Andrew:
Welcome to The Artistic Light Podcast, a podcast dedicated to creators of artistic nude photography and videography. I'm your host, Andrew Anderson. In this podcast I interview Schalohm, one of my longtime models about her first experience in nude modeling. Schalohm is a Mexican and learning English. Let's join the interview, in progress. What made you start to look at modeling?

Schalohm:
Since I was little kid, I was really silent kid, until now, actually. It is for me, it's a little bit trouble to talk. So always I looking for something that can make me easier to express myself and get confidence, as well. So modeling was one of the first things that I have really immediately, because I try to get at dance classes, painting classes, but for me was so expensive. So in the modeling I get the confidence and the expression, but at the same time, I can get money. So for me it was like a winning win.

Andrew:
Sure. When you looked at the ads, were you looking initially for modeling or were just looking for ways to make money and modeling was a good idea?

Schalohm:
Modeling is a good idea because I'm looking for something to help me to my confidence and to my expression. And yeah, the interesting about the ad, it was that you can pose, nothing in sex, that will be in [inaudible 00:01:56]. So for me that was like, "Okay, this guy."

Andrew:
I explicitly said no sex involved, just artistic nudes.

Schalohm:
Yeah, because hearing, I'm not a professional model and I never go into agency and start to prepare for a modeling industry. And it was really hard because all guys want to, something back. Right? So that's why I go for you ad.

Andrew:
No, good. Did you have experience with others before?

Schalohm:
One experience for a lingerie.

Andrew:
For what?

Schalohm:
Lingerie.

Andrew:
Oh, lingerie.

Schalohm:
Lingerie. I mean-

Andrew:
Lingerie.

Schalohm:
Lingerie, in French. Yeah. So I'm putting some of that. They took me photos and videos and it was really normal. But at the end, the guy asked me for...

Andrew:
More than photos.

Schalohm:
More than photos. And of course that he saw my face, I think. And he told me, "Oh, I can pay you more." Like dude, no.

Andrew:
Yeah.

Schalohm:
So that's why I like, okay, I need to be so really carefully because I was like want to the experience and get confident, but in that moment I had the opposite. So I was really fierce.

Andrew:
I'm sorry for that. I mean, I think unfortunately that's relatively common. A lot of men-

Schalohm:
It's really common-

Andrew:
... Or claim to be photographers and interested in nudes and as the expression goes, I'm not sure they have film in their camera.

Schalohm:
Especially when you are not a professional model, it's easier for them.

Andrew:
Sure.

Schalohm:
Because, I don't know.

Andrew:
Sure. How was your first experience with me? How did that go? What were your feelings?

Schalohm:
The first experience, it start before then, the photo shoot.

Andrew:
Yeah. We had a conversation on the phone beforehand.

Schalohm:
For me, the experience start in that moment when I hear your voice and the way you talk and express-

Andrew:
My desire for the photographs?

Schalohm:
Yes. It was really kind person, really educate person, kind and really passionate about the photos. So that, for me was like, I felt like, okay, here-

Andrew:
He's honest about his desire.

Schalohm:
... Yes. Here I can be really secure and get what I want, which is get confident about myself and somehow express myself as well. So that's started my experience there. And the photo, it was really freedom for me. Really, I feel really comfort, really confident and for me was just I, in that moment for the first time of my life, I go for the flow, for the first time. I'm like, okay.

Andrew:
Now that was your first time nude modeling?

Schalohm:
Yes. Yeah, the first time.

Andrew:
That had to be scary, that very first, taking the clothes off and walking out?

Schalohm:
Not really.

Andrew:
Not really? Good.

Schalohm:
Not really, because I know that I'm so really skinny. So for me it's not a big deal because I don't have a curve. So I don't have too much to hide. So, it's like, okay.

Andrew:
Yeah, I would argue differently. You're a beautiful woman, but I'm glad you felt very comfortable.

Schalohm:
I feel very comfortable.

Andrew:
How was it different than your expectations? Was it a different experience than you had thought it would be?

Schalohm:
I have no expectations, but it was really opened my eyes and my mind to another world than I thought I never can be able to do. Like, modeling and express myself and seeing my photos and feel confident about me and say, "Oh, I look good."

Andrew:
Good.

Schalohm:
So for me, it was like, open the door to another world that I tried to go for that. But honestly I never thought that I can be able to do. So, yeah.

Andrew:
Good. Was it essential experience for you?

Schalohm:
No. For me it was not sensual, not sex thing at all. It was more like artistic thing for me, for my experience that I feel in all around. You, you kind of looking throughout the camera and everything, I feel more like an artistic thing than sexual thing.

Andrew:
I think a lot of my friends and people that I know when they find out that I do this and they say, "Oh, that must be an exciting experience, sexy, you must be turned on while doing this." I'm like, no. My mind is concentrating on composition, lighting. I'm looking at the form, I'm trying to create something beautiful and it's not an erotic experience. I don't get aroused. It's not anything other than looking at a beautiful person and trying to make sure you respect and capture that beauty. And I think there's a large obligation to do that because you are trusting me with your image and it's my responsibility to show that beauty with respect.

