Photoshoot...with a model?! - DPChallenge Forums

01/28/2008 10:45:09 PM · #1

so i was approached today by a friend from class, hes aspiring r&b artist and needs stuff done for myspace and such.

so i think i figure out what im going to do. hes going to wear a suit (going for the 'GQ' look), which he'll look sharp in. my school has a film backlot with a bunch of different sets, so ill head back there and they have a dirty ally and a farmers market, i think things could look good from there.

so anywho...the problems:
-i have never worked with a model (but i have done some reading...and by some i mean alot)
-i have no lighting (besides a flash), so night shots are out and i have to use the sun
-i dont have a ladder

advice? things to consider? am i forgetting something?

-CW

edit:
lens advice?

Message edited by author 2008-01-28 22:45:33.

fotomann_forever

01/28/2008 10:49:39 PM · #2

Since you have no lighting, I'm going to give you a big tip.

Get some aluminum foil and poster board and make a reflector, so you're not completely at the mercy of the sun.

Alternatively, you can use those wireframed collapsible windshield reflectors that you use to keep sun out of a parked car.

Posing, just try to look natural, but watch posture.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

01/28/2008 11:51:46 PM · #3

if i were to go buy a reflecter...what would you recommend?

Nullix

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

01/28/2008 11:58:12 PM · #4

Contract?

Basically, something that spells out everything.

Money
Costs
Who owns the copy rights
What will be done with the images
What is the time frame (delivery of images)

Spell it out now so there's not questions. Also, what happens when things go bad.

fotomann_forever

01/29/2008 12:02:14 AM · #5

This is what I use.

It can get a bit hard to handle in the wind and you''ll either need an assistant or a stand, but it works wonders.

Olympus 12-45mm f/4.0 Pro

01/29/2008 12:02:17 AM · #6

Originally posted by Nullix:

theres no money here, im not being contracted...this is kinda for fun thing and maybe contracts and money in the future

-cw

edit:

fotoman, that was the exact page i was looking at when i realized that they are relitively inexpensive, think i might hit the store tomorrow and see what goodness i can dig up thank for the help

Message edited by author 2008-01-29 00:06:34.

OdysseyF22

Panasonic DC-G9

01/29/2008 12:11:17 AM · #7

Even if there's no money, you should really consider a contract to cover the other points - who owns the copyright and what they will be used for. If you give the copyrights away, you no longer have any say over how the images are used, or where. That's a big thing to just give up.

At the very least you may want to make clear that the images remain yours (you keep the copyright) but that the model is allowed to use them for certain uses - promotional use, personal use, etc. If it's all spelled out and agreed to, then there's less chance for problems later.

Dantzr

Pentax K-x

01/29/2008 01:04:32 AM · #8

As many have stated here, you need to have a document stating who has what rights and whatnot. This may be a friendly shoot, but if you should ever want to use the photos for anything later on, to be legal, you must have a model release. You can google and find tons of them.

This one is probably more than you need, but it will give you a good idea of what you can have in your release. You can always do one up in MS Word or something.
ISTOCKPHOTO

Message edited by author 2008-01-29 01:06:43.

Nullix

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

01/29/2008 10:07:01 AM · #9

Originally posted by chris48083:

fotoman, that was the exact page i was looking at when i realized that they are relitively inexpensive, think i might hit the store tomorrow and see what goodness i can dig up thank for the help

Cheap Reflectors thread. Check these out.

Good luck.

Tez

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

01/29/2008 11:01:39 AM · #10

Reflectors would be a good help, they're cheap, versatile and easy to use. You'll need someone to hold them for you though so make sure the model is comfortable with whoever you ask- don't ask their nemesis to come along and help out.

I haven't worried about a contract with the shoots i've done for bands and people, I've just made it clear that they can use the pics for whatever (give them a smaller version- say 800 pix), website etc, but at the size i supply them to them they won't be able to print them- if they need prints, they can come to me and i'll get em done for a tidy profit. And also made it clear that the picture is mine to use as i see fit- stick it on my website, send to other people to get further business, that kinda thing but i won't make money from it (say, sell band pics through my website) unless the band knows about it, are cool with it, and accept a cut.

Just be reasonable. It isn't like this is for a record label or anything where you need to worry about him running off with your images because you'll (hopefully) supply only small sizes.

01/29/2008 01:22:23 PM · #11

yeah, im running out in a few minutes here to get a reflector...should be a fun new toy to work with. my friend and i are going out tonight to the location and shooting a bit just to see where any problems may lie.

thanks for all the advice guys, i have a ganeric release that ive used when i go shoot for bands in bars, ill just have him sign off one of those.

good call on the small image sizes, it will work better from using them on myspace and such anyways.

ill post some pictures after we do the shoot, looks like friday =) woot woot! im getting excited about it.

-CW

fotomann_forever

01/29/2008 01:24:33 PM · #12

FWIW, resize the images to 600 pixels wide for Myspace... anything wider than that and it's auto-resizers will mangle your photo. They can be as tall as you want though.

01/29/2008 01:25:22 PM · #13

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

FWIW, resize the images to 600 pixels wide for Myspace... anything wider than that and it's auto-resizers will mangle your photo. They can be as tall as you want though.

oh snap, good call! thanks alot man!

777STAN