I know this is a little OT... but there are some folks here that shoot people for a living.
I need some help.
I was just approached with a job proposal. This individual likes my nature photography and has requested that I do a model shoot for them. (its gonna be of kids - age group unknown at this time) I was kinda reluctant to accept because I dont normally shoot people. I feel I have an eye for nature not people. Instead of flat out saying no... I have gotten a compromise with her (she wants me to be the photographer, but I dont know if I have the skills).... I am supposed to do a test shoot with a model and then if my images are up to par then I will accept the offer. If not...then she will go with another photographer and she wont be dissappointed with my shots and have lost the shoot.
I feel this is the best move so we can both be happy. I really want this to go well as it will boost my photography business. But when it comes to shooting people... HELP!!!!
I need tips, tricks, and general help.
I will be shooting with a Nikon D80 and most likely a tamron 28/80 or Sigma 105macro depending on working room.
Other than that.... I dont know squat.
Posted by Kent Staubus on May 24, 2008 at 11:53 PM
What flash/lighting are you using? That's really the critical thing.
I shoot people for money and nature for love. Well, that's not totally true. I deeply enjoy wedding and portrait/personality photography, too.
Some questions.
Indoors or out? Candids or posed? Action or static? Are you good with kids in the first place?
Simply saying it's a model shoot involving kids in no way provides enough information for an experienced photographer to give directed tips. Maybe you've had more communication with the client than what you've reported here. If so, let us know what the point of the images is. Let us know what the goal for the shoot is. Tell us what your client hopes to achieve with the shoot and the images. If you can't answer these questions yet, it's time to explore those aspects with the client.
The vast majority of my outdoor wedding/portraiture work is accomplished without a flash. Ambient light is a good friend, although there are times when it's impossible to achieve the goals of the shoot without some flash for fill or to even out harsh shadows caused by bright sun in the event the shoot is limited to a specific place and time.
The shoot is going to be indoors. I have an external Nikon SB600 flash that has wireless capabilities. I might be able to rent some more professional type equipment if an absolute must.
As for action or static. Not sure at this time. This is gonna be for kids between 16 and under. I THINK its gonna be a way to show some of the younger kids the modeling business. There is gonna be a runway but not sure if they are gonna set up a static stage for photos. I will prob be shooting as they are coming down the runway (a guess on my part).
I think the images themselves are gonna be for the kids/parents but I will be representing the agency and I want to do the absolute best I can.
If I can land this gig... then I can get my foot in the door and maybe be one of the main photographers for the agency. Might be semi steady work.
I would suggest the following. First, get more specific information on what they want (like what angles, lighting wanted, high key or low key, angles, singles and groups, full shots or half shots, what backgrounds are going to be there, how much background wanted in the shot, how spread out is the shoot, how much time can be spent on each person, shooting from fixed location or mobile shooting, how close can you be to the runway, if it's an existing runway as you say, is there already lighting available at the location and if so, exactly what kind of lighting - will you need filters on your lens or on your flash, etc, etc.). And a big one, does the agency have photos of previous shoots they will let you see and study? Do they want the same kind of images or is this why they are looking for a different photographer?!!!
Since this is your first time, I would grab a friend and go to the location and do some test shots BEFORE you do your "test shoot" with the model". This way you will know what to expect before you have the "test model" images to show the agency. Without question, you will learn SOMETHING with your "test friend" that will help you when you use their "test model".
I "shot" a dance recital in an auditorium using the existing light used by the recital lighters. Various gel colored light was being projected onto the stage and there was a white backdrop behind the dancers. The colors of the dancers and the backdrop was changing continuously. Certain colors looked much more vibrant in the resulting images. If I do it again, I will know when to shoot and when not to shoot. I also needed a high ISO do capture the images without blur and without flash. You should be testing your D80 with the same motion the kids will be doing and insure your high ISO does not cause problems. If so, you may want to rent a better body for the "real" test and the main event.
One of the main things here is that you seem to want to break into this field and become a "people shooter" for this agency. If so, then you need to engulf yourself in any photo books describing or showing this kind of photography. Look at magazines that show runway shots and figure out how they were accomplished. In the end, you are still getting an image. Shooting nature, you make certain decisions, same thing with people shooting...the decisions are just different. Read up and find out what these decisions are!
I don't know how many shots you will be taking, but you better have spare batteries for everything! And you may want to practice how quickly you can change those batteries in mid-shoot before the shoot. And it would be a smart thing to have a spare body and flash and other spare equipment on hand...this is your chance to shine...don't lose it by equipment failure. It would also be a good idea to have an assistant of some nature there looking out for you and your equipment. When you have your eye behind the lens, you just might not see that kid on the floor or that chair someone moved. You and your assistant should wear some kind of clothing that sets you apart from the Moms and Dads and lets people know that YOU are the agency professional photographer and they need to get out of YOUR way. Needless to say, be professional and friendly at all times. Remember though, the end result of this affair is to have images the agency and the parents can use. This may place you in charge more than you might think! Also, the parents are probably expecting a professional photographer! Don't let them down and DON'T mention your anxieties and lack of experience in this area of expertise! If an image looks a little funny, they will think it is from the creative mind of a professional rather than an "oops shot" from a beginner runway shooter! Don't let them know!! And lastly, wear a lot of deoderant!
Ok, maybe one more last thing. Perhaps the agency only wants the runway images. You MAY make a little extra money on the side from the parents by shooting portraits in a corner of the building or something staged for this. Ask the agency about this before doing it!
Discussion
5 repliesI need some help.
