PHOTOGRAPHING CHAIR TIES
MODEL: CATALINA L'AMOUR

Basic chair positions might seem like a breeze to photograph, but there are several mistakes that photographers make again and again.

Shooting a chair position straight-on doesn't usually work.  The lady's thighs are so foreshortened that her figure looks bad -- even a beautiful figure like Catalina's.  There is one instance where shooting straight-on works, and that is if you are interested in panty-peeks.  However, you can still capture those cute panties without taking a clumsy-looking picture.  Tighten the shot so that it frames her from her head down to the top of the knees.  This will take the emphasis away from the odd-looking legs.

For most upright positions, the photographer should crouch so he's not shooting down on the lady (creating big-head syndrome), but seated ties are an exception, due to the foreshortened thigh problem.

Some photographers try to escape the foreshortened-thigh effect by standing over the model and shooting down on her.  This helps to lengthen the legs, but you lose the panty-peek -- and worse, it makes the lady look like she's "standing up" in the chair.  This detracts from the sense that she's tied down.  (Assuming that in a full set, you'd have lap ropes and other additional work.)

The straight-on shot gets even worse if you have the lady's feet pulled under the chair.  Now her calves look goofy.  Again, this is a perfectly nice angle for a closer shot, such as head to thigh.  Just think twice whenever you're tempted to shoot a full-body straight-on angle.  Ask yourself why you want that shot.

Hand Placement -- Where to put the hands for a chair tie?  If you put them in the small of her back, those fists are going to keep her from sitting back against the chair.  If you want to do a secure chair tie, that's going to become a problem, because you can't get her upper body snugly attached to the chair back.

If you ask her to lean her torso against the chair back, her hands will drop down behind her hips, forcing them forward.  This creates a slouching effect... not very feminine.   (The lady won't be happy when she sees how you made her look in the pics!)

If you want a houselamp to appear in your shot, it should share the same light color as your shoot-light, or the photo will have conflicting fields of yellow light vs blue light.   On-camera flashes don't have the same light color as houselamps.

If you're shooting videotape, don't leave lamps on within the shot. The lady will look dark (backlit) and the strong light will degrade the videotape image.

* Hands behind the chair -- If you place the hands behind the chair, the captive can now push her hips all the way against the chair back.   This brings her up straight, and juts her breasts out too.  The first shot is the diagonal angle that I consider the principle angle for all standard chair positions.  The straight-on shot and straight-side shot rarely make your lady look as good as the diagonal view.  (Note here that Catalina decided to pose her feet.  En pointe or tiptoe is very attractive -- usually a nicer line than putting the feet flat on the floor.)

Feet under the chair -- Beware the temptation to take a rope and pull the feet way back under the chair.  This usually tilts the lady's hips and starts her sliding into a slouch again. If you're specifically into feet, however, and the emphasis on the feet's position is intentional, then the unsexy slouch is an acceptable price to pay.

* Open leg position -- Like most chair ties, a diagonal angle is still the most flattering shot.  The straight-on view, as usual, makes the legs look odd, but since the open-leg chair tie is geared toward panty-peek fetishists, the shot's still worth taking.   Consider moving in for a head-to-thigh close-up, since the knees on down aren't presented too nicely from the front.

Since the open-leg position generally requires pulling the ankles back, you'll have a partial slouch that you want to avoid shooting.  Like other chair positions, a side angle is important if you're shooting to emphasize the feet -- but if you don't have a thing for feet, the diagonal shot above is preferable, since it downplays the slouch.

That's it for chair tie photography.  Perhaps hogties would be a good follow-up topic.

Special thanks to our lovely model Catalina L'Amour!

ANY QUESTIONS?

"Where can I get my bondage pics developed?"

I take all my stuff to a local place. I've always had my photos developed at regular photography/camera stores.

Don't use the one-hour places; they often have the out-tray arranged so that visitors can see what prints are being made. Just check out the regular overnight places.

What I do when I'm looking for a new place:
I go in and ask for the manager.
I ask the manager if they'll print "adult material."
If they say yes, I say, "What are your guidelines?"
A typical response will be something like, "no animals, no blood, no underage."
If it's so far, so good, I then say, "how about me tied up?"
And so on until I have gotten a clear understanding of what they'll accept.

I don't suggest that you use a private developing service that advertises on the net. If they're online they might also be secretly scanning and posting your pics onto the net. They don't all do that, but how can you tell you've picked an honest service?