(In fact, every shoot you do with us will follow this same pattern).
Before the Shoot day
You Shoot Producer will have confirmed with you a few days before, the date, time, and place of the shoot. If it’s not your own home, this will usually be a domestic house or apartment.
If you need to travel to a different city for the shoot, your Model Liaison will have been communicating with you about this – also see the Travelling for shoots section of our FAQ.
You will have been sent a link with more info about the Shoot Producer (so you can see what they look like 🤠, and what they do in their spare time to relax🤸. Similarly, the Shoot Producer has access to the information we have collected about you (you can check our Privacy Policy to see how we handle that info).
Arrive at the shoot location
When you arrive, the Shoot Producer will introduce themselves and show you around the shoot location. Perhaps offer a coffee and a brief chat.
About your Shoot Producer’s mindset
Shoot Producers are experts and put a lot of pressure on themselves to make good shoots (they are paid based on the quality of the shoot they make of you).
While all our Shoot Producers are friendly in general, shoot days are stressful, and there’s a lot riding on them – a small issue can have serious consequences (for example, if a neighbor starts mowing the lawn during video shooting, what happens? We cannot release a video with a lawnmower as a soundtrack!).
Shoot Producers also know that you feeling good is important, so they’ll be working hard to keep you happy and comfortable. Shoots days are a team effort, and the more you and the Shoot Producer put in, the better the result, and the happier our customers (meaning, more shoots are likely for you, and the Shoot Producer!).
“Ursula [Shoot Producer] was very comforting and right at the beginning, she explained what we were doing. First, we’re doing this, then that, then this…She said if I was uncomfortable with something that I didn’t have to do it. She said that if I was uncomfortable we could stop the shoot and that it’s no problem… That was really reassuring” (Mischa W, Jun 2021).
Do the Grooming Check
The first thing a Shoot Producer needs to do when you arrive for the shoot is to check your grooming. A serious grooming issue can mean a shoot needs to be rescheduled, or affect the shoot plan the Shoot Producer has made, so knowing that early on is essential. In the Grooming Check, your Shoot Producer will ask you to get naked and will inspect you closely for issues.
“I was a bit worried about the grooming check… I had to be quite careful and I’m not usually attentive to bruises or scratches… They just happen! In the end, it was easy and not a problem” (Dalilah, Nov 2021).
As you will have provided grooming images to the Model Liaison several times over the last few weeks (who is in touch with the Shoot Producer), there should not be any problems here. The Shoot Producer may use a checklist, to make sure they do not forget anything. They will never touch you. The Grooming Check takes perhaps five minutes, and you can get dressed again.
“He [Shoot Producer Brad] said it is easiest to just remove all clothing and just check that everything matches the grooming standards. I just got undressed and dressed again. He communicated with the Model Liaisons to make sure everything was okay. And that was it!” (Anika V, Dec 2021).
If there are grooming issues, your Shoot Producer may need to take pictures (often with their smartphone), and send them to a colleague who can help them decide how to proceed. Our policy is to always try to find a way to make the shoot happen, but sometimes, the compromises are so great that a good shoot cannot be made, and it needs to be rescheduled.
Backstage images (throughout the day)
Throughout the shoot day, the Shoot Producer will capture “backstage images”, and behind-the-scenes happenings (the images on this page are all Backstage images). These are added to our site a few years after your shoot, as a popular extra feature for our customers (and some of the best ones are posted as a “Picture of the Day” in the few weeks after your shoot).
Usually, your Shoot Producer will look for backstage opportunities that are “incongruous” or unusual, for example, eating lunch topless because it’s a hot day. If the Shoot Producer goes to take a picture and you’d prefer they did not right now, just let them know, it’s no problem. More info on Backstage images.
Complete paperwork, capture IDs
Next up, paperwork and ID. abbywinters.com always operates legally, and that means the Shoot Producer needs to know you are over 18 (no matter how old you look) because there are severe consequences for them to work with an under-age model. We also need a copy of your IDs on file to meet our legal obligations. An unsuitable or missing ID will mean the shoot cannot go ahead (more info on IDs).
The Shoot Producer captures the front and back of your ID, often using their smartphone (they use a special application we made called Homonoia (the Greek goddess for the oneness of mind) that sends the images directly to our secure servers). Takes under five minutes. More info on Homonoia.
