14 Comments

1. 

   Thom Keach on October 4, 2014 at 2:57 pm

   It seems to me that in a course on nude photography, it is rather hypocritical, that you have chosen to block parts of the models body from view. I assume this is a course for adults and that we can all handle all nude women or we wouldn’t have chosen to take the course. I also find the “blocks” very distracting and they actually place an emphasis on the very areas that are covered. Just my opinion of course.

   Reply
   • 

     Dan Hostettler on October 4, 2014 at 3:55 pm

     Hey Thom, thanks for watching the video and your comment!

     I totally get your POV. I am trying to find a balance between the “nudity approach” and making the video social shareable (FB etc). The videos are posted on Youtube and publicly listed. Full nudity wouldn’t be possible to use in social networks and they won’t get picked up by other mailing lists (and helping me spread the word…).

     Now what I should think about is probably this: doing an unlisted & uncensored version for my BLOG+ and a public listed censored one. Hmmm…

     What’s your opinion on that fellow readers?

     Thanks and best, Dan

     Reply
     • 

       Thom Keach on October 5, 2014 at 11:03 pm

       Hi Dan,
       That makes absolute sense for both a public vs. a subscriber list. Hope you will institute it!
       🙂

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     • 

       Trekk Shotz on October 6, 2014 at 12:05 am

       I concur on this as well.

       An unlisted and uncensored version makes sense for subscribers; as Winston mentioned, no need to censor your work as we are adults here.

       I totally understand the public version as well. I believe it would serve you well for content marketing and comply with FB.

       All though this may be more work for you I think the ROI in the end will prove to worthy.

       Again, great work.

       Reply
2. 

   Trekk Shotz on October 4, 2014 at 5:22 pm

   I think the video is great. It is informative, produced well, and straight to the point.

   I like to see theses type of behind the scene productions because it helps me unlock my creative possibilities and it helps get me out of my own self inflicted in the box type thinking.

   I like that you included the lighting set up and camera info. This helps in learning and is also a good reference for post cc.

   I do not mind the blocks as I completely understand the reason for them and I’m more focused on the technical side of the shoot.

   Videos are a great way to learn especially when time is limited and reading is not always an option.

   I’m looking forward to more great productions.

   Great Job.

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   • 

     Dan Hostettler on October 4, 2014 at 6:25 pm

     Hi Trekk, thanks for watching and your comment.

     Glad you like the approach and the direction. I will definitely publish more “Freemiums” like this one on a regular basis.
     The “block”-topic I will rethink but basically the format will stay the same:)

     Best, Dan

     Reply
3. 

   Winston Cooper on October 4, 2014 at 8:21 pm

   Dan..one of the best things I ever did was sign up for you blog. I have learned so much from your generous sharing of your work and techniques. One of your (and Jimmy D’s) lighting methods I have learned and love is the edge lighting of the model from baffled strip soft boxes from the rear quadrants of the set. In today’s post you only used one and it gave a superbly dramatic result. In my small home hobbyist studio I use two..maybe I will try with just one. However the main point of this comment is that I totally agree with Tom Keach’s observation, those black outs are distracting and very unnecessary for your serious adult followers. Perhaps you should consider two publications of your wonderful blog. Hell Dan, I am a 70 yrs old, when I try to learn from your work I don’t need to made to feel like I am some pervy 17 yr old kid.

   Again Dan, Thanks for your post.

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   • 

     Dan Hostettler on October 5, 2014 at 6:30 pm

     Hey Winston, thanks for your comment and glad you are part of this community!
     Regarding the censor-thing in the videos: I understand the pro and cons. Before I will edit the next FREEMIUM I will take all aspects and decide how to continue with this.

     Thanks for watching,
     Dan

     Reply
4. 

   Dana Manner on October 6, 2014 at 1:53 am

   Hi Dan,

   I like your new video, and it’s always a learning experience to watch other photographers work, and how the prepare, what tools they use and their interaction with the model and production crew.

   The censoring doesn’t bother me, it’s the techniques that I focus on… although I must admit that Melissa is one of my favorite CZ models. 🙂

   Regards,
   Dana

   Reply
   • 

     Dan Hostettler on October 6, 2014 at 5:51 pm

     Hey Dana,
     thanks for watching and your comment.
     Censoring: I’m quite convinced I will from now on produce 2 versions of the videos. 1) unlisted/uncensored /
     2) public/censored/social object.
     There are more stunning models to come :-))

     Best,
     Dan

     Reply
5. 

   Roy on October 6, 2014 at 8:05 pm

   Hello Dan,

   I must say, it was an informative video of behind the scenes and I suspect, your team and you, had a hard time adjusting the censored bar around the delicious Melisa Mendini.

   Many Thanks

   Reply
   • 

     Dan Hostettler on October 6, 2014 at 8:13 pm

     Hey Roy,
     LOL 🙂
     Thanks for watching and your comment! Yeah basically it’s a shame to hide perfection…
     More to come 🙂

     best, Dan

     Reply
6. 

   Jlrimages on October 14, 2014 at 8:09 am

   Hey Dan,

   Aside from enjoying the read/video, I do have a couple questions. In the video with Melissa, I noticed that you appeared to have quite a scripted “shoot plan,” for lack of a better word. Now, I know that the shoot was part of a book production, but I was wondering just how extensively you plan out your shoots. This might make a good article/video for the website.

   Second video question, again about something I saw in the bts part. I noticed some frames on which probably had different background designs on them. Did you make those? And what do you use to cover them? I was actually thinking of doing something similar.

   Keep up the good work!
   Joe

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   • 

     Dan Hostettler on October 14, 2014 at 8:13 am

     Hey Joe,
     thanks for watching and your questions.

     Shoot Plan: If I have a fully packed schedule for an educational approach where I need to implement all the concepts I need or if I am shooting a series for a client where the outcome is clearly defined I always go very precise in planning. The more precise I am prepared the more freedom I do have on the set to start the creation process based on a foundation. As I am commercially very busy right now I am almost all the time working with this plans. Not much time for personal work.
     But if I have time for shooting my personal stuff… – there’s more free flow involved. I then just need a great location or story or look or…. Like here done with Chloe: /articles/chloe-nude-photo-shoot-nude-in-the-gallery
     There was no plan at all.

     Backgrounds: they are painted (mixed colors) on a plain big canvas. We had two in the studio: a greyish one and a blue. I did not do them myself but the studio assistant (partner studio) is in charge for this.
     It’s cheap to “construct” and very versatile. After a while it gets painted with a new “style/color”.

     Best,
     Dan

     Reply