I was just approached with a job proposal. This individual likes my nature photography and has requested that I do a model shoot for them. (its gonna be of kids - age group unknown at this time) I was kinda reluctant to accept because I dont normally shoot people. I feel I have an eye for nature not people. Instead of flat out saying no... I have gotten a compromise with her (she wants me to be the photographer, but I dont know if I have the skills).... I am supposed to do a test shoot with a model and then if my images are up to par then I will accept the offer. If not...then she will go with another photographer and she wont be dissappointed with my shots and have lost the shoot.
I feel this is the best move so we can both be happy. I really want this to go well as it will boost my photography business. But when it comes to shooting people... HELP!!!!
I need tips, tricks, and general help.
I will be shooting with a Nikon D80 and most likely a tamron 28/80 or Sigma 105macro depending on working room.
Other than that.... I dont know squat.
Kent in SD
I shoot people for money and nature for love. Well, that's not totally true. I deeply enjoy wedding and portrait/personality photography, too.
Some questions.
Indoors or out? Candids or posed? Action or static? Are you good with kids in the first place?
Simply saying it's a model shoot involving kids in no way provides enough information for an experienced photographer to give directed tips. Maybe you've had more communication with the client than what you've reported here. If so, let us know what the point of the images is. Let us know what the goal for the shoot is. Tell us what your client hopes to achieve with the shoot and the images. If you can't answer these questions yet, it's time to explore those aspects with the client.
The vast majority of my outdoor wedding/portraiture work is accomplished without a flash. Ambient light is a good friend, although there are times when it's impossible to achieve the goals of the shoot without some flash for fill or to even out harsh shadows caused by bright sun in the event the shoot is limited to a specific place and time.
So, give us more, please!
The shoot is going to be indoors. I have an external Nikon SB600 flash that has wireless capabilities. I might be able to rent some more professional type equipment if an absolute must.
As for action or static. Not sure at this time. This is gonna be for kids between 16 and under. I THINK its gonna be a way to show some of the younger kids the modeling business. There is gonna be a runway but not sure if they are gonna set up a static stage for photos. I will prob be shooting as they are coming down the runway (a guess on my part).
I think the images themselves are gonna be for the kids/parents but I will be representing the agency and I want to do the absolute best I can.
If I can land this gig... then I can get my foot in the door and maybe be one of the main photographers for the agency. Might be semi steady work.
What questions should I ask?
I would suggest the following. First, get more specific information on what they want (like what angles, lighting wanted, high key or low key, angles, singles and groups, full shots or half shots, what backgrounds are going to be there, how much background wanted in the shot, how spread out is the shoot, how much time can be spent on each person, shooting from fixed location or mobile shooting, how close can you be to the runway, if it's an existing runway as you say, is there already lighting available at the location and if so, exactly what kind of lighting - will you need filters on your lens or on your flash, etc, etc.). And a big one, does the agency have photos of previous shoots they will let you see and study? Do they want the same kind of images or is this why they are looking for a different photographer?!!!
Since this is your first time, I would grab a friend and go to the location and do some test shots BEFORE you do your "test shoot" with the model". This way you will know what to expect before you have the "test model" images to show the agency. Without question, you will learn SOMETHING with your "test friend" that will help you when you use their "test model".
I "shot" a dance recital in an auditorium using the existing light used by the recital lighters. Various gel colored light was being projected onto the stage and there was a white backdrop behind the dancers. The colors of the dancers and the backdrop was changing continuously. Certain colors looked much more vibrant in the resulting images. If I do it again, I will know when to shoot and when not to shoot. I also needed a high ISO do capture the images without blur and without flash. You should be testing your D80 with the same motion the kids will be doing and insure your high ISO does not cause problems. If so, you may want to rent a better body for the "real" test and the main event.
One of the main things here is that you seem to want to break into this field and become a "people shooter" for this agency. If so, then you need to engulf yourself in any photo books describing or showing this kind of photography. Look at magazines that show runway shots and figure out how they were accomplished. In the end, you are still getting an image. Shooting nature, you make certain decisions, same thing with people shooting...the decisions are just different. Read up and find out what these decisions are!
I don't know how many shots you will be taking, but you better have spare batteries for everything! And you may want to practice how quickly you can change those batteries in mid-shoot before the shoot. And it would be a smart thing to have a spare body and flash and other spare equipment on hand...this is your chance to shine...don't lose it by equipment failure. It would also be a good idea to have an assistant of some nature there looking out for you and your equipment. When you have your eye behind the lens, you just might not see that kid on the floor or that chair someone moved. You and your assistant should wear some kind of clothing that sets you apart from the Moms and Dads and lets people know that YOU are the agency professional photographer and they need to get out of YOUR way. Needless to say, be professional and friendly at all times. Remember though, the end result of this affair is to have images the agency and the parents can use. This may place you in charge more than you might think! Also, the parents are probably expecting a professional photographer! Don't let them down and DON'T mention your anxieties and lack of experience in this area of expertise! If an image looks a little funny, they will think it is from the creative mind of a professional rather than an "oops shot" from a beginner runway shooter! Don't let them know!! And lastly, wear a lot of deoderant!
Ok, maybe one more last thing. Perhaps the agency only wants the runway images. You MAY make a little extra money on the side from the parents by shooting portraits in a corner of the building or something staged for this. Ask the agency about this before doing it!
Best of luck to you!
Troup Nightingale
thanks
Troup,
You pose alot of good questions.... and most I will ask next time I talk to my contact. Thanks to everyone for all the help thus far.
Please keep the comments coming. Its a big help.