Workshop question

[Wes]

I didn't know where else to put this so I thought I'd throw it out here.

For those of you that conduct things like posing workshops, what would be the possibility of doing one of those where the models are not professionals? I've been to a couple of workshops in the past where we spent time learning about posing, and then a professional model comes in, strikes a pose, and we all shoot. One of the things that I want to do as a photographer is learn how to direct people into a pose. A lot of us don't do fashion or glamour photography. We do a lot of family and senior portait kind of stuff, which means that we're not going to be shooting pros. I need to learn how to direct people that don't have any experience in front of a lens.

Does any of this make sense? Am I off base?

[CaptainTom]

It makes good sense. The last two seminars I attended were Fran Reisner's and Don Barnes. They both had actual clients come in and we got to watch as they were posed. Most seminars will have the participants work with each other to learn posing. It is a great eye opener to be on the other side of the camera. "Professional models" can be misleading. Most of the professional models I have seen in seminars really only know one or two poses and expressions. If you want more, you have to work with them.

[HotHolly]

lol! Brave man! We usually offer the class to set the poses and most of the students decline. When we had that as part of the workshop, the class looked like they were gonna hurl when we got to that section. So, now we offer advanced students the opportunity to set poses.

[MyKey]

None of my models are professionals, I truly believe in learning what I am trying to teach and not show up and shoot for pretty images.

All of my models are highschool seniors which have never been in front of the camera except for their senior pictures.

I don't care what your images look like in the way of posing, or framing as long as the light is good, the shadows are placed correctly I am happy. When you get back into the real world into your business then you can worry about the rest of the stuff. To me paying to show up and shoot pretty models with lights already set up and just click the shutter is not teaching, its paying for porfolio, and while there is nothing wrong with that, its not my teaching method.

[Shelby Lane]

No pro models here either. We have a client or a friend of the hostess come in and share their baby or kids for the morning. You have a good point about the "realism" of using regular people as the lighting models at these things.

[J Eddington]

Wes, why don't we just choose a location and then have some photographers come with their families and take family shots. I know that there are people here on the form that would like to have their photos taken. Or if we know someone that would like that. Maybe we can talk Tabathia into coming (that is if Miguel would share her for a few hours). And after we give it a shot she could pose them for us to see the difference. She is really good at getting poses that look good.

[brad]

I've used a "pro" model for the posing class for one very important reason... she knows that the class is about posing and that I'm going to show, by example, how to pose her badly (as well as correctly)... and how bad it can make her look on camera when you pose her that way.

I'd be open to doing it with "regular people" in the future, but it would make me nervous... they would have to have a thick skin to allow someone who probably will not do well with them the first time out... and I'd have to be sure they would actually show up the day and not have a last minute priority pop up.

[bondarnes]

I have always used former clients as models for my classes. Tom Manchester (boxofrocks) brought his 2 year old Wil to one of the classes. Kim from TPF volunteered to be the model in exchange for tuition. And sometimes we just photograph each other.

[Lexie]

Originally Posted by Wes

I need to learn how to direct people that don't have any experience in front of a lens.

I could use help in this area too.