Shiffy

I am preparing to shoot some models within the next few weeks. Can you guys give me some tips please. I have never shot a model before so this is all new to me. Tips on ghetto rigging lighting, ect would be very helpful.

srika

I am by no means an expert on taking pix of models so take my input with that in mind. But I did attend a model shoot recently and got some pointers and took some notes - and, I think my club experience has also helped.

1) Ambient lighting - very important. If you have any portable lights around the house - they could be even normal house lamps - it doesn't matter - bring em in. Placed strategically, they can help your shots dramatically. Some soft lighting applied to the face from a front 3/4 angle (to speak in car terms lol) will work magic for your pics.

2) Locale is obviously very important too. Try going for a "theme" for your pics - and then model your lighting, locale, model makeup and clothes around that theme. For the shoot I was at, the photographer used a soft light on the model's face, off to the left, for pic #2 - and you can really see it in the pics. They were going for an "antique" theme/style.

3) Very important for the model to be comfortable - make sure she is at ease, maintain an enjoyable atmosphere, give her encouraging words and positive feedback whenever possible, it'll show through in the pics. If she is sucking and you know it, offer constructive suggestions; if things just aren't working out and the pics aren't looking good, change it up, consider changing everything completely. When you have a good shoot going, you know it immediately. Everything feels right and flows naturally, and you don't have to "do" much. It's possible but there are many variables so its tricky.

Hope that helps, and good luck! I hope you will be able to share your result with us.

moeronn

What/who are you doing the shoot for? i.e. Are you doing it for the model, yourself, or a client? It seems that the end product would be very important in how/where you are going to shoot.

Also, have you discussed wardrobe, hair and makeup? Make sure both you and the model know who is responsible for these.

Sorry, I don't have any specific suggestions, but hopefully this will help you plan things out a bit more.

acura1983

just tell take everything off, EVERTHING, with a hole lotta lighting, as much as possible, keep in mind i AM a professional pornographer i mean photographer j/p..good luck on the project

Bdog

What equipment are you using? If just camera and flash... fill flash outside, bounce flash indoors. Natural light is your best source, and even if your outside shadows will occure, so use a flash on some and no flash on some, just to see how they come out. If shooting indoors, have the flash pointing straight up, preferably with a diffuser.

Shiffy

I am doing the shoot for a website of mine. I have 2 floor lamps that each have 3 lamps that can be rotated. I am also using my Rebel XT.

moeronn

That is still a very generic description. You might have a website devoted to Teletubbies for all we know.

As for the lights, you might be able to get some interesting affects with those, but more likely they will cast some odd/ugly shadows if pointed directly at the models. Are you going to have any help? Maybe someone can hold a white sheet to reflect the lights onto the models?

LKLD

First..give 'em a head start, they're fairly slow. Second....I wouldn't do it around trees because they could hide behind them. Thir....ok....I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself. I know...I know....it was wrong of me, but....these kind of opportunities don't come around often. I'm getting therapy for this...so all will be well

Take the advice aforementioned by the sane ones here. Getting the model to relax is probably the toughest. Humor always works with females. Males may take some more effort, some sports works, especially if you can find what area they're from.

Light..well that totally depends on the effect you're looking for. A light meter works wonders! If you don't have one...then I would take some sample shots before the model gets there. Sample flash, apeture, shutter and any other lighting you may have. This could take an hour or so. So, if it is outdoors, you will have to make adjustments. Try to get as much done before they get there as possible. If you look confident in front of them, they tend to relax...thinking you know what you're doing.

Hope that helped...and sorry for the initial outburst

Shiffy

I think I found the solution to this problem...check below.


Ok here are a few samples from the shoot...

Mizouse

Crazy88

That first girl is so unbelievably hot

waTSX

at the last shot. You should submit that one to High Times

moeronn

Now I see what the web site is all about. I should have guessed

So, which one of them was better? Answer that in regards to whatever you feel like.

Shiffy

How are the quality of the photos? And the first chick was very photogenic and very comfortable in front of the camera....her friend, not so much.

badboy

That's cause she was high.

The quality of the pics seems nice, but then again we are lookin at very small sizes. The composition in the first picture I especially like. Well done on your shoot.

One more thing I want to mention is that shooting down and level with the models in this case would turn out well, as opposed to shooting up at them.

srika

lllol

Mokos23

How much did you pay the girl for your shoot?