Sensuous Sadie

Your Fabulous Fetish Photo Shoot Part 3; Expressing your dominant or submissive side in your photographs

By Sensuous Sadie
SensuousSadie@aol.com
www.sensuoussadie.com

A Four Part Series
1. Choosing an amateur or professional photographer
2. Getting the most out of your shoot
3. Expressing your dominant or submissive side in your photographs (this article)
4. Tips for the Plus Size & Proud!

We've all seen those pseudo-BDSM novels with the faux Dominatrix on the front in a latex dress purchased at Spencer Gifts. These kind of photos are easy to take, and it can take an experienced eye to help you express your Dominant or Submissive nature. One way to do this is by posing couples together. Mistress Heart, a model and professional Dominant comments that, "One hot shoot we did in 2003 was with a real-life couple, Daddy Dyke and her submissive partner. They had already developed a connection and that came across as authentic in the photos." Fetish photographer Aleyna adds, "Another good pose for a Dom and sub couple is to have them face each other, the Dom can have a handful of hair for example, and be looking directly into the sub's eyes. Again the sub can have his/her eyes averted or downcast. Simple shots like this can tell much about the power exchange between the two." However, even with strangers you can develop a short-term connection that expresses your feelings about being dominant or submissive. Another fetish photographer, Merlot also takes an inquisitive approach, saying, "One needn't falsely sneer or cower in order to express either dominant or submissive tendencies; whether a person is one or the other, these traits will be exhibited naturally, and capturing the intended mood candidly on film tends to produce better results thru the elimination of forced theatrics. Yet it's also okay to disagree with my theory, and many probably will, as there certainly is a place for posed or structured photography."

Start with a Sexy Attitude
In our culture, whether you are thin or fat, it's pretty common to have body image issues. Whatever you feel about your body, this is the time to forget your fears and inhibitions. Promise yourself that you will pose for these photos with a sense of pride and ownership of your body. It's the gift that God gave you, and it's meant to be appreciated. Prepare your mind in advance and use prop such as music and candles to get you in the mood. Fetish photographer Barbara Nitke says, "I think dominance and submission can be expressed by body language and clothing best. Don't sneer or pout, or do some other form of acting. Unless you are a trained professional actor, it will look fake." Another photographer David Southwick, adds, "Imagine the camera is whoever or whatever you want it to be. You are on camera, so play to it, make love to it, dominate it, be submissive to it."

Looking Dominant
The most common way to make a person appear dominant is to shoot them from below, but you'll want to be careful about this as it can be unflattering. I often ask Dominants to dress up and bring their favorite toys, although we try to avoid the usual clichés. Rather, I try to arrange their equipment in non-traditional ways so that it's not so much a posed look. Absolute W suggests, "For Dominants, avoid the obvious clichés such as wearing a black leather vest and holding a crop, unless that's the way the Dominant feels the most comfortable." Barbara Nitke adds that, "My friend Rick Savage once gave me a great tip for helping a model produce a dominant look – have him or her remove all expression and just look into the camera. That keeps them from looking false, and gives them a remote look. Then, straight posture. You can shoot them from a low angle to make them look taller (automatically dominant) but watch out for double chins or pronounced neck wrinkles."

Looking Submissive
Looking submissive can also be a challenge because tapping into this vulnerable state can be difficult when the model is "working." Rather than try to actually get the model into an actual submissive state of mind, I often ask them to simply remember how it felt to be in subspace. Often this will show in their expression. Absolute W adds, "As far as shooting submissives, it always helps if the photographer has a Dominant side. Then the submissive gets in the headspace for the shoot by merely following the photographers directions. If the photographer is not a Dominant, then I would suggest that a Dominant be there off camera to "set the mood" for the submissive." This approach does not work with every Submissive however, so like many of these suggestions you may have to try it out to see if it works for you. A contrasting opinion comes from Dove, a former fetish model, who adds that, "When I was working I took a very dim view of a photographer who assumed that I was submitting to them, or the photo shoot was a scene that was being photographed. I tried to accurately portray or express what submission is by tapping into the mental aspect of submission. To say I actually submitted to the photographer is silly as saying when you write about submission you are submitting to an editor. My soul, my submission never was and never will be for sale."

Some other tips come from Aleyna, another fetish photographer and my friend Sarah who is an amateur model. Aleyna says, "I find most submissives will naturally be looking away from the camera, or will have their eyes downcast. Also if they are posed kneeling in front of you, they will again, naturally let the submissive come out." Sarah suggests that, "For submissives, they could be sitting on the floor looking up, or be wearing a collar and leash. They could go all out and be completely bound, or gagged or posing as a piece of furniture, or they could just give a hint of submission by holding a serving tray."