We need clear permission from you to be able to use the material the Shoot Producer captures of you, on our website, so you need to sign a “Release form” (you “release” the rights you have to the images, to our company, abbywinters.com BV). You had a chance to read this in the Basic Info Questionnaire when you first applied to work with us, and the Model Liaison can send a PDF if you want to read it again before the shoot. More info on our Release Form.
Sometimes, this form is completed on paper, other times it’s completed on your and the Shoot Producer’s smartphones in the Homonoia app (this is more efficient; again, the data is transmitted to our servers securely). You’ll be emailed a PDF of the completed Release document after the shoot, for your records.
We ask you to handwrite a short note on how you’re feeling about the shoot that’s about to happen. Some colorful drawings are also nice – these help customers get a sense of who you are. More info about Handwritten Bios.
Select clothes
Your Shoot Producer will ask you to lay out all the clothes and props you have brought with you, so they can select the most suitable items. Your input is most welcome at this stage – items that you know make your butt look good or things that go well together, for example. More info about the clothes to bring.
However, the Shoot Producer also has their own ideas, and are informed by the extensive training they have taken (if you’re interested, you can see some of the training we provide Shoot Producers), and will work to select a set of clothes that are right for our site.
Once selected (top, bottom, panties, bra, some accessories, socks), the Shoot Producer will ask you to get changed in private. They’ll keep working on setting up the shooting area, making sure the lighting is good, and testing their camera.
“I feel like the shoot was very collaborative. Like, which bra to wear with which dress…The Shoot Producer and I bounced ideas off each other.” (Elise V, Jan 2022)
ABOVE: Shoot Producer Jacki sorts through a model’s clothes to select the most suitable outfit.
Pre shoot briefing
The Pre Shoot Briefing recaps what will happen today in practical terms. The Shoot Producer will ask models to share their understanding of what’s required and expected before the shoot begins. Together, they will workshop some poses for the shoot, and other thematic ideas – this varies by the Shoot Type that has been booked. We have a Pre Shoot Briefing FAQ that has more details.
Asking questions is always ok, and your Shoot Producer will always take time to answer them fully, but this is a particularly good opportunity to ask any you have so far.
“Hermann [Shoot Producer] had ideas and I had ideas and we melted our ideas together and he was excited about my ideas and I was excited about his ideas. I can tell that he has done this a long time! He knew what he was doing. It was easy to trust his eye after a little while. He is also funny! He makes you feel relaxed.” (Flo, Mar 2021)
Do warm-ups together
The importance of warming up before a sporting activity is well-known (reducing the chance of injury, and muscle pain after the event), and warming up your voice is also important (helps you speak more clearly). Emotional warm-ups help bond with your co-workers (in this case, your Shoot Producer), help you relate to each other, and feel good about working together.
Your Shoot Producer will lead a short 10-minute session of physical, vocal, and emotional warm-ups to help you both get pumped, and get in the zone.
“I loved the warm-ups we did with the ‘purity test’ and asking questions – I loved that idea. I almost like that I was not told about that beforehand has really helped with my nerves. I liked how cool and open the questions were, it was not just ‘what’s your favorite colour?’ stuff it was deeper stuff, like ‘have you ever touched someone sexually on a train?’. I liked that he opened up as well, helped me relax and feel like we had some trust.” (Jada S, Jul 2018)
Shoot stills
The information here for shooting Stills (and below, shooting Video) is general. We have a separate page, What am I actually expected to DO in a Solo shoot? that provides info from a different perspective.
Usually, shooting still images happens before shooting video on the shoot day (but sometimes, shooting video will happen first). This allows the Shoot Producer to direct you through a bunch of things without worrying about their voice being recorded (on video, we only want to hear your voice, not theirs).
In all our shoots (for both Stills and Video components), you always start clothed, and over the course of the shoot you’ll gradually get naked, and then pose to the maximum posing level you selected.
The Shoot Producer will direct you into poses, for example, “Stand by the window, and look out it”, or “keep your head there, but look into the camera”. We say ‘poses’, but it’s pretty casual stuff, and we don’t expect you to have any professional experience.
