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Never Again... group shoots... BLAH!!!
bencook2 wrote: And for gosh sakes teach some more folks in Houston how to do it. Jun 23 09 03:21 pm Link Some of my samples on my profile were done at group shoots. I much prefer 1-1, though, especially studio shoots, where I can control things and am responsible for the success or failure of shots. The AVI was a studio session. What a fabulous presence she is! Jun 23 09 03:24 pm Link Last group shoot i attended got busted by the LVPD, so no luck here. Jun 23 09 03:27 pm Link bencook2 wrote: How can they attend an event that was cancelled? And why would they be concerned that YOU cancelled on them if the event was cancelled and you didn't show up. Jun 23 09 03:28 pm Link bencook2 wrote: no Jun 23 09 03:29 pm Link Capitol Images wrote: busted for what? Jun 23 09 03:29 pm Link I attended one that was a great success - a few photos from it are in my portfolio. Then I had an idea and wanted to do a themed group shoot based on the idea. I contacted the person who organized the shoot I attended who agreed to be my assistant. I contacted a venue I wanted to use (and here's where things started to go sideways). The venue insisted that they couldn't give me an estimate until they knew the number of attendees. So I started collecting people who were interested in doing the shoot. Once I had an idea of numbers, I contacted the venue again and got their estimate. Their fees were way out of line for what I intended and the hours they would be available wouldn't have worked. So, I secured a second venue that was closer to my assistant and my assistant's contacts. We worked out a fee scale and schedule. I posted the schedule and rates to attend. Right about that time, my assistant had a family emergency and dropped out of the project. This person knew many of the models, photographers and fashion designers I was hoping would attend the shoot. I'm sure a lot of those folks also chose not to attend. By then, some of the folks that had expressed interest got hooked into another larger event that was happening around the same time. The rest of the people waited to see who signed onto to which times before they would commit. I pulled the plug. Event canceled. So, that was my first attempt at a large-scale group shoot. But I'm the kind of person who rarely gets things right the first time (which I why I don't sky-dive). The idea is a good one and I still want to do it. Now that I've learned a few things about organizing a group shoot, the next one should go well. Jun 23 09 03:46 pm Link Had my first group shot last week. As someone who is still an amateur with model photography, it helped me learn a lot in a very short afternoon. I came out of it with some cool shots and a few new good friends. It also led to a smaller one-model shoot just two days later. We even had a passer-by who owns a tanning salon trade information with us. It's something you have to do, because you never know what's going to happen. On the flip side, I see how it could be a disaster. It helped that everyone there was at least a friend of a friend. Pre-meetings aren't a bad idea. Jun 23 09 03:50 pm Link I have found for every additional model beyond the first you try and schedule for a shoot, the difficulty experimentally grows when them showing up, or in a timely manor. I tried doing one with 6 models once. After the 3rd cancellation I said to hell with it, I will shoot them on their own and photoshop it, lol. Never did get around to doing it though. I am not saying it is the models fault. I see the same thing when I try and get groups of friends to hang out. Jun 23 09 03:55 pm Link Christopher Hartman wrote: This question has already been answered. Jun 23 09 05:25 pm Link Pix #s 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 15, 16, 17, and 19 in my port came from group shoots I have worked. Now most of them I set up the lighting for the participants. I usually don't shoot at these types of shoots for a few reasons: 1: Most models are new and don't know how to, or have very limited knowledge of posing. So lets say she knows 20 poses, she does them for each photographer. The images she gets are of the same pose, with the same outfit, from each of the photographers. 2: Myself, as an experienced photographer, direct a model do a new pose. Well the next three photographers in line get her to do the exact same pose for them. They may do a quick edit and post the image before I have a chance to. So it would look like I am the copy cat when it was my own idea. Thus "stealing" my shot and vision. 