Hired my first model today!

Blue · Hired my first model today!

Granted, she was a friend of mine, but it was still a milestone experience for me to work with someone outside of my immediate family. I figured even if I didn't get any good shots, the money was worth it just for the practise of directing someone new.

So anyway, here is one shot that I thought came out really nice. As always, any c&c is welcome. Smile

hil26

Well done, and looking forward to hearing your thoughts on how it went - easy, hard, frustrating
.......

Not too sure on the image - will have to come back and look again

first thoughts

right eye is lost
loss of bottom of the bead necklace - may not be an issue just thinking aloud

B&W is fine

creators

Congratulations, it's a moment eh? I agree with Dave about the necklace, it bothers me for some reason, and the lack of light on her eyes and the loss of one of her eyes detracts from the shot for me.

Blue

Thanks guys,
I figured you'd mention the eye. It's one of those glaringly obvious defects that I never really noticed until I was uploading here. I think I should have cinched the mask tighter to her head.

The shoot was a little bit frustrating. Like I said, she was a friend, not a professional, and she was extremely stiff, nervous, and uncomfortable in front of the camera. I knew it was my job to direct her, but I am used to working with my daughter, who is a natural actress, so what was happening was I was asking her to smile, and every smile was looking exactly the same- totally posed and "smiling for the camera." I was trying to be funny and make her laugh, which helped me get a couple of more natural-looking expressions, but it was rough. I need to find some sort of book or website that gives tips on working with models. But the experience was absolutely invaluable, and absolutely worth the $15 I paid her. Now I know exactly what I have to work on for next time.

Here is another shot you may like a little better. It was toward the end, and I finally had the idea to throw out different emotions for her to try on.

Mardi Gras was just one of the themes we did- the last, and probably worst. I was very tired by that point. Some of the others worked out better, but I haven't gotten round to editing them yet.

creators

Something I do Blue is take shots rather than wait for the model to compose her/his self. There's a kind of lock down place where if the shooting becomes predictable with a model who is not comfortable, it gets to a place where it never seems to lift off. I get shooting even as I am talking, so if the model asks what I want her/him to do, I talk and shoot at the same time. We're used to relating to people, but if the camera is in front of my face, I (hope) I am creating a different dynamic, perhaps an edginess that isn't about them relating to me.

I find it tough, it's demanding work for both model and tog. I am always really tired after a shoot.

This isn't a very coherent response, because I am still a beginner at studio work. Maybe we can develop a dialogue between all of us who are learning studio work to see how we can develop it.

Blue

That's a good idea, Keith. Might help make some of the shots look less posed... because I would have her pose, and then it would take a couple of seconds for me to get my camera up and focused... and by the time I pressed the shutter she was a plastic statue... smiles were turning into grimaces, etc. The camera probably should have been glued to my face as I was directing. I think the whole tempo of things needed to be faster, and I need to be playing up-tempo music to support that energy (which I normally do when I shoot, but for some stupid reason didn't this time).

I would love to get a dialogue going about this. I plan on doing at least two studio sessions with models a month, and more as time goes on (some will be location shoots, but similar principals are involved.) Let's share what works and doesn't work, I think we could really help each other to grow (although I think you are quite a bit more advanced than I am, LOL, but I'll catch up Smile

)

Here is one site I found that had a couple of good "games" one photographer plays with his models:
http://rasmusrasmussen.com/2007/11/03/working-with-models/

(Oh, and about being tired- Wow! I was totally drained after an hour. We shot for an hour and a half, and really shouldn't have, because my creativity was GONE. I think hour-long sessions are going to be my limit, at least until I get more accustomed to this. I was just as tired as if I had worked a twelve-hour shift somewhere!)

jonH

seems that plenty of photographers that shoot film stars etc for mag interviews shoot whilst doing the interview, and have had a good chat with the subject beforehand so they get the most natural poses they can

creators

Good link and thanks. I forgot about music, it really does help and it's expanding my somewhat sixties based music hoard. I now have a couple of Drum 'n' Bass albums and two Kings of Leon albums, which I never would have heard of without Leah, Mirz and Ami's influence. It really affects the mood on the floor.

hil26

Have to admit that the better images I have whilst trying the studio shoots was taking the shot before they were "ready"

Practice makes perfect they say

Blue

I can't quite believe the amazingly fast course of events. I posted onto a military wive's board that I am on that I am looking for models... explained about the nature of my work, etc... and within a few hours I have every single weekend through March booked... and half of them don't even want to be paid. This is going to be a two-month crash course in working with models. Expect a lot of posts from me on the subject, LOL.
I just want to say that I'm really happy to have all of you here on this forum- who all have become my friends- to keep me grounded through this (and especially you, Keith). It is really going to be a roller coaster. I am very nervous and excited. This is the direction I have been wanting to take things, it just seems like it happened SO fast...

creators

Thanks Blue, how very kind of you. I must say I am a little green here and am looking forward to seeing the fruits. Well done, I think that was very brave.

hil26

brilliant - hope all goes well

Gilly

Way to go Blue..............

if you need any assistance with holding equipment, i'm just up country (and over the border), so i can be with you pretty quickly.....

Very Happy

jonH

wow, someone's going to be busy Smile

good luck with it blue, sounds like you're off to a flyer