I did a little shoot with a friend last weekend, just for fun. I am terrible at photographing people, but want to learn and get better. so it's good practice with me. I'd love any feedback. What I found difficult in particular with working with him was that it felt a little uncomfortable the whole time, he seemed very serious, and it was hard to get him to relax I think (i needed a pink bunny to wave around?!). I think some of the better ones where I caught him off guard laughing or smiling a bit.
We are going to try a little more some time, and I want to also try working with some women as well.
Here is the link to the album, the ones I thought were on the "better" side, but only a couple really good ones that I really like out of this whole thing:
@38mm I know! I was just looking at his work, and commenting on how much it inspires me. and now why i really want to work with a female next time haha. i'm hoping he sees this thread and can maybe give some feedback.
hey
Your pictures of Curtis in my opinion (and I insist I know nothing worth knowing) are pretty great. He has a great face, and he's a great looking guy for this so you chose well. My favs are the ones in the suit jacket. Whilst you want him to look casual don't let a male model pose too casual that is seems he's reclining or languid because these poses should be reserved for women. Male poses work well when the man is standing or sitting very assertively. One against a column is guilty of this I think. He looks great in black and white too. What I would say is twice you have put him in front of art, whether street art or a painting and its a bit noisy a background for me. Interesting locations are good but be aware they don't crowd the image.
In general terms (remembering I'm a beginner who knows nothing)
- take time to look a modify, move or alter the models pose etc.
- restrict your concept - tll your model you wanna shoot with a particular hat standing outside a particular theatre and you will get a variety of good shots. Say you wanna shoot 60s outfits in New York, and you'll never satisfy such a vague idea.
- use pictures of the internet/catalogues to show the model exactly what you want, don't try to descibe it. have pictures for makeup - clothes, poses and setting aswell as picture style, sit and drink a coffee before and talk about the pictures.
-make sure you don't JUST shoot. Make sure you're aware of what the light will be like at that time, what the weather will be like that day, ask the model what shes wearing, etc.
- Don't touch a model, you do the poses you want them to do, don't use abstract terms when you describe a pose. Usually saying something vague or ridiculous is better than just saying smile, rather than saying smile, say - look as though the Kitten you just bought just clawed your favourite hat....for instance and the model will laugh more.
Its always gonna be awkward the first time, its still awkward the tenth to be honest but if thats your first shoot you're gonna progress pretty quick.
I found I had the same problem over and over. My remedy was to put on my 50mm fixed and get right in their face...it cured it almost instantly. Now I actually prefer to be very close to my subjects as there is a space between two people that becomes somewhat relaxing...and the viewer of the photo can feel this. What I didn't feel in the photos with your friend, even though they are quite nice was a closeness. I will give you an example of what I did on one of my first shoots that changed me...
@chewyteeth - thank you these are all great tips! i definitely had a problem with cheesy pose feelilng. i need to look at some mags and try to get some better ideas. i kept telling him to relax, and move however he felt naturally, and he kept insisting i tell him what to do. i think i like catching people when they are acting more natural then forcing them into some contorted pose or whatever. i think i need to get some looks that i like before i go into the next shoot, and "restrict" myself as you said. that might help a lot. thanks again! i will check out model mayhem as well.
@katsamste thanks for your response. Yes, i know what you mean about the closeness. maybe it was my intimidation that kept me from getting closer. i think i will try some of this next time. although, i am sure this particular person would not have allowed it as he was already self conscious enough about his "flaws" (*cough* wrinkles *cough*) as it was! :) i kept telling him he looks great. i guess we are our own worst critics right.
@jennverr
unposed and candid shots are nice, but a model expects to pose in my experience, and its very rarely the case that you are shooting while they're relaxed, usually you walk to a location, and you put your bags down and get your camera out and the formality of it begins and everyone fits their role. My advice is always shoot in two halves. Do a shoot, then take the model for a coffee. Let them scroll through the pictures on your camera screen and make comment, they'll usually cringe and laugh. then when you shoot in the second half you'll both be more aware of what was wrong up till then, and what else can be done. Don't be afraid of showing one photo off the internet and saying lets nail this, and keep shooting till you do. That's good practice I think. Model Mayhem is where its at.
@jennverr I think you did a really nice job. I especially like the ones you made black and white.