3: Gang Bang Shoots; 10 or more photographers fighting over position and the models attention at the same time. This is just a major clusterfuck and no one should attend anything like this. Having said this, the following link is to an image from the latest group shoot I attended and worked. Now the four sets that were set up there were using all my personal lighting equipment. This image is from one of the sets where I made some large Cucoloris "cookies" to project from a Beseler Slide King, Magic lantern projector. The slides are 3.25" x 4" in size. With a 750W bulb our exposure was 1/15 sec - f4.0 @ ISO 400. I plan on installing a AB400 strobe in the projector for the next shoot I do with it. 18+ http://home.comcast.net/~n323xl/IMG_2600B_web.jpg Malodave Jun 23 09 05:26 pm Link pullins photography wrote: Taking up all the resident parking and creating mayhem in the street apparently, no models or photographers were visible from the street at anytime, obviously some one noted our arrivals and called the cops. Jun 23 09 05:31 pm Link no plans to... Jun 23 09 08:06 pm Link nwprophoto wrote: +1 Jun 23 09 08:08 pm Link With an understanding that most of the photogs that attend thies photoclub shoots go on a regular basis you might get a lil tug here and there from some of them. Yes it is there shoot and they tend to hog the models by asking them to pose like if the model was there for them. I had a situation where i confronted a photog for asking the model to pose just about every shot that was being taken, mind you its not a problem if the guy is a pro photog and knows what poses look reat but this guy had an eye of a pirate the poses were dead and unusable. So yeah bad expierances do happen but you might get lucky and get some nice pics once in awhile. Jun 23 09 08:11 pm Link These things are usually just a scam to make money off of GWC's who just want to get in the same room with some half naked models who would normally turn them down for shoots. Jun 23 09 08:13 pm Link Bill Tracy Photography wrote: I have no doubt that what you say happens. I saw the photog list, some good talent. Jun 23 09 08:20 pm Link Dave Mullins wrote: Not even the case here. This is a list of superstar MM models (and photographers) who are some of the most talented posing princesses on this site... Jun 23 09 08:34 pm Link There was a recent shootout in New York state that was very good. One of the models was a well known model from Prague, Czech Republic. Jun 23 09 08:34 pm Link Gary, don't forget to send my $5 you promised if I started a thread on "group shoots". You still have my address right? :-) Jun 23 09 08:43 pm Link Select Models wrote: I wouldn't define your paid events as group shoots in the traditional sense....IMHO Jun 23 09 10:08 pm Link Bethlehem Photography wrote: What you are describing at the end of your post is a gang-bang shoot. Avoid those at all costs. Jun 23 09 11:33 pm Link Bill Tracy Photography wrote: Could be, and I have been to a few that were like that. But it depends on the organizer. Jun 23 09 11:36 pm Link bencook2 wrote: I shoot group shoots however it is a group of models and only me, no other photographers. To me that is the best way. I might allow one or two photographers to shoot with me if I know them. I have in the past. Jun 23 09 11:40 pm Link Forgot to mention... my avatar is from a recent group shoot. they are a great way to access high quality modeling talent if you don't have the budget (or portfolio) to hire them 1-1. Jun 23 09 11:46 pm Link Micyl Sweeney wrote: How do you afford to pay several models all yourself? Jun 23 09 11:48 pm Link I once attended a group shoot in SoCal that was a benefit for the sick child of a popular make-up artist. Packed up all my gear and made the 8 hour drive to the shoot. The location was a ranch with a little "main street" facade. I met the other attendees and chatted up some of the models then proceeded to set-up inside the "saloon". And it was game on. Worked with lots of models and photographers. I made a point to share my lighting and set-ups with other photographers, especially those that had never shot with lights. This went on for many hours. Towards the end of the night, a couple of models that I knew well and had worked with many times from my area showed up and came looking for me. These girls are primarily nude models and, since I had shot nudes off and on all day, we got right to work. Got some great images and still managed to share my set with other photographers. We finally wrapped it up and went to late dinner with many of my new photography friends. Sounds like a good day, right? About a week later I'm informed of a scandal brewing regarding. Seems that the local newspaper were informed that there was a photography shoot out at this ranch and that pornography