'The Gate Shot'

Well if that title doesn’t bring ‘them’ positively racing here, then nothing will. I am currently involved in a project with not one but eleven naked (well, nearly) women who have been persuaded to strip off and allow themselves to be photographed for a charity calendar. Sort of an homage to the WI, which this year is celebrating 10 years since the original exposure, this (very brave) group of women are all involved or have at some stage been involved with a local Pre-School and wanted to help raise much-needed funds. As anyone knows who has ever tried to fund-raise over a protracted period of time, new ideas are the equivalent of the proverbial needle in a haystack so we have already forgiven ourselves for this being a recycled one… we’re hoping the target audience will do the same.

When I say we, I do mean we as yes, dear reader, I myself am one of the aforementioned ‘very brave’ women. The reality is that on the day of our first shoot, which just so happened to be for the ‘Christmas Scene’, we had all consumed at least 2 glasses of the fizzy stuff before half-past-nine in the morning – a fact which should have helped take the edge off the nerves, but in actuality just made us feel slurry and nervous in a ‘too much, too soon’ kind of way.

Unsurprisingly in a group of 30 and 40-something women, all with at least 2 children, body issues were high on the agenda. What was quite surprising is the area of our bodies that we were most conscious of – without exception it was the midriff section that we’d have chosen to keep covered, which involved a fair amount of strategic twisting and arm holding.

Things they don’t tell you about posing for a nude calendar:-

1. That in a group shot, there is a world of difference between what you see and what the camera sees. We all sat looking at one another, terribly exposed and very politely keeping our gaze at chin level or above…
2. That setting up the shot never takes as long as you hope – those few moments with your dressing gown on are precious…
3. That you will always like everyone else’s shot more than your own…
4. That it is really not the done thing to stumble into someone else’s shoot and exclaim rather too obviously; “You’ve got no knickers on!”
5. That it is one of the most exhilarating, supportive and memorable things you will ever do…
6. That you will want to do it again, immediately!
7. That it’s a bit marmite.. people will get it or they won’t. Either way don’t stress…
8. That nobody else looks at your body in the same way as you do… we were all genuinely surprised at each other’s body issues…

There’s loads more, but they are the important ones.  We’ve launched and already sold half of our target 200 but already the feedback we’re getting is enough to put huge, life-affirming grins on all of our faces.  To buy yours email calendar2010@battleplancreative.co.uk – thank you!

Stop here – Naked Women on Display…
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8 thoughts on “Stop here – Naked Women on Display…

  • September 23, 2009 at 9:03 pm
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    Can’t wait for the calendar – and am off to see if posting naked women makes my site viewings go through the roof!

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  • March 19, 2010 at 2:21 pm
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    Wow! I had no idea! Well done you lot! Let me know when & where the calendars will be out.

  • March 19, 2010 at 2:24 pm
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    LOL, thanks J! They’re 2010 calendars so we’re already onto March…cheque presentation only happened this week though! x

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