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Good tips for photographers giving direction?
I've gotten some horrible directions at times... Some worse than others. So I figured if everyone shared what they have learned here, perhaps these mistakes will be made less. My tips are~ 1. Don't have the model hide their neck in a pose. (curling it in to where it's gone) it looks terrible. 2. Don't have the model smash their arms into their body... it looks terrible. 3. When taking a side shot don't have the model pull her boob away... it looks terrible. Allow the hand to rest over the breast naturally. So these were the main three on my mind today. If anyone has any other suggestions please add to the list. Edit: Good Eggs are awesome. These are tips that are great for photographers and models. May 15 11 01:21 pm Link My advice to any photographer about directing a model is to have the shot already in their head and then just keep moving the model until what you see in the camera is what youmsee in your head. Tips.... Almost nobody looks good when you shoot "up their nose". Hold the camera below waist high to make a model appear taller. Keep the model's shoulders out of her ears. Don't make fists unless you're punching something. If you're not wearing shoes, the feet should almost always be pointed at least a little. You don't have to make eye contact with the camera in every shot. May 15 11 01:32 pm Link Good Egg Productions wrote: Yuss!!!!!! May 15 11 01:35 pm Link My tip would be... ... engage the model's brain. I prefer to work with models with brains. What I mean by that, is that I like to give them little problems to solve, rather than direct them into specific shapes. So, I might ask a model to occupy more space or to get tiny or to get taller or to interact with that patch of sunlight on the floor -- then I give her feedback. I also prefer to work with models who can move, and I just encourage them to keep moving. I may restrain them a bit, e.g. asking them to stay within a certain space. I am always giving the model feedback -- I tell her what I'm seeing that I like, and I can tell her what I don't like so much, either. I also tell them about the little artistic or compositional problems I'm trying to solve, and many of the models I've worked with have come up with great suggestions. Most of all, if the model's brain is engaged, it shows. I hate those "vapid stares out the window" pictures. May 15 11 01:56 pm Link Models if you get stuck in fi ding poses instead of continuing with a shoot take a break and take a walk.... It help you to relax so the posing gets easier.... May 15 11 02:04 pm Link Good Egg Productions wrote: I wish I have medium format camera. May 15 11 02:07 pm Link I'm not sure it can be taught, but I love the model who "sees" the photo in her own mind, from the photographer's vantage point, as she poses. And often when I find that model, it turns out she does some photography herself. May 15 11 02:13 pm Link Edward Chen wrote: You're aware that you can do this with any camera, right? May 15 11 02:20 pm Link Very useful for a photographer like me who shoots with models only occasionally.... I can usually have the shot in my head when its fitness-oriented but not so much in other genres. And having a model with a brain in her head is ALWAYS a plus. Luckily I've been fortunate that way most of the time. May 15 11 02:32 pm Link I try and explain what I am going after and see if they "get it" or watch to see how they translate what I have said then adjust only what is needed. May 15 11 02:33 pm Link Good Egg Productions wrote: oh really? I don't know. May 15 11 02:37 pm Link This goes for photographers as much as models. Stay away from poses, shots that are bringing in the head so close to the camera that the head looks 3 to 4 times as big as normal. May 15 11 02:37 pm Link Tell the model which light is "her" light. She can orient herself to create good images that way. If you're switching up, let her know which light is now the main light for her. And even if you tell her to turn a bit, she knows where "her" light is coming from. Let people smile. Let people frown, scowl, and otherwise make funny faces. Even if you don't shoot that photo, the next expression will be much more natural. Keep shooting, if at all possible. Camera clicks and flash pops are positive reinforcement. A corollary to the shoulder-in-ear admonition... Teach "ballerina neck" or "swan neck." It's good for the neck line and also for fighting double chin syndrome. To keep camera angle low enough, keep a stool around. If you're seated, you'll automatically keep the angle lower. I even have a low one on wheels for some shoots with short models or when they're seated. May 15 11 02:43 pm Link Models: Learn different poses. Practice your poses in front of a mirror. One of my tricks is when I'm not getting what I want from a model. I try to pose to communicate what I'm looking for. I've also been known to pull out a full length mirror and take a break while the model is practicing. Photographers the words "Do something" or "Give me something" isn't direction. Everyone: Have a concept in mind, a mood.... Define the shoot as a visual problem to solve and have a pre-shoot meeting with the team to plan the shoot. Use tear sheets from magazines, photos from the web, color swatches, fabric swatches, what ever to share the inspiration. Have fun! May 15 11 02:51 pm Link except where the picture requires it, don't be so darned serious. Clown around, joke, have fun. The more fun you 're having the more relaxed you'll be and the more relaxed you are the better the pictures. And this goes for both models and photographers. IMHO. May 15 11 02:52 pm Link Patrickth wrote: Your style is great, it makes for some amazing images. May 15 11 03:03 pm Link Rays Fine Art wrote: I love doing that... the images turn out godawful sometimes. But being a goof in front of the camera is part of the fun. It's always a delight when dealing with a photographer who gets that, and doesn't get upset. May 15 11 03:09 pm Link I bought a book at Barnes & Noble - 1000 Pin-Up Girls by Taschen, now I just point to the picture and say "do that" May 15 11 03:12 pm Link talk