Model grooming standards are high because abbywinters.com never uses makeup on-set, or Photoshop to “fix” blemishes. abbywinters.com is committed to publishing a true representation of models, as they really look (on a good day).
This is different to the approach of many competitors, some of whom liberally use both techniques to reduce blemishes appearing. Some producers simply ignore blemishes (especially those around the pubic region).
abbywinters.com’s pledge of realism comes with an additional burden of needing to ensure models feel attractive and happy with how we represent them in a make-up free state, and also that customers find models to appear healthy, neat and wholesome. For this reason – even if this is how she looks 90% of the time – it would not be suitable to shoot a model with a face full of white yellow headed acne that is about to erupt.
The Model Liaison team monitors each models grooming in the lead up to the shoot day, and SPs do an onset grooming check to catch any last-minute issues. This way, we ensure only models with appropriate grooming appear in shoots.
“Shooting around” grooming issues
Some grooming issues, while not preferred, can be “shot around” (that is, proceeding with the shoot, but de-emphasising the grooming issue with various techniques). SPs consider if they feel capable of delivering a shoot that:
- Fully meets all the assessment criteria
- Ensures the grooming issue is never visible to customers
If an SP feels confident that they can meet these stipulations, the shoot can go ahead. If the SP feels a grooming issue will be “too limiting” to shoot around (for example, the amount of the shoot at the model’s highest Posing Level would be significantly less than required), the shoot day is postponed until the grooming issues are resolved.
To work around a grooming issue a model’s Posing Level on a Solo shoot day might be reduced (only by discussion and agreement with The Collective), often to the Nude Only Posing Level.
Working around a grooming issue on a model’s buttocks
The initial process
The SP identifies a grooming issue on a model’s buttocks during the pre-shoot grooming check (performed at the very start of the day), shares an image of the issue with The Collective via the designated WhatsApp group. The Collective;
- Will ask the SP for their proposed solution;
- May recommend reducing the Posing level of the shoot (the model will need to be asked about this, as they will earn less);
- May decide to reschedule the shoot;
- May have provide specific hints and tips to help the SP make a successful shoot.
Sometimes, the Model Miaison may alert the Production team to the grooming issue in advance of the shoot day. Communication with The Collective regarding what can be done is the same, just in advance of the shoot day – the urgency is reduced a little, and there is more time to plan.
Approach: Select poses that hide the issue
The easiest way to avoid a buttock grooming error is to plan shots that do not show the model’s nude buttocks to camera. This is never preferred, as customers quite like models’ buttocks! But occasional exceptions can be made.
The Assessment area Number of distinct thoroughly-explored poses at highest level requires significant exploration depth with eight unique poses to be shot at the highest Posing Level). Selecting eight poses that have the buttocks hidden from the camera means the grooming issue will be hidden.
This approach can only be taken with approval from The Collective.
Position one: ‘Crab’
In this position models should be directed to put their weight on to their hands and to push their crotch up and forwards. The optimum positioning of the model is so that her tummy is totally flat – as if she were a table.
During video models can be challenged to walk in this position as part of MMaiA (unmotivated movement).
Position two: ‘Frog’
Key direction to models when finding this pose are to keep her legs as close to her body as possible and her feet as close to her buttocks as she can. This helps to open up her crotch for full vulva and anal exposure – ideal for OL or EXP content.
Details on this position are explored in FAQ: How to explore Frog Pose.
Position three: ‘Hips up, shoulders down’
Depending on the Posing Level intended for this pose, a model may need to twist her hips towards the camera and drop her near side leg lower, to expose the vulva and anus.
For video (MMaiA) the model can move her hips up and down, pulse them, gyrate them (simulating sex) or draw figure-of-eight shapes with her hips – all without exposing the grooming issue.
More information on how to explore this pose can be view in FAQ Hips high, back low pose.
Position four: ‘Kneeling’
ABOVE: Four variations of the kneeling pose. While this pose naturally lends itself to the NDE Posing Level, it can become OL if the model leans back with her legs apart, as shown in the bottom-right image.
Depending on where the grooming issue is, so long as the model is able to position the grooming issue hidden as she sits back on her buttocks, there is also an opportunity to shoot from behind (so customers feel like they have seen all of the model’s body), without the grooming issue being shown.
For more information on how to explore this Solo position go to FAQ Exploring Solo position: Kneeling.
