photographing models question

[ggeen]

I just bought two books from my friends at Amazon.com. They are due to arrive on Friday.
* Posing Techniques for Photographing Model Portfolios
* The Perfect Portrait Guide: How to Photograph People

I recently started moving away from photographing things and critters and started in the realm of photographing people. I am more comforatable taking pictures of things because a sparrow won't get all upset that I screwed up the shot. I asked a friend to be my first model. I was thinking that a studio shoot would be easier than an outdoor/location shoot. Do I have this bass ackwards? Another friend asked to model for me later this year.

I am trying to search the archives here for advice but if you have specific links you would like to share, I am I will read them. I am not a pro and I am not looking to turn pro. This is just something that I enjoy. I am trying to expand my experiences and enjoy more of my hobby.

Is there a serious difference between model photography and portraiture?

Thanks for sharing. -G

[brad]

Yes and no.

Model photography (especially fashion photography) has odder, more uncomfortable poses... not to mention styling, makeup, and wardrobe differences.

However, both will get you better at working with people... I never thought I'd like people work, either.. and now, I hardly enjoy shooting things other than people.

[hotshot38]

I have the Posing Techniques book....now if I could just get a model to read it!

But seriously, it's a good book, and goes into the finer points of things like hand placements and angles, and why certain nuances make better photos. It would be more helpful if the models knew all this, what with everything else you've got going on while photographing, but if you keep an eye out and give good direction it'll be very helpful to you.

[hotshot38]

I have the Posing Techniques book....now if I could just get a model to read it!

But seriously, it's a good book, and goes into the finer points of things like hand placements and angles, and why certain nuances make better photos. It would be more helpful if the models knew all this, what with everything else you've got going on while photographing, but if you keep an eye out and give good direction it'll be very helpful to you.

[ggeen]

Brad/Sean, thanks for the encouragement. I do some event photography which got me interested in photographing people. I also did some posed shots for an internal awarness poster. I will try to find those tonight and let y'all C&C on those.

[srwatters]

Start with a mannequin. They complain less and rarely ask for pay. If you find yourself with one asking for pay. Close up the shop and go to bed. You've been shooting for too long

[CaptainTom]

Shooting in a studio and shooting outdoors can be very similar and very dissimilar depending on the way you approach your lighting technique.
The best thing about studio lighting is that you can set it up and it will be consistent until you change it.
The problem with studio lighting is that it requires more equipment.
You can shoot outside with little or no equipment. Maybe a reflector or two.
But, the light can change and mess you up.

My advice about dealing with models (especially brand new models) is to have fun and don't get too serious. If you can show the model what to do, and show them the results, it will help them learn quicker. A big mirror also helps them see what they are doing. Try being a model for someone else and you'll have a better appreciation for the stress a model has.

Tell your friends you want them to model for you. Tell them you have no idea what you are doing, but you are learning. Tell them that when you learn how to make good portraits you'll make one of them for free.

[ggeen]

Thanks Scott/Cpt. Tom. I did not think of mannequin. I was going to practice on some objects first to play with lighting. The dog just won't hold still long enough.

As for equipment, I have a couple of SB-600 speed lights and I bough the light stands and umbrella set from B&H. It was less then $100 and thought it was cheap enough to learn with. I picked up a nice reflector from Competative Camera because I finally found it usfull to have one. Dang shadows across faces stink.

Edit:
s/cheap/less expensive/g

[doctahjones]

here's my (on going) story.

i was i the same place. i -loved- (and still do) taking pics of landscapes/architecture and critters. if i didn't get the shot, no big deal. no one would complain or whatnot.

but i did have somewhat of an interest in shooting people (with a camera!).

for my experience, it was nice doing the 'on location' shoot with a good friend for the first one, because it got my feet wet for trying to direct the model. i didn't have to deal with any equipment besides the camera itself, so it left me more 'attention span' to deal with the model. and already knowing the model helped a great deal!

so by the second shoot, i already had an idea what to expect with the models, so i could put a little more effort into the equipment (which at the time was an sb800 and sb600...should have used some studio strobes!). so my second shoot was at that arlington stuido space place listed in that studio section on here. i tried not to put too much pressure on myself since these pictures were for -me-, not them. i was doing this so -i- could get some experience, not so they would have a -badass- picture for their portfolio.

so i guess the moral of my stories are, just make sure that you (and the model) know that you are doing this for you. unless you're getting paid a good sum of money, there's no reason to put any kind of pressure on yourself. you'll take 100 pictures, and get maybe 3 or 4 out of them that you like. oh, and don't be scared to take candid's either, those are usually the ones i like best!

as a footnote, my first slr camera, d50, was purchased in august, and at the beginning of janurary i moved to a d80. i also acquired some cheap studio gear (yeah, cheap as in cheap, but it definately gets the job done for me for now!) for doing it at home. so i haven't been at this for too long!