The most important thing to remember when it comes to taking pictures, especially good ones, is that it’s a process. You will need to take a lot of them, and only pick the very best.
Even the pros, the greats like Annie Leibowitz, Helmut Newton, and Dan Winters; the people who knew exactly what they were doing; who had thousands of dollars worth of equipment, assistants, and exotic locations. Every one of them would still take dozens, if not hundreds of photos to get the shot they wanted. They know it’s about getting The One Shot That Matters.
Now you do, too.
How To Get The Photos You Need
Firstly, take your time with them. You do need quality photos, but do you think all those pros started with a top-end camera and just started taking them? Of course they didn’t! They had to learn! It’s the same with a lot of our escorts. They start with what they have, then add over time. Our top guys have been with us for over eight years, and they’re constantly updating their pictures. It’s not a one-and-done kind of job.
Another advantage you have is that there are thousands and thousands of resources out there at your disposal. All you need to do is take the time to absorb them.
I’m not saying you need to become a professional photographer, just that you need to invest a little time in yourself. Not money. Time. (Although if you have the money, hiring a pro can speed up the process, but where’s the fun in that?!).
It’s About Your Attitude… to Getting the Right Shot
If you’re putting yourself out there, why would you put up with looking any less than your best?
As the average guy about town, you and I may scoff at the social media stars and the girls on nights out taking dozens of selfies. Their cries of “delete it, delete it, I look awful”. But you have to ask yourself: “Why?”. It’s not just vanity.
It’s because, as women, they’ve grown up in a society where their attractiveness is their most valuable commodity. Where you and I might be in someone’s Facebook post that caught us at the wrong angle, holding a glass with a silly grin, and be OK with it, it’s not the same for girls. Completely unnecessarily, they feel they HAVE to look good. In EVERY shot. Every picture. Every time. It’s sad that they feel that way and are constantly under that pressure.
As a professional male escort, though, when your looks are part of your business, you need to take a leaf out of their book.
You don’t want to be thinking “Yep, that’s a picture of me” when you look at a phone. You want to be thinking “That’s me looking good. That’s me at my best”. If you’re putting yourself out there, why would you put up with looking any less than your best?
Put it this way—if you put a pic up that you’ve taken in a spare four seconds and made no effort, it will show. Why would a client think you’d make any more effort with them?
If you can’t answer “yes” to “Am I looking my best?”, you need to take another one.
And another. And another.
It’s work, yes. But it pays off. Your attitude makes the picture as much as the camera does.
DIY Photography Tips
Regarding the technical side of things, remember that you don’t need an expensive camera setup to execute this; the smartphone in your pocket is more than capable if you apply a few basic principles:
- Wipe Your Lens: Make sure you wipe your camera lens with a soft cloth/lens cloth/glasses-cleaning cloth before you start. Even a clean T-shirt will do if that’s all you have. It’ll keep the picture sharper, brighter, and more vibrant. You won’t have that “washed out” effect you see on some mobile phone pictures. Scroll down for an example.
- Learn the Self-Timer: Learn how to use the self-timer on your phone’s camera. It makes taking non-selfie selfies a lot easier! Propping your phone up at eye level will give you a much more natural, candid, environmental portrait than an awkward shot with your arm extended and taking up half the image.
- Chase the Light, not filters: Look at what professional content creators do with light. That’s the important stuff. You don’t need a filter if you’ve got a solid photo to start with. Filters are a fun addition, not a necessity, and we generally ask our guys to avoid filters for the site.
Video Masterclasses:
To help you visualize how to pose your body, frame your surroundings, and master camera angles using just your phone, invest some time into the resources below:
- Mr. Dasante Shorts – Great examples of how to pose your body, create sharp angles, and look natural.
- JD The Camera Guy Shorts – Brilliant short clips on how to frame yourself using a phone and manipulate natural light.
- 10 Quick Tips For Selfies – This guy has an excess of personality, but his photo tips are solid. Worth a watch.
We’ve curated a playlist of some of the best shorts we’ve come across, and are constantly adding to it as we find more
Further Reading & Composition Tips:
- Snappy Snaps: How to Take Good Selfies
- Tiege Hanley: 5 Steps to a Good Selfie for Dudes
- GQ: Male Model Selfie Tips
- Facetune: Best Selfie Poses for Men
- Stryx: A Man’s Guide to Better Camera Angles
It’ll take time to get it right, but it’s always worth it in the end. All you need to do is take the time to make the picture, then do it again if it doesn’t quite work the first time. That’s what the girls do. It’s what we as escorts need to do, too!
Want A Professional Opinion?
The team here at The Male Escort Agency has years of experience in assessing and editing images, as well as curating the best mix of pictures to use for your profile. If you want to know where you’re missing, as well as where you’re hitting, hit the button below to join us.
Join Today