I'm trying to get better at portraits in general, and so I've taken on the 100 Strangers project over at Flickr. Maybe check it out? I know I have so much to learn, but this seems to be a helpful way. http://www.flickr.com/groups/100strangers/
@susanrm -thank you. and yes the 100 strangers project looks enticing to me! i mean what better way to overcome fear of photographing people right? i might have to give it a try. :)
@pizzaboy thank you very much. yes he did seem more relaxed in some of those. i definitely like the more relaxed ones. not necessarily "candid" shots, but ones where i feel like movement is natural and not so forced and stiff.
@chewyteeth - some more helpful tips, and thanks again. i did show some of the photos to my friend about half way through and asked him if i thought we were going in the right direction. i guess i had some expectation that he had some ideas of what HE wanted when we were going into this, so next time i will be sure to bring examples with me, and just try to work towards getting some of those instead of winging it with no clue. :)
thanks all! hope to give this another go soon.
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Your pictures of Curtis in my opinion (and I insist I know nothing worth knowing) are pretty great. He has a great face, and he's a great looking guy for this so you chose well. My favs are the ones in the suit jacket. Whilst you want him to look casual don't let a male model pose too casual that is seems he's reclining or languid because these poses should be reserved for women. Male poses work well when the man is standing or sitting very assertively. One against a column is guilty of this I think. He looks great in black and white too. What I would say is twice you have put him in front of art, whether street art or a painting and its a bit noisy a background for me. Interesting locations are good but be aware they don't crowd the image.
In general terms (remembering I'm a beginner who knows nothing)
- take time to look a modify, move or alter the models pose etc.
- restrict your concept - tll your model you wanna shoot with a particular hat standing outside a particular theatre and you will get a variety of good shots. Say you wanna shoot 60s outfits in New York, and you'll never satisfy such a vague idea.
- use pictures of the internet/catalogues to show the model exactly what you want, don't try to descibe it. have pictures for makeup - clothes, poses and setting aswell as picture style, sit and drink a coffee before and talk about the pictures.
-make sure you don't JUST shoot. Make sure you're aware of what the light will be like at that time, what the weather will be like that day, ask the model what shes wearing, etc.
- Don't touch a model, you do the poses you want them to do, don't use abstract terms when you describe a pose. Usually saying something vague or ridiculous is better than just saying smile, rather than saying smile, say - look as though the Kitten you just bought just clawed your favourite hat....for instance and the model will laugh more.
Its always gonna be awkward the first time, its still awkward the tenth to be honest but if thats your first shoot you're gonna progress pretty quick.
*hugs*
@katsamste thanks for your response. Yes, i know what you mean about the closeness. maybe it was my intimidation that kept me from getting closer. i think i will try some of this next time. although, i am sure this particular person would not have allowed it as he was already self conscious enough about his "flaws" (*cough* wrinkles *cough*) as it was! :) i kept telling him he looks great. i guess we are our own worst critics right.
unposed and candid shots are nice, but a model expects to pose in my experience, and its very rarely the case that you are shooting while they're relaxed, usually you walk to a location, and you put your bags down and get your camera out and the formality of it begins and everyone fits their role. My advice is always shoot in two halves. Do a shoot, then take the model for a coffee. Let them scroll through the pictures on your camera screen and make comment, they'll usually cringe and laugh. then when you shoot in the second half you'll both be more aware of what was wrong up till then, and what else can be done. Don't be afraid of showing one photo off the internet and saying lets nail this, and keep shooting till you do. That's good practice I think. Model Mayhem is where its at.
I'm trying to get better at portraits in general, and so I've taken on the 100 Strangers project over at Flickr. Maybe check it out? I know I have so much to learn, but this seems to be a helpful way.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/100strangers/
@kiwichick thanks lesley!
@pizzaboy thank you very much. yes he did seem more relaxed in some of those. i definitely like the more relaxed ones. not necessarily "candid" shots, but ones where i feel like movement is natural and not so forced and stiff.
@chewyteeth - some more helpful tips, and thanks again. i did show some of the photos to my friend about half way through and asked him if i thought we were going in the right direction. i guess i had some expectation that he had some ideas of what HE wanted when we were going into this, so next time i will be sure to bring examples with me, and just try to work towards getting some of those instead of winging it with no clue. :)
thanks all! hope to give this another go soon.