Ever been so disappointed in a shoot???

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

12/28/2009 12:46:08 AM · #1

**This is part rant, part advice. If SC feels this needs to be moved, please do so***

I had a joking thread before for what I hate about working with models. But I've hit the limit this week. I'm actually so frustrated with the way a shoot went that I'm finding myself with a lack of motivation for editing the photos. I don't even know where to start....my lack of motivation or how the shoot went. I guess I'll start with how the shoot went to describe my lack of motivation...

I'll start this off with, it's a TFCD shoot. I know some people say you should pay models to get the shoot you want, but I've worked with alot of great models TFCD and the fact that it's TFCD is way besides the point.

We agreed upon a shoot. We spent weeks discussing how the shoot would go. I told her we would be shooting for men's magazine style shoots including maxim en espanol, max, curves etc...sent her a link to each of the websites so that she could get an idea of the style of shoot we were going for. Described the clothing as sexy clothing. Most of it was planned as swimsuit. When we discussed clothing, I said...bring "multiple swimsuits of different stlyes (thongs, boyshorts, regular, etc) and bring some lingerie although I don't plan on shooting lingerie, if it looks better than the swimsuit we'll shoot it instead." Discussed how it was supposed to be sexy since it was planned to submit to men's magazines. Told her if she wanted to bring other glamour clothing it was okay, I'd leave it up to her as long as she had the swimsuit and heels. She seemed to understand the idea. She said she knew of a good location with waterfalls and stuff. So it would seem we had a good understanding.

I prepare for weeks, making a list of ideas that I want to shoot. I drive an hour and a half in traffic to meet her for the shoot. We meet for the shoot and drive to the location...the location is closed (and had been closed for a while). So she didn't go to the location before suggesting it...(I'm okay with this). We go to a different location. We pull out clothes that she had...Now keep in mind I said it was supposed to be mostly a swimsuit shoot and the only clothing asked her to bring was swimsuit and heels (and lingerie in case)....want to guess what was the only thing she didn't have??? Yep...no swimsuits and no heels. So I said...we can work with the clothing she had. I show her MORE ideas of the style i want to shoot and the pictures that I had gathered as examples for planning. She's all about them. Except one thing...she doesn't shoot "just lingerie"...common sense would suggest this is something that you would bring up early in the planning stages....like when I said "bring lingerie in case we decide to shoot in that" But I'm still somewhat up beat and ready to work around that.

So we just pick an outfit...the first outfit is a dress that's tight fitting, length is about mid thigh. She has no heels, doesn't want to go barefoot, but doesn't want to wear her flip flops...she wants to shoot in a tree that I try to explain to her is a bad spot (every angle either has a bad road in the background or an ugly fence), but I say F-it, we'll get a few shots in the tree....this is when I realize how new to modeling she must have been). Every photo she is stiff and there was nothing i could do to loosen her up. I mean nothing...she had an friend she was with and I noticed the closer the friend was, the stiffer she was. We went a little distance from her friend but she was still stiff in her posing and even in the poses where she sort of loosened up, you can see the stiffness in her feet and hands. (Partly my fault because I should have found ways of loosening her up..not everyone is an experienced model...but I had a time frame to work with).

Throw in the fact that the lighting was bad....well it was good earlier in the day, but we had scheduled to shoot at 11am..she left her house for the shoot at 1230. We met at 130, we found a place to shoot around 230, she wasn't ready until 3...the sun sets at 430....and it was a cloudy day. So lighting wasn't that great. We got very few good shots. Actually I don't really think many of them are good at all. None of which will be very usable or helpful to me. Since i found out that her previous photos had been by a friend, my photos are going to help her out greatly.

That explains my lack of motivation...There aren't hardly any good shots. None of which are really usable to me. I know I should have proposed a charge to her since it wasn't the style of shoot we agreed on..but by the time I was completely frustrated it was too late.

When anyone else finds this complete lack of motivation over photos you can't really use, what do you do? How do you push through it. I refuse to edit other photos when I have a person before that looming, but I honestly have no motivation to edit these photos and feel that I may be half assing the ones I do edit. Any suggestions on how to push through it?

Message edited by author 2009-12-28 00:48:33.

