Interview with Charles Gatewood

Hi everyone! My name’s Charles Gatewood, and I enjoy a great life taking nude photographs of the world’s loveliest tattoo girls. Tough job, huh? What’s even more amazing is that almost all the tattooed cuties who call and e-mail me each week are glad to pose for free, asking only that I show their beautiful body art and give them high-quality prints of the pictures I take. How did I get started? How does one meet top tattoo models, and what is the etiquette of working with them? In this and future columns I'll explain how I create my finest erotic tattoo pictures--and how you can too!

I began my photographic career in New Yor

In the mid 1970s my involvement with tattooing grew deeper when I began working w

In 1987 I moved from New York to San Francisco to be closer to the Bay Area’s awesome body art tribes. Here I found a whole new generation of hot tattoo punkettes eager to pose for pin-up pictures. Woohoo! These West Coast girls have their own unmistakable style--an irresistible mix of punk, hippie, S/ M, Goth and fetish. My models are North Beach bohemians, South of Market slum goddesses, Haight Street hotties. They’re artists, performers, club kids and exotic dancers. Many are into retro fashions, like vintage corsets, high heels and black-seamed stockings and bullet bras. The girls share other cool looks too, like wild colored dreadlocks, thigh-high boots, elaborate slave collars, latex miniskirts and elaborate body piercings. They all know and adore pin-up queen Bettie Page, and often ask to pose for classic “cheesecake” pictures--quite different from my earlier documentary photojournalism. Adventuresome, fun-loving and hugely creative, these heavily decorated cuties bring outrageous props, erotic toys, kinky accessories and sassy attitudes. Almost all are willing to pose completely nude, or topless, and many have no limits at all. Hugh Heffner--eat your heart out!

The question I'm asked most often is, “How do you meet such gorgeous models?”
My answer is that since I'm well known for high quality tattoo pin-up photography, more than half of my awesome models contact me. They know my work from books like MODERN PRIMITIVES, TRUE BLOOD, MESSY GIRLS and THE BODY AND BEYOND, and they see my pictures in Skin and Ink, Skin Two and other tattoo and fetish magazines. What a joy!

Here are some other ways I meet great tattoo models:

--I look and act professional. I'm respectful, I do good work and I honor my commitments.
--I attend tattoo conventions and events where would-be models like to show off. Duh!
--I cruise fetish clubs like Bondage-a-Go-Go in San Francisco, complimenting the tattooed girls, showing them my body art books and offering my business card.
--I advertise for models in BDSM publications, tattoo web sites, weekly alternative papers and the San Francisco Chronicle.
--I post flyers in clubs, fetish stores and Haight Street Cafes: TATTOO PIN-UP MODELS WANTED. I've met some fascinating models this way.
--I network, passing out cards to models and friends and asking them to recruit new talent. I also sometimes exchange models’ names with other erotic photographers.
--I have tattoo “spies,” savvy club kids who make all the hottest scenes and know which girls have the look that will make me smile.
--I have tattoo pin-up galleries on my free web site, www.charlesgatewood.com, where prospective models can admire my style and contact me.

Today I'm having more fun than ever. The world’s prettiest tattooed cuties keep calling, and it’s my great pleasure to accept the c

When prospective models call, I ask them to send nude photos showing their tattoos, piercings and other forms of body adornment. I also ask if they have any stretch marks, scars, or bad amateur tattoos I should know about. Then, if I like their look, I ask them to fill out the MODEL SEARCH form

Once we've agreed to shoot and discussed the session in detail, I give the models directions and ask them to arrive on time, clear-eyed and well-rested. I also remind them to wear loose clothing, so we don't have to wait an hour for bra and panty lines to disappear. If they have fresh or half-finished tattoos, I encourage them to wait until the work is finished, completely healed and looking its best.

I also ask models to bring their favorite music, plus costumes, accessories and props that will add zip to our session. My whacky models bring the darndest things! Sides

Before the model arrives, I set out bread, cheese, juice and bottled water. If the day is cool, I build a fire in the fireplace to warm the room. When she arrives, I make her feel welcome and at home. After some friendly chat, we examine the accessories and props she brought. Then I ask her to apply her make-up and think of ways to cover or hide any bad tattoos or physical imperfections. And when she walks out of my dressing room, naked and gorgeous, saying, “How do I look?”, I thank the heavens for giving me the best job in the world.

I put her music on the stereo and our dance begins. I take charge and tell the model exactly what to do. All models--even top professionals--need direction. “Take some deep breaths,” I usually say. “Relax. Now move your body... slowly... now turn that full-sleeved arm toward me and bring it a little higher. Good. Chest out, tummy in. Big smile.” Click! I keep the friendly, supportive chatter going as I try new props, new poses. I also ask the model for creative input, and our collaborative energy often produces some surprisingly wonderful photographs.

Other tips for posing models:

--I often “go into a zone” while working and forget half my preconceived ideas, so I make “wish lists” before every shoot, detailing the poses and, props and scenarios I want to explore. I ask models to make idea lists too--and this creative brainstorming produces many wonderful creative surprises..
--I'm flexible. If a model arrives with bruises, whip marks, cuts, burns,
--I style the model, choosing props and accessories which will add visual excitement. Whenever possible, I use a professional stylist or make-up artist to give the model that “superstar” look.
--I ask models to help me by striking animated poses. Calm, static poses are great for serious portraiture, but I also especially love catching the ecstatic expressions as models act out “this is FUN!”
--I often try to add a “kicke

After I've shot plenty of film and worked through our idea lists, I ask the model to sign a model release allowing me to publish and exhibit the photographs (I've adapted mine from a standard form available at large camera stores). On the release I also ask for age, stage name, contact information, descriptions of all body art, and names of all tattooists, piercers and others involved. I'm also careful to photocopy her photo ID to clip to the release form. Most magazines and book publishers, by the way, won't ac

Some other lessons I've learned:

--If a model shows up, drunk, stoned or otherwise wrecked, I cancel the shoot.
--If a model becomes angry, abusive, paranoid or unstable, I stop shooting.
--If a model flakes, or is really late, I try to be patient. If the model is special, it’s worth it.
--I am Mister Nice Guy, polite and respectful.
--I never touch a model without asking.
--I avoid flirting, even though models sometimes flirt with me.
--I deliver courtesy prints promptly--and boy, do my models love that!

If you or one of your tattooed friends would like to pose for my camera (I photograph men and couples too), visit my web site, www.charlesgatewood.com, check out my photo galleries, and write me! I live in San Francisco, and I visit New York and Los Angeles at least once every year. Let's get together!