First Shoot With a model please help

Olympus 35mm f/3.5 Macro ED Zuiko Digital

04/14/2007 01:39:34 PM · #1

I will be doing my first shoot with a model (two of them) on Monday. Up to this point all of my shoots have been with family and friends or friends of friends etc. I finally got up the guts to advertise and got a few responses back very quickly. The two girls I am shooting are sisters who are trying to get into modeling. Right now they do hair and make-up for models. I have never met them before only chatted with them threw E-mail. Honestly I am scared/nervous. Is this normal? We are going to do the shoot at a beachfront park which I have shot at plenty of times before. I guess I am just not very outgoing with new people so I am scared that I am not going to know what to do.

Sorry to go on and on but I just need someone to tell me I will be alright. LOL!!!

Any suggestions. Am I the only one nervous before there first shoot?

TheStick

Olympus E-500 EVOLT

04/14/2007 02:03:13 PM · #2

YOU'LL DO GREAT!!!

I'm also extremely nervous because I have an engagement shoot coming up! I can't even get my family to pose for me!

Would love to hear more about how this goes for you! Good Luck!
Karen

pottersclay75

Canon EOS-10D

Canon EF 35-80mm f/4.0-5.6 III

04/14/2007 02:09:33 PM · #3

I've been able to break into this area in the past four or five months, and its really no big deal.

Remember to present a professional image, and try to put the models at ease. I try to be as nice as one can be and joke around a bit. Come up with some silly things to say while they are posing.

Go over the whole shoot in your mind before you go. It probably won't go exactly like you may think, but pre-planning is soooo key. And thinking it out first will put your mind at ease more. Think about lighting, camera settings, etc. before going. Also, get some inspiration. Look in magazines, on DPC, and the net for model shots that may be similiar to what you are going for. It will give you some inspiration and help with ideas regarding posing.

J.T.

nikuser

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

04/14/2007 02:13:43 PM · #4

I think it will help you to plan the shoot before hand. If you have a clear idea of the kinds of images you want to create and you've thought the poses through, then that will give you some level of confidence on the day. The fact that the models are new the business as well can also work in your favour if they tend to be understanding. If you have a good technical understanding of your equipment you should have no problems. Best of luck!

Mattel Barbie Photo Designer Digital Camera

04/14/2007 02:14:16 PM · #5

Thanks. That is just what I needed to hear. It always feels good to vent. Its even better to vent to people who understand.

Right now I am looking at galleries online to get inspiration. I am putting together a list of shots that I would like to get. I am so use to shooting families and children that I am having trouble being creative in this area.

Any ideas will be very helpful.

Thanks again.

digitalknight

04/14/2007 04:04:06 PM · #6

I was terrified my first time too -

Then I shot with a model that has worked with agencies - and I was scared again!

Here's what I do -

I tell them overall I'm looking for long curving lines - especially from the spine and neck - if they could help me watch that - and I prefer mostly 3/4 shots (demonstrate to them what that means) and ask them to try to remember that -

And when they hear the shutter click or see the strobe, give me a variation on what they are doing - so we can have kind of a rhythm, click, pose, click, pose -

Then I make sure they know this is a collaboration (models LOVE to hear that, especially the experienced ones, they are used to being treated like "pretty meat" (her quote not mine)). So I'm totally open to any idea they have, and will take time to explore it.

Also, when I do pose them, I get them sorta how I want, or I pose how I think I want them (6'7" guy posing like a pretty girl - it's good for a laugh) then I ask them to do something "like" that - to do that pose they way the would naturally do it -

Their face comes alive as they try to think of how they would do that pose, and start trying stuff -

Also music helps a ton - let them pick it - it hurts me what I have to listen to sometimes, but it adds a lot of energy

Don't worry about your gear too much - better to take time to get it set at the beginning, but during the shoot you can lose a lot of energy futzing with gear.

Tell them how great they look, a lot! When you have them redo something tell them it was you who framed it wrong - and they were perfect. Everybody likes to hear that for a couple of hours.

And have fun - really work to make it fun for everyone involved and they will always want to come back.

I'm not the best photog - but I get feedback from my models all the time that I'm fun to work with, and they want to work with me again. I figure as long as I can keep talking them into standing in front of my camera I have a chance of getting better! :-)

Good luck - it'll ruin you for shooting any other way. I want a model in every shot I do now!

Added:

Planning the shoot is good - and I send some comps of what I"m thinking to the models before hand - but the creativity is where it's fun and I get my best stuff -

So I get the shot I was looking for, and then start "goofing off". I tell the model we got that shot - but what "should" we have done? What other things should we try before we move on - I put on the least likely lens, try the least likely things, and come up with some great stuff! I'm a big fan of serindipity, so plan like everything depends on the plan, but then be flexible.

Message edited by author 2007-04-14 16:10:47.

04/14/2007 05:21:08 PM · #7

digitalknight- Thanks so much those are some great tips. I am actually printing out your post right now.

Thank you Thank you Thanks You!!!!