Good Vibrations...

Patty hadn’t been gone five minutes when she called from her cellphone. “You’ve got to iTunes Norah Jones singing Turn Me On. It’s perfect for the last scene, you know, the one where she climbs onto that big four-poster featherbed!” And perfect it was—not only for that photo shoot scene but also for the client’s DVD.

Finding the perfect mood-changing sounds and words that will heighten sexual tension is always an adventure for us. We delight in seeing how the right music enables our clients to reveal their sexual personas.

So, how do we select music for a shoot? Since music supports scenes, scene selection comes first (see previous article). After that, it’s a matter of finding the music that focuses her attention on the mood needed for each scene.

During the initial interview we ask the client what type of music she or her lover plays as a signal that sex is in the offing. What do they listen to during foreplay? And what turns her on and what turns her off? While a few have thought about it at this level of detail, many have not, but if phrased effectively, her answers will give us a pretty good idea of what will stir her during the various scenes. (And asking these questions opens the door for her to reveal her sexual self, which is so important for the upcoming photo shoot.)

I should point out, that many clients tell us they love what we play in our website galleries and leave it up to us. The interesting thing is that using our experience and intuition to select timeless and intense music rather than the latest fad usually works out fairly well—not only for women over forty but also for the twenty-somethings.

Some key points about our selection process:

• create storyboard of scenes first
• select individual songs, not albums
• choose timeless music that enhances the tempo and the sexual emotion of the scene
• use both vocals and instrumentals
• keep in mind that a subset of this selection will be ideal for the client’s DVD

I know everyone is a sucker for good lyrics, but don’t discount instrumentals. Without the lyrics, the photographer can more easily direct the client during a scene.

Last, where do we buy this music and how do we organize it? One word: iTunes. I know there are other services, and when we can’t find what we want on iTunes, we use them, but eighty to ninety percent of what we buy comes from iTunes. For each shoot, we organize the music by playlists that correspond to the scenes and rest periods on the storyboard. Patty uses that storyboard to coordinate the music and scene selections throughout the shoot. (Remember to buy two copies of any song you intend to use on the client’s DVD.)

Because our photo shoots are always on location, the playback system we use must be small and portable—meaning no AC cables—and the sound must rise to the occasion. We attach an iPod or an old Apple iBook (our “Baby Mac”) to a set of battery-powered Logitech speakers. The whole system fits comfortably into my rolling camera case or in Patty’s backpack.

And since several of you asked, here’s a playlist we used at a recent shoot:

The cool thing for us is that the adventure of discovering the perfect music continues with each photoshoot, and it usually begins with my cell phone ringing and Patty gushing about the song she “just discovered.” We love it! And believe me, I’d sooner use a point-and-shoot than attempt a photo shoot without the right music.

Today’s images: Bree in Leather No. 0503 and No. 0532.
Lighting: Key light is a large umbrella with a flag at camera left; fill light is a reflector to camera right; edge light is a small umbrella at camera right and behind subject.

Comments

[Anonymous]

How do you arrange for redistribution and licensing to put various songs on your website and on DVDs you resell?

M

[WillT]

Thank you for asking.

DVD production and distribution is restricted to the client only, and our contract requires her to purchase each song used in the production of that DVD.

The Flash website was created for prospective clients who, if they could, would see and hear the same thing if they came to my office. All of the songs used on the site are DRM-free from iTunes. In my opinion, neither the site's usage nor it's intent present a potential for market harm and is, therefore, covered under Fair Use.

[Iris Dassault]

To me, music is a key ingredient when I model. It puts me in the mood to move with it, and I think images always come out better when I have some music I enjoy in the background. Music makes me happy. I enjoy modeling. Put both together, and it becomes a powerful addition to a shoot. :)