Newbie question Re: Wardrobe

[Carpe Imago]

Another question from the new guy, which means that laughter is allowed so long as it comes with good advice...which it always seems to.

Was looking at Clacey's recent beach posts and was thinking to myself, "Self, when the photographer provides an intimate wardrobe item for the model to wear...such as a minimalist bikini...what is the proper protocol?" Is it customary to allow the model to retain it, or is it an accepted practice to simply launder it and reuse it? This may be a dumb question, but as a friend said "You wouldn't get me into another woman's bikini for any amount of money." After the humor of the comment wore off it really got me thinking.

What is the consensus amongst photographers...and more importantly what do you models think?

Okay...you may commence laughing at will....

[grsphoto]

One of the best swim suit selections I know of is owned by a Photographer... he washs and reuses them.

In my wardrobe, unless they are really special, the underwear goes home with the model... I don't shoot swimsuit so I am not sure how I would deal with that.

Glenn

[That_Look_Photography]

What I have found in the past is that I hate to shoot the same outfit. There was a time I would save the outfits like swimsuits and reuse them ,But I never liked it. So one day I made a rule that if I was going to shoot a model in an outfit that I bought I would give them the outfit. Now I get all my work from clothing designers and I don't pick the outfits so it is up to the designers if the model keeps the outfits or they go back to the cliants.

Mike

[Andy_Pearlman]

I usually keep an inventory of bikinis for my swimsuit shoots. Sometimes I get them from clients, sometimes I buy them. Normally I try to use the model's own suits because I assume they feel comfortable in them (both the fit and the style) and it becomes "their" shot. I stay away from older, worn, or frayed suits for sure. I use my suits if they look better than the girl's suits, which happens more often in California than Florida (Florida girls seem to own better suits....?). I always make the girls wear underwear if they try one on but don't actually shoot in it, but if they try it on without underwear or use it in the shoot, I get it professionally cleaned - absolutely. Also, I use a system I call "3rd girl keeps it". I'll shoot a suit no more than three times, and the third girl to wear it keeps it. Since my calendars are from stock, I can mix and match girls and suits and if you've seen enough of my calendars at one time, you'll see certain suits show up on different girls and different settings.

With lingerie, I see no reason why it can't be cleaned and reused. I know Playboy sends all their stuff out for dry cleaning and its not a problem. This stuff gets expensive.

Regards,
Andy Pearlman
Andy Pearlman Studio