Trying to bring out something as deeply seated as one's BDSM orientation can be a real challenge. The best advice I've heard is to simply try out as many poses as you can and don't worry about the ones that don't work.

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REFERENCES & SOURCES

Thank you to all the photographers and models who send me suggestions! A special thank you to Dove and Helen Von Mott for many of the photo tips.

Articles of Interest by Sensuous Sadie:
The Fetish Wardrobe, a three part series that includes:
Part 1: Can't I Just Wear My Flannel Shirt? Why Fetish Wear is De Rigeur
Part 2: Developing a Fetish Wardrobe on a Budget
Part 3: Accessorizing for Pain & Pleasure
http://sensuoussadie.com/sadiescolumns/series/fashion.htm 

Protecting your Identity in the BDSM Scene
http://sensuoussadie.com/sadiescolumns/community/protectingprivacy.htm 


Weblinks of Interest:

Guest Photographers on Sadie's Website featuring many of the photographers quoted here
http://sensuoussadie.com/guestphotographerslist.htm 

Resources & Photographs for People of Size
http://sensuoussadie.com/resources/bbwresources.htm 

The Rotunda
A fabulous website featuring the beauty of super large and lovely nude women. http://www.rotunda.com/index2.html 
 
Photos of Plus Sized Models: http://www.rotunda.com/places/shopping/models.html 

BDSM for People of Size
This is a discussion group devoted to people of size in the B-D-S-M community, especially for Big Beautiful Women (BBWs), Big Handsome Men (BHMs) and their admirers. We welcome discussion and announcements about any issues having to do with being a larger person in the leather community, particularly size-positive articles, websites, and resources that are available at no cost. This group is Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered and Questioning (GLBTQ) friendly. 
To subscribe send an e-mail to: 
SM_PeopleofSize-subscribe@yahoogroups.com  or visit: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SM_PeopleofSize/   

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Photographers & Models Quoted Here with Permission (alphabetical by first name)

AbsoluteW, Fetish Photographer & DJ for Dominate Radio
admin@bdsmrealities.com
WebMaster and Owner of:
http://bdsm-news.org/ 
http://bdsmrealities.com/ 
http://mistresswebdesign.com/ 
http://pro-district.com/ 
http://mzlisa.com/ 
http://mzlisas-domina-guide.com/ 
DJ for Dominate Radio... http://www.dominateradio.com/ 

Aleyna, Fetish Photographer
joie@photosbyjoie.com 
http://www.innersecretsphotography.com/ 

Barbara Nitke, Photographer & Activist
Author of Kiss of Fire, available on www.amazon.com 
barbara@barbaranitke.com 
www.barbaranitke.com 

David Lawrence, Fetish Photographer & Shibari Bondage Specialist
http://www.shibariartphotography.com/ 
davidlawrence@shibariartphotography.com
 
David Southwick, Photographer
Poetic Photography
poeticphoto@earthlink.net    
http://www.poeticphotographyvt.com/  

Dove, Retired Model & Editor of ST BDSM
DOVE@sbcglobal.net 
http://www.slavedove.com/ 
http://www.ST-BDSM.com 

Ms. Heart of San Francisco, Professional Model, Domme and Community Activist
msheartsf@att.net
http://www.mistressheartsf.com  
http://www.mistressheartsf.com/WOC.html  

Helen von Mott, Model & Founder of Virago Wrestling
vonmott@gmail.com 
www.dangergirlz.net 
www.viragowrestling.com 

Merlot, Fetish Photographer
Scargasm@aol.com 

Persiphone Hellecat (Persi)
nursiepersi@persiphonehellecat.com 
www.medicaldeviatesr.us  

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Sensuous Sadie is the author of It's Not About the Whip: Love, Sex, and Spirituality in the BDSM Scene. Read an excerpt at http://www.trafford.com/robots/03-0551.html . She is the founder and leader (1999 - 2001) of Rose & Thorn, Vermont's first BDSM group. Comments, compliments and complaints, as well as requests for reprinting can be addressed to her at SensuousSadie@aol.com or visit her website at www.sensuoussadie.com . Sadie believes the universe is abundant, and that sharing information freely is part of this abundance, so she allows reprints of her writing in most venues.

Copyright 2004 Sadie Sez Publications