The first section of the shoot is where customers get to know you, so there’ll be a bunch of stuff clothed, but sometimes with a sexy element, for example, the Shoot Producer might ask that you stand on the coffee table and change a light globe, while they shoot from down low, looking up your skirt, catching a glimpse of your panties 😉
In the early part of the shoot, the Shoot Producer will be checking each image they capture of you on their digital camera, and perhaps making adjustments to the camera, lights, set-pieces, or set-dressing elements to look right, so it’ll feel a little slow at first. But after 10 minutes or so, the pace will increase.
Over time (around one hour), you’ll get naked, removing each article of clothing one piece at a time. Sometimes, you might be asked to take something off, then put it back on again (for example, t-shirt off, bra off, t-shirt back on, squeeze your breasts over the t-shirt).
At any time, it’s fine to let the Shoot Producer know you’re not comfortable with a given pose – that’s never a problem – and they’ll move on to something else (but, they do need to make a complete shoot, so if you keep rejecting their ideas for images of your butt (for example), that’s a problem, because a complete shoot includes many butt pictures).
At any time, it’s also fine to suggest stuff – Shoot Producers love it when models do this – for example, “Shall I do a handstand?”, or “What if I sit like this, is that better for the light?” (this is especially helpful when you hear them muttering about light, and making many small changes to get it to be perfect). As we move through the shoot, it becomes more sexual in nature, so poses that emphasize your butt, vulva, legs, breasts will be more common.
Throughout the shoot, the Shoot Producer will be taking a mixture of images that are “wide shots” (showing your whole body), mid shots (showing you from the waist-up), closeups (for example, of your breasts), and extreme closeups (for example, of one nipple).
Around half the stills shoot will be at the highest Posing Level you chose. For example, say you’re comfortable with the Open Leg Posing Level, and the stills component takes four hours. For the first two hours of the shoot, you’ll be clothed, in bra-and-panties, and nude, doing a bunch of poses. For the second two hours of the shoot, almost all the poses will be at the Open Leg level (the video component of the shoot follows a similar pattern).
At the end of the Stills session, there’s one more sequence to be shot, called Dressing Room. This is where you get dressed in a different set of clothes, while the Shoot Producer “hides” behind something (to create the feel of voyeuristic images). This is fast-paced, and the camera stays static (often on a tripod) while the Shoot Producer directs you – takes around five minutes.
“I loved that with poses, she [Shoot Producer Guilia] would sometimes jump to the floor and show you what she meant rather than leaving you guessing and feeling silly.” (Zina B, Nov 2018)
Have lunch
Your Shoot Producer will have organized lunch for both of you – more info on How does lunch on shoot days works?
Do warm-ups again
After the cool-down of lunch, it’s time to do warm-ups again, similar to the pre-stills edition. The voice and the physical stuff are more important for video.
Shoot video
The Shoot Producer needs to use a different camera and lighting equipment for video, so there’s a change-over required.
Because videos are quite different from stills for a model, we have a separate FAQ answer on how the video component works on a solo shoot day, so check that.
Wrap up
Now the shoot’s done, there’s just some admin wrapping up to do. A bit more paperwork (including another handwritten note describing how you feel now the shoot is done), pack up your clothes and other personal items, and finalise some paperwork in the Homonoia app.
You Shoot Producer has a few more hours of work to do tonight, getting the shoot uploaded to our servers, and a bunch of admin, and preparing for the next day’s shoot. So, if you finish packing up your stuff first, your Shoot Producer will appreciate your help to pack up their stuff – perhaps carrying gear to their car, general clean up, or washing dishes / moving furniture back – whatever it takes for you both to be able to head home sooner.
“I appreciated how efficient the shoot was. It didn’t feel like a drawn-out process where I was exhausted.” (Alonya, Oct 2021)
Get forms
At the conclusion of the shoot, our system will automatically email you a copy of your Release form for your records.
Get paid
We send your payment from headquarters the next Dutch business day after the shoot, to the bank details you provided, though if you’re scheduled to appear in several shoots over several days, we’ll pay you after the last shoot in a block.
We have more info on payment in our FAQ, Receiving money from abbywinters.com.
And then… do more shoots!
If she’s interested, we often offer several shoots of each model we work with (of her alone, and with other models, if she chooses)… but that depends on a few things.
