

Did a published article several years ago about the benefits of olive oil when applied to the skin called "Fun with Olive Oil"... but that is another story for another thread. LOL Needless to say, though, that it has a history as a skin oil that dates back to the building of the pyramids, and before.

 

Hunter

Johnson's Baby Oil is popular. But more than that ensure the skin is warm and has lost any contact marks from clothing - this takes about twenty minutes but less if the room is warm.

thank you both for your answers. Oil it is!!!

Its VERY tough to find any model without a tatoo these days, so make up is often needed. For that 'perspiring' look smear on baby oil (the model will insist on doing it herself), then spritz with water. Here is an example of the effect. The photo is copyrighted so no stealing please.<div></div>

What the model (or makeup artist) is applying depends on the look they're trying to achieve. It might be makeup, it might be lotion, it might be oil. In the shot below, the makeup artist first gave the model a dark tan, then used olive oil to give her a glossy sheen.<P>

<center><img src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/shellybw11.jpg"></center>

David M , nov 25, 2004; 12:49 a.m. said: ...For that 'perspiring' look smear on baby oil..., then spritz with water....

 

Also Mike Dixon Photo.net Hero Photo.net Patron, nov 25, 2004; 01:03 a.m. said: ...In the shot below, the makeup artist first gave the model a dark tan, then used olive oil to give her a glossy sheen....

 

Thought I would comment on the oil used in both shots. As noted in my earlier msg I prefer olive oil for skin sheen. Compare the two photos and you can actually see the difference - in David's image the model's skin actually "looks" wetter (not just the water droplets) than in Mike's image. That is the difference between the effectively very light weight of the thin bodied baby oil (David) and the medium weight of the olive oil (Mike). There is more going on here, however, that is not readily apparent. The baby oil tends to stay on the skin's surface, a bit too much and it will actually be runny; a bit too little and the oil effect is gone; while the olive oil is actually, physically, absorbed and when the the excess is removed gives a "depth" quality to the skin without being apparent - something that I look for but have never been satisfied with using the lighter non-absorbed baby oil.

 

Body builders, on the other hand and I have shot some, are a separate entity, again, as they prefer very heavy weight mineral oil, almost a syrup consistency, that literally slicks up the skin. If they were seals someone would be coming to their rescue. LOL

 

In part the choice of oil type depends on the nature of the shoot and the model but the choice needs to be made with care to get the desired results.

 

Mike you have an MUA that knows their stuff. Worth every penny.

 

While we are here, here's another trade secret / tip... the odd hair not staying in place? Try a bit, just a dab, a tiny tiny dab, of KY Gel to control a bit of hair that just won't stay where you want it or how you want it. Either comb it into the hair with a spritz of water, style while slightly damp then leave it to dry for a minute or two; or put a small dab on the skin and stick that fly-away strand of hair to the skin... Washes out/off with water and you won't have to use three cans of icky hair spray to get everything to stay in place. For men's hair you can take a dab in the hands and rub into the hair then slightly damp comb as required - does not have (photographically) any gloss to the finish like ordinary hair creams - so the hair looks completely natural - and, again, washes out with water.

 

You can also actually use KY Gel as a sort of adhesive for very light objects to stick to the skin (glitter, little foil stars, paper stuff, false mustache, ect). After the shoot just peal away what you needed to stick on and everything else comes off in a shower. Best part is that KY is completely safe for the skin and the environment unlike some of the commercial theatrical stick-ums (e.g. solvent based spirit gum).

 

Hunter