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

12/28/2009 12:52:07 AM · #2

This is exactly why you should always keep a fifth of something powerful, yet easy to drink. I suggest something with the word pucker in it...

(You really should not listen to me... I'm a bad influence)

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

12/28/2009 12:53:20 AM · #3

haha...um...I typed that while trying to edit her photos and drinking a glass of jack and coke. The jack ain't helping.

faidoi

Pentax K10D

12/28/2009 01:09:55 AM · #4

What is TFCD?

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

12/28/2009 01:15:32 AM · #5

Trade for CD..or time for CD. In other words you and the model work together and he/she gets an agreed number of photos on a CD. Usually done to help boost both portfolios...because it obviously doesn't work if you both don't gain from it.

Nusbaum

Fujifilm X-T1

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

12/28/2009 01:17:36 AM · #6

I would love to say that if you don't have any good images simply walk away and chalk it up to experience. If you have promised a minimum set of photos, pick the very best you can find to meet the minimum and then do your best in post because you know she'll stick your least favorite in her portfolio.

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

12/28/2009 01:20:24 AM · #7

Originally posted by albc28:

haha...um...I typed that while trying to edit her photos and drinking a glass of jack and coke. The jack ain't helping.

See, it helped you cut loose ;)

sarampo

Nikon D7100

Nikon AF-S DX 18-105 f/3.5-5.6 ED VR

12/28/2009 09:26:11 AM · #8

Hi Anthony,

Well, although I haven't yet done a lot of photoshoots, I already had good ones and terrible ones.
In my opinion, if time allows it always meet your models beforehand, just to get the overall vibe / feeling of the person in question.
A lot can be found just by talking to someone. See if they're serious, relaxed, etc.
If a shoot goes bad, just try to get the best moments of it and use them on the next ones.
Probably on the next swimsuit shoot you get to pick the place, or maybe choose her/his clothes in advance.

It sucks to loose a lot of time planning, driving and generally hoping to get a lot of good photos, and then just have mediocre ones, but it's just a bump in the road.

I've done two recently, and both were first time models. They got to pick their clothes, and me and a friend of mine went to photograph them. Since we already knew them, it was good because their were very comfortable.
Examples:

I guess just take it as normal, and move on.
Your hit rate will continue to get better the more shoots you do.

Cheers,
Joao

JulietNN

Canon EOS R7

Tamron 16-300mm Di II VC PZD MACRO w/Canon Nikon mount

12/28/2009 10:36:03 AM · #9

I think you have several problems going on here.

you didn't scout out the location, that is really up to the photographer and you say you had this planned for weeks, then why didnt you??

You really should meet your models, that way you can get a handle on them and show them shots upfront and personal, ask them directly what they should bring.

you shoudl vet your model before hand to see what kind of experience she has.

this is will help you becuase who wants to shoot maxim photoshoot when they are brand new into the gig.

from what I can gather she was 2.5 hours late for the shoot, should have just cancelled.

a thing that i always do (just in case) is I bring some wardrobe with me, in case they fail miserably with what they have, so at least I have a back up plan. I go to Goodwill or the charity shops and pick up pieces here and there. It might be an idea to have something along those ideas as well.

and just pick the best ones that you can find and edit them, I am sure she is expecting something.

alanfreed

Nikon Z9

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

12/28/2009 11:47:44 AM · #10

I don't want to sound like a smart ass... but since so many of your posts talk about how much you hate dealing with models and how poorly these shoots go, why are you doing it? If you're doing it in trade, obviously no one is forcing you to do this. Just seems odd to me that if you're so put off by these experiences, why not focus on landscapes or something. They always dress appropriately.

AJSullivan

12/28/2009 12:02:12 PM · #11

Yeah, im with Juliet here. It sounds like you are just as much at fault as the model is in this one.

In the future: discuss the wardrobe and ask her to provide images of the clothing she will be bringing. Its 2010 almost, everyone has a digital camera of some sorts. You both should sign off on the wardrobe, makeup, etc.

Even though she suggested the location, its on you to go and see that you can use it, what it looks like, etc. I mean you boviously didn't have much of a game plan if you knew nothing about the location, outside of get this girl in something hot and shoot away.

