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Being a hand model takes a lot more dedication (and lotion) than you might think

Aug 21, 2020 by John Aldred 1 Comment

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As photographers or filmmakers, many of us have or will work with models at some point, perhaps even regularly. Typically, however, it’s about the whole package. We’re not usually focusing on just one part of them. Well, not unless you’re shooting products and need the services of a hand model. A hand model like RayMartell Moore.

This eight and a half minute video from Insider offers a fascinating insight into the world of hand modelling. RayMartell is uniquely qualified to talk about this topic as he’s been doing it for a decade now and his services can command as much as $4,000 per job.

Chances are, if you’re reading this, you’ve already seen RayMartell’s handy work somewhere and didn’t even realise it. He’s worked for some pretty big brands and his hands have been featured in a lot of big advertising campaigns all around the globe.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by RayMartell Moore (@raymartell)

He attributes his success to his skin tone, which he says is perfect for lightening or darkening in post, and the size of his hands which are “large, but not too large”. They’re large enough to comfortably hold many of today’s smartphones, but not so large that they dwarf those of other products he holds in front of the camera.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by RayMartell Moore (@raymartell)

Of course, many of us have heard of hand models, even if we didn’t know one personally, I’m sure most of us don’t have any idea what it takes to actually be one and to be able to maintain one’s hands in order to be able to keep doing it for a living. RayMartell lotions his hands an estimated 30 times per day, with a couple of manicures each week to keep everything camera-ready at all times in case he gets a sudden call for an immediate job – which he says isn’t uncommon.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by RayMartell Moore (@raymartell)

Of course, having to have pristine hands all the time means he’s limited in what he can do. He says he can’t be anywhere near cats, due to their sharp claws. He can’t risk one of them scratching or cutting his hands. And he always wears his rubber gloves when washing the dishes to prevent the soap from dying them out.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by RayMartell Moore (@raymartell)

But it’s what he must do in order to mean a living. When you’re essentially self-employed, you have to be ready to work at a moment’s notice – which can earn him day rates ranging anywhere from $150 to $1,500, with one up even pulling in $4,000. Over the past year, eh says he’s earned more than $75,000. I wonder how much of that he’s had to spend on lotion.

It’s quite amusing that, even as a hand model, he’s sometimes asked to create some very unusual poses in order to be able to get his hands in just the right position for them to look good on-camera, as the last Instagram image above illustrates.

[via PetaPixel]

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Filed Under: Inspiration Tagged With: commercial photography, Hand Model, models, product photography, RayMartell Moore

About John Aldred

John Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

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John Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

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