Position five: ‘Laid on her back’
Of course, buttocks are fully hidden when a model lays on her back. For more details on how to explore this pose navigate to FAQ Laid on her back.
Position six: ‘Laid on her side’
During video there is potential for MMaiA in this position with the model lowering and raising her top leg, perhaps Layered with prop use (General prop) if she has exercise bands to place around her legs or leg weights to make the exercise more “taxing”.
Further information on this position can be viewed in FAQ Laid on her side pose.
Position seven: ‘Downward Dog’
This position would work well within a MMaiA yoga flow sequence, if shot from the above camera angle.
Position eight: ‘Shoulder stand’
Depending on the Posing Level, models could be directed to do bicycle riding motions with their legs during this position and attempt to straighten her legs fully up in the air as part of a MMaiA sequence.
While this example shows a model in an unsupported shoulder stand, doing this against a wall or arm of a sofa is fine as well.
Position nine: ‘Sitting’
Depending on the Posing Level there are several variations of this pose to be explored as there are many different ways a model can sit in a chair!
For more detail on this pose read FAQ Exploring solo position: Sitting.
Very flexible models will be able to take the sitting pose into the splits. More information on how to explore that can be found in FAQ: Exploring solo position: Legs wide/ splits.
Position ten: ‘Squatting’
A good pose for simulating sex, especially good during video, if the model has a dildo with a suction cup on the end that can be positioned below her.
More details on how to explore this pose in depth can be found in FAQ Squatting pose.
Position eleven: ‘Standing’
So long as there is space for the SP to get low with the camera and for the model to rest a leg on a surface (such as a table or window ledge) it is possible to do this pose at any posing level.
For more details on how to explore standing pose in depth go to FAQ: Standing position.
Position twelve: ‘Bridge’
Another pose with potential to be explored within a yoga flow as part of MMaiA during video.
For more details on ways to explore this pose review FAQ: Exploring solo position: Bridge.
Approach: Use model’s hands to hide grooming issue
Directing a model to hide a grooming issue on her buttocks with her hands can be a good solution. However, this fix will stand out (for the wrong reasons) if the model does not have “active” hands. A passive hand gently laid on a buttock looks out of place and adds nothing.
A hand grabbing or pressing into the flesh of a buttock has reason to be there (to deliver stimulation) and helps customers imagine what it would be like to touch the model themselves.
Approach: Use clothing to cover a grooming issue
Customers want to see naked models – it is what they are paying us for. Clothing items staying permanently on for whole shoots to obscure a grooming issue can frustrate customers (some customers would rather we just didn’t work with that model, if there is something that needs to be hidden). Frustrated customers do not remain customers.
Customers do, however, appreciate clothing being used to enhance the presentation and appeal of a model (so long as they also see a view with “nothing in the way” later in the shoot). Clever clothing use, that appears to be worn to make the model appear even more appealing (but is actually primarily in place to hide a grooming issue), must be countered by showing the model fully nude later in the shoot – but from an angle that does not show the grooming issue.
ABOVE: When a model has a grooming issue near the top of her buttocks, a long shirt can be selected, that hides the top of the model’s buttocks. A model may need to shrug the shirt off her shoulders slightly to lower the hem line of the shirt to hide the grooming issue, but this will not look out of place as this action is good tease before the shirt being removed. However, an OL pose can be shot with the shirt still on!
Approach: Use props to cover a grooming issue
Approach: Flat lighting
While never preferred in abbywinters.com shoots, flat lighting can help to make some grooming issues appear less “dimensional” (the “mountain” casts no shadow) so should be considered.
Send sample images to The Collective.
What about Must Haves?
Three Must Haves require the model’s nude buttocks to be aimed to camera. These Must Haves should still be shot (to spec) but they may or may not be used (at the discretion of the Imageset editor).
In instances where The Collective has agreed a model should be shot despite a grooming issue, SPs are not penalised these Must Haves being disincluded due to grooming issues, but they are penalised for other errors (such as not shooting them at all, or incorrect framing), even if the Must Haves do not make the edited set because of grooming.
To ensure Post Production are aware of this, SPs add an important-flagged note to the PPCMS whenever The Collective have approved a model to be shot with grooming issues that may impact Must Haves.
In addition to shooting the Must Haves to spec, SPs also shoot a variant that is close to the requirements, but hides the grooming issue. For example, clothing worn may be deliberately placed to hide the grooming issue, or the model may hold a prop or her hand over the grooming issue during the Must Have pose.