Also, you were complainging about lighting, but honestly, 12:00 lighting is horrrible. I don't know why you would schedule an outdoor shoot for that time to begin with.

Models can be pains in the ass' for sure, but solid planning and communication can alleviate most issues in advance.

alexzen

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

12/28/2009 12:39:45 PM · #12

I agree with what has been said here. To get a good shoot the photographer had to control as many of the details as possible, especially the location. There are way too many variables involved in the location - in particular the light availability. The location choice is as important as the model choice. Leave as little as possible to the model's discretion.

JulietNN

Canon EOS R7

Tamron 16-300mm Di II VC PZD MACRO w/Canon Nikon mount

12/28/2009 01:00:14 PM · #13

Also just looked up your weather for your hometown listed.

you want someone in a swimsuit in 24 to 34f ,,,,, wow that is flipping cold!!! Time to have a back up plan and shoot indoor with some heaters going on!!! lol

kiwinick

Sony DSLR-A550

Sony DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical ED Zoom Lens for Sony Alpha

12/28/2009 01:08:57 PM · #14

there a lot 0f good advice in this thread, Iguess its a 50/50 fault here. as they say s**t happens. Use this as a learning experience, I would say all of us have had this experience or something close to it,be thankful that it cost you time. you need to check every single thing even if you think it is a given. Especially check her AGE..make sure you have written or photo Id. down here we have driver license photo ID, I once got caught with a model who was much younger than what she claimed she was ( used an older sister birth certificate))

write this off to experience if you dont likke the results dont publish them to her at all.

smardaz

12/28/2009 01:12:16 PM · #15

Originally posted by alanfreed:

I don't want to sound like a smart ass...

HEY! It's not so bad to sound like me!

Anyway, everyone is telling him where he went wrong but it seems to me he asking how you find inspiration in these moments and no one is really answering to that, at least thats how i read it.
Well Anthony, I am only a hobbyist photographer and my most used model is my daughter but there are times when I have done shoots for family or friends and get that same feeling. I usually will walk away from it for a day or two. Then when I have kinda cleared the bad taste out of my mind i spend about an hour or two doing something mindless like a video game (i know this sounds weird) then i just make myself go to the computer and sit down with some music playing ( i usually like to edit to techno or jazz)and get to it. Sometimes i makes makes more enjoyable if you forget about what happened on the shoot and see how much better i can make the shot look as opposed to the original. Hope something in this post is helpful for you.....

12/28/2009 01:43:25 PM · #16

Originally posted by alanfreed:

Alan, because I have soooooo many good experience. I obviously shoot alot of different people, models, artist, etc. The good ones I use the photos to tell how great the shoot went, the bad ones well sometimes you just need to complain to see how other people handle it. You never really need help on how to handle a great shoot, but always need help on something that went wrong.

Case in point...the model I shot the next day turned out to be a shoot even better than I expected. I had expected good things, but she just wow me with how great her posing was. That shoot was actually more difficult because it was a high fashion glamour mix...ie...we were experimenting with shots that you could see in a fashion magazine and a glamour magazine (all in one). She brought random clothing that we pieced together to get two great outfits...that she never thought would go together and they looked great on camera.

12/28/2009 01:47:11 PM · #17

Originally posted by alexzen:

I probably should have noted that I was on travel....so I wasn't in New Jersey. I was in warm sunny California. The time of day was choosen at noon because it was expected to be cloudy. Which would have created a sort of softbox effect, but it was a time where i wanted the sun high in the sky rather than trying to capture light early in the am or pm while it would be dark because of the clouds. Since I was on travel, I couldn't scout the place beforehand. I initially suggested a place, but she mentioned that she knew somewhere better.

Also since i was on travel, that explains why I couldn't meet her before hand. I was only there for a week.

12/28/2009 01:52:25 PM · #18

Lastly, as frustrated as I am with the shoot, I know that some of it is my fault. I definitely should have walked away when she was late and should have even cancelled when she didn't have any clothing to match the style of shoot. But normally some of those things I can deal with. I understand how the shoot itself can be fixed.....

My concern is finding more ways of making models comfortable...and how to pick up the motivation to finish editing these photos.