Schalohm:
And I feel that something the first moment where we talk. So I feel that kind of ambience that you of course always is like, okay, for me, I have this right feeling here, but we never know. But when I went in the photo shoot, I feel that ambiance, like you really respectfully and really kind and really nothing sexual, nothing sex symbol. Not at all. So for me it was really artistic and really freedom experience.

Andrew:
Good.

Schalohm:
Even though I don't wear any clothes.

Andrew:
I tell people, well it's better than photographing serial boxes, but is not an erotic experience.

Schalohm:
Yeah.

Andrew:
What did you think when you saw the photos when it was done and you saw those first photos, what were your thoughts?

Schalohm:
First of all, I thought you are a great photograph. And second thought, it was like, okay, I can do it well. I'm looking good.

Andrew:
Yeah. Good. So you were proud of what you saw?

Schalohm:
Yeah, I'm proud of, get with the right person to catch me in the photos.

Andrew:
No, you're beautiful. I mean you should be proud. You should be proud. You're a beautiful woman. Did you want to model again after that experience? I assume that you enjoyed it and modeling again was something you would enjoy or do?

Schalohm:
Yeah. Of course. Actually, I'm working with you for many follow up sessions. And you try to introduce me when another photographer that you know it. But for me, it was like always I tried to feel really, really confident and somehow they are great photographers, as well. But they tried to turn me to this something more sensual. It's not bad thing. But for me it's not my personality. My personality is more like an artist. Shadows, lines, lightings, more than an sensual. I don't feel like my personality is more like a sensual, like a show, things like that. It is more artistic.

Andrew:
Good. Did you share the experience with any of your friends or family?

Schalohm:
Of course, with my mom. Even though my mom is not really happy with that. But with my mom, with my sister and my sister were like, "Oh, pretty cool, really well done." And yes, of course with my friends.

Andrew:
Good.

Schalohm:
And all my friends they say, "Oh, there are beautiful pictures." Even it's like a say, I was totally naked, nude. But it was not sex sexual thing, nothing like that. It was more beautiful and art artistic and the expression is... how say it? Transmit [inaudible 00:11:13] photo.

Andrew:
Yeah, the photos transmit or project.

Schalohm:
The photo transmits nothing sensual. It's more than that. It's more like a... I don't know how to explain it. It's difficult, but it's more like how confident I went and show that confidence.

Andrew:
And I know you, that's something you don't always have. And most women I think are shy and a little reserved about that aspect-

Schalohm:
Exactly.

Andrew:
... Of themselves. But I think all women are beautiful and I want to show that in my photography. I want to make sure that I respect that and show that aspect of them. Some people, some women like showing their sensuality and everything else and other people don't. And I just want the photos to reflect that person and who they are. What advice would you have for other models or people, women, considering modeling, men considering modeling, what would your thoughts be about... And especially this type of modeling, it's very different than say, fashion photography.

Schalohm:
Do when you make me feel comfortable and naturally, then you can be, fake it, no matter what kind of photo, but you should do it, what make you feel really comfortable, really in your ambiance. And be natural, for you. That's it.

Andrew:
Good.

Schalohm:
In the first photo, actually almost in every photo, I never wear of makeup. I never wear hair style done, never. Even clothes, so...

Andrew:
Yeah there was only-

Schalohm:
More natural than-

Andrew:
Yeah, I think there was one photo shoot where we painted your body and everything that was with on heat, and that was a whole different animal and you were great in that, too. But yeah, that was the purpose of that photo shoot. But the rest, yeah, you're totally natural.

Schalohm:
Totally natural. I never wear makeup, never wear any kind of stylish.

Andrew:
I would agree. I think I advised you and I advise any model that's going to pose for me, especially in this genre, the artistic nudes, the internet, and those photos are forever. Don't do something you're going to regret. If you're comfortable with who you are, you like artistic nude photography, and you're proud, then this is okay. But remember that you can't change your mind a month after it's published because it's there.

Schalohm:
Yeah. And that is really important. Now I'm working for a, kind of knowing in the accounting work company and they have a lot of really important clients. So obviously the imagine is really important for them. But as well, they're support the artistic, the expression, be yourself and-

Andrew:
Right.

Schalohm:
Do whatever makes you happy. Right? So my boss saw one of my photos and was like, "Oh, really beautiful, really artistic." It's not like nothing like a, oh, it's so shy, because he saw me nude and blah. No, he's like, "Oh, really beautiful, really good light." In the photos where we made, you can see many things, the light, the expression, the shadows, the line, many things. So is something that I really like about your photos because you can show the photos and every single person catch that. Obviously in general, is a beautiful photo, yes. But some people catching the colors, some people catching the lights, some people the shadows, so it's something that I really like it because you can share it and it's like an artist like an artist's painting.

Andrew:
Painting, yeah.

Schalohm:
Many people like, Oh, this color, oh, this form. Or That's what I like it about.

Andrew:
Everybody has their own perspective.

Schalohm:
Yes.

Andrew:
They all see the same photo or painting. The all come away with something and something different. But thank you. I want to thank you, one for modeling, for me being my friend. That was a start of a good friendship.

Schalohm:
Yes.

Andrew:
And lots of good, beautiful photographs of which I'm very proud and just thank you.

Schalohm:
You're welcome. Thanks to you for inviting me.

Andrew:
Thank you for listening to this Artistic Light podcast. I hope you enjoyed it. And join us for more insights into creating artistic nude photography and videography.