How to Become Foot Fetish Photographer

Foot fetishes are the most common fetish in the U.S. It's so common that certain sex workers will specialize in it, parties are held specifically catering to foot fetishists, and a subculture has formed around the fetish. The term, foot fetish, has become common parlance, entering the mainstream in fashion magazines, newspapers and in popular television shows like Sex and the City.

Because of this, becoming a foot fetish photographer is now easier than ever before. The fetish itself is now out in the open, which makes it more marketable and easier to find both models to pose, and an audience to purchase your photographs.

Photographs of feet in stockings or high heeled shoes, the bottoms of feet, feet in sand or water, and washing feet are all common types of foot fetish photographs. While there is no "typical" path one takes to become a professional foot fetish photographer, two things are absolutely essential: an appreciation, if not an affinity, for feet and fetishists, and dedication to the art of photography.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Experience as a Professional Photographer
• Fetish Gear
• Foot Models

1. Pick your audience, and cater your experience as a photographer to meet the needs of the audience. If you're aiming for fashion photography with a focus on feet, attend an art school and study fashion photography, as this is the best way to break into the field. If you're working for a website, determine the quality of the photographs for that website, or discuss it with the founder and determine whether your photography skills are up to par.
   
   Skin Two, an online fetish magazine, puts out an annual coffee table book of articles and artwork, including fetish photographers. To get involved, you can contact the current Editor, Tim Woodward, for information on how to submit your work to either the online magazine or their print publications. His email address is: [e-mail].
   
   For purely artistic pursuits, the parameters are up to you: a BFA in photography is not necessary to be a good photographer, but as you acquire skills, your photographs will improve. Acquiring gallery space to present your work involves contacting the gallery. Find out if the gallery takes unsolicited material before submitting any foot fetish photographs to them. For the ArtistsSpace, they provide the Irving Sandler Artists File Online, where anyone can upload their work for the Artists Space's consideration.

2. Study the work of those who came before you. Elmer Batters, Ed Fox and Johnny Jaan are famous fetish photographers, and studying masters is always important when learning a new craft. (See Resources).

3. Buy fetish gear to use as props for your photographs. Foot fetishists have sub-fetishes: stockinged feet, high heeled shoes, and smelly or sweaty bare feet are all sub-fetishes of a foot fetish. Purchase shoes and stockings in various sizes if you don't have a particular model in mind.
   
   Another option is to set money aside, and go shopping with your model to pick out the appropriate gear for your shoot: shoes may not be necessary, for example, if you're planning a stocking shoot. Flirty Nights Lingerie sells sexy shoes and boots, stockings and leather gear.

4. Find models, and treat them professionally. Advertise on Fetishlink or Secret Mag (see Resources). Treating your models well, paying them as much as you can afford and acting professionally is the best way to gain trust and a good reputation as a photographer.

5. Meet each model in a public place before the shoot, talk to them politely, describe the shoot you have planned and ask them if they have any questions or concerns about it. Also discuss how much the model will be paid, if anything. There is no typical payment for a model, but feel free to ask him or her what pay s/he has received for similar shoots, or what pay she is comfortable with. If you cannot afford to pay the model, explain this and give him the option to turn down the gig.

6. Write up a model release form. This firms up the legal boundaries of the shoot, particularly what rights the model and photographer have to the photographs. The Dan Heller Photography Website provides information on model release forms.

Resources

• Johnny Jaan Photography
• Elmer Batters: Legs that Dance to Elmer's Tune, Purchase on Amazon
• About Ed Fox, Foot Fetish Photographer
• Secret Mag: Online Fetish Art and Fashion
• Flirty Nights Lingerie: Sexy Shoes and Boots for Sale Online

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