to her....tell her which way to go, what to do, where to look...yes for some it comes naturally, others need guidance, also tell her how it looks, good good, oh great, now a pout, good good. etc etc... take charge... the more interactive you are, the quicker it goes...and soon you both begin thinking on the same plane... is it easy....not at first...but practice practice practice...even if you have to talk to a manikin.... May 15 11 03:23 pm Link I love the model to just keep moving........when I see something I stop her there and concentrate on a few angles and closups and then continue on...... But it is good to have a model that can easily move naturally and not have to think about different positions, as it then shows on her face when the thinking starts  May 15 11 03:24 pm Link Rays Fine Art wrote: Do you ever have a problem with both parties getting that relaxed when having a first shoot with someone? May 15 11 03:35 pm Link Edward Chen wrote: Good Egg Productions wrote: Sometimes it's a challenge to hold "any camera" below your waist, but I agree that the result can be accomplished with about any camera. I'm fairly old, and certainly no athlete, but yesterday afternoon, for example, I was laying on the floor for some shots, and the model is legitimately about 6 foot tall without the angles helping. (No, it wasn't a nude shoot, and I was 15 feet away, lest anyone misunderstand.) May 15 11 03:38 pm Link In many cases: tell the model to make herself as tall as possible. Sometimes people look a bit "hunched" and making yourself as tall as possible prevents this. I also always ask the model to bring and wear high heel shoes, even if the shoot will only be for portraits. Wearing high heel shoes gives a woman a much prettier posture. For gents this is not recommendable May 15 11 03:40 pm Link Rays Fine Art wrote: Fur Elise wrote: I shot with a first time model yesterday; she has some runway experience, and there, of course, everything matters. I told her that from 3-4 hours, I'm looking for perhaps two portfolio images, and I hope to get her 5-10. SO; "don't worry about a bad shot; electrons are cheap." Within reason, I welcome silliness and experimentation; sometimes it leads to very nice images. May 15 11 03:46 pm Link Good Egg Productions wrote: ? May 15 11 03:49 pm Link Art of the nude wrote: Edward Chen wrote: Sometimes it's a challenge to hold "any camera" below your waist, but I agree that the result can be accomplished with about any camera. I'm fairly old, and certainly no athlete, but yesterday afternoon, for example, I was laying on the floor for some shots, and the model is legitimately about 6 foot tall without the angles helping. (No, it wasn't a nude shoot, and I was 15 feet away, lest anyone misunderstand.) Hoodman makes a waist level finder that adapts to most digital SLRs. May 15 11 03:51 pm Link Chuckarelei wrote: Beautiful work. I should tell you that beyond being on my 'fangirl' list I now have a goal to do a shoot with you someday. Thought you should know. May 15 11 05:40 pm Link 1) don't pose. emote. 2) look through the camera, not at the camera. May 15 11 07:04 pm Link Fur Elise wrote: Ha, thanks. May 15 11 07:15 pm Link When giving a model directions, reference smaller points for more precise movements. If you ask a model to "turn her head" you'll get her swinging her head and shoulders to the side. If you ask her to turn her nose, she'll move her head slightly. If you need to make a slight adjustment, preceed any direction with, "without moving anything else..." If you need to direct head tilt or eye/face direction, use hand gestures. If you hold your hand up and tilt your hand as you direct her to tilt her head, she will naturally mimic the tilt of your hand, and you'll be able to easily communicate the degree of tilt you're looking for, as long as she's even kind of paying attention. For directing gaze, use specific reference points in the room. "Direct your eyes toward the top of the doorframe" gives a clear, specific point of focus, where her idea of "look off to the left" might be quite different from yours. If your model is slumped in a way that makes her skin fold (which can happen with any size model), simply ask her to lift her ribcage, and if possible, ask while doing so yourself. Works way better than "that pose makes you look fat, can you sit up more?" May 16 11 04:18 pm Link Chuckarelei wrote: I DID say "almost". I shoot up noses too when it calls for it. May 16 11 04:28 pm Link BlackArts - Jenna Black wrote: This is REALLY good. May 16 11 04:29 pm Link BlackArts - Jenna Black wrote: Indeed, those are great tips. May 16 11 04:31 pm Link Having general attitudes is helpful, even if you don't have specific poses in mind, it's great to know what type of photo you are going for. Telling the model to act out an emotion the more specific the better, instead of "sad," say "despair," "longing," "loss." Instead of "happy," say "excited," or "wonder." Also giving situations can help. Such as on a recent shoot I did the photographer wanted me to look sexy, but he didn't say "look sexy," instead he said "pretend you are alone and you are being sexy for you." This was helpful because not only did I know to "look sexy," but also that he wanted me to be looking anywhere but the camera. What the shot is supposed to look like shouldn't be a secret, communicating with the model is key. And yes, I have worked with people who acted like we were playing hide and go seek to figure out what the hell I was supposed to be doing.  May 16 11 04:35 pm Link Little Alice wrote: We have not worked together, so stop describing me. LOL May 16 11 06:27 pm Link Good Egg Productions wrote: Great advice! May 16 11 06:32 pm Link Edward Chen wrote: Good Egg Productions wrote: Art of the nude wrote: Meh. Press cameras, tech cameras are fine to lie on the floor with. View cameras not so much. A 4X5 Speed or Crown + 90mm Super Angulon with a pile of Grafmatic backs and lots O' Royal Pan == damn near as good as an F with a 28mm and triX ... just remember to allow for the rangefinder parallax. And "damn near as good" - get it right and the 4X5 ASA400 will blow the 35mm ASA400 out of the water. May 16 11 07:29 pm Link |