was being openly shot despite the fact that the shoot was a benefit for a child! Shocking! I have to admit I was outraged myself until it occurred to me that they were talking about me!! WTF?! We shot some nudes in a closed set on private property. And when I was invited, someone had obviously looked at my port and saw exactly what style I shot! I was trying to do a good deed and end up getting vilified in a newspaper article. Even worse, they wanted to ban further shoots at this ranch because of the negative publicity, even though most events were benefits for some good cause or another! In an odd way I felt responsible for that. Anyway, eventually all the fuss blew over. But it was pretty crappy there for awhile. The good news is that I made many good connections and friends at this shoot. And I still have a couple of shots on my port. But I haven't done a group shoot since. Jun 23 09 11:57 pm Link I've been to about 6 group shoots with multiple photographers and models, each one was positive, and I got portfolio images from each. ...though I'll say it was a learning curve, that you have to stay focused (pun intended) on the goal(s), and in my case was to get portfolio images from each shoot. It's easy to get distracted when there are so many people around with different agendas, so try and have a plan and then execute it like a laser beam. Jun 24 09 12:09 am Link It's really too bad to see that so many of you are against group shoots.  I run one of (if not THE) largest in Ohio. I have a 70,000 sq ft warehouse/haunted house as a backdrop. I have security, someone to run the elevator, a full time concession stand, a smoking area, a photographers area for equipment and chatting, a model area with makeup tables, mirrors and changing area, and we can shoot from 10am till 8pm at night. Most of the people who come once, return. I have models from NY, FL, KY, WV, VA, PA, IN, IL, GA, and even had a girl in town a year ago from CA that attended. Most of the photographers, models, MUAs, and wardrobe stylists, leave with portfolio worthy images. The talent gets better and better every year. I see no end in sight for my events on the size they can grow and the talent that can emerge from them. P.S. I wouldn't have met Kat Livingston if I wouldn't have held these events and that would make me a sad Laura Dark. Jun 24 09 06:39 am Link I've been to good ones where you schedule model time and it's always 1 on 1 and bad ones where it has been a GWC shoot... It's definitely a learning experience. We had one this past Saturday and it went over well... You need more models than photographers and definitely a bunch of MUA's so that models can be going in and out of makeup without a huge wait... Jun 24 09 07:06 am Link bencook2 wrote: No! Jun 24 09 07:11 am Link Laura Dark Photography wrote: This is true. And Laura is the reason I keep making the 1,320 mile round-trip to go the Ohio events. She puts on one hell-of-an event and I have always been pleased with the productions. I know that many other events are not- nor ever could be- as well executed as those that Laura runs and I don't want to give anyone false hope. I would RATHER that people strive to put on group shoots that could rival those that I speak of. If that happened, I think many more people would attend them! They are possibly THE best way to work with mulitple people in one day. Those from all different genres, talent levels, and home states. All in one building!? Jun 24 09 07:11 am Link Rebel Photo wrote: You have gone to the wrong ones! Jun 24 09 07:17 am Link The top photographers and models typically will not be the ones that attend or benefit from group shoots, but of course not everyone is at the top of their game. Most are not. I admit that from time to time I've thought that it might be fun to attend a group shoot with a P&S camera. That way it would really be just a way to say hello, take some reference images of models (like polariods really), and exchange contact information so that perhaps later we can schedule a more serious 1on1 session. In a way it would be more of a networking thing then a group shoot, but that's just the way I would approach it personally. Jun 24 09 07:59 am Link bencook2 wrote: LOL Ben... thanks for the kudos... and I seem to have misplaced your address... Jun 24 09 12:23 pm Link Cherrystone wrote: Is there really such a thing as a 'traditional sense' group event? Most all group shoot events I've encountered here on MM require some form of pay from either the photographers or the models (or both) to cover location costs, MUA & hairstylist expenses and some type of operational costs... so what exactly would you define my group shoots as?... Jun 24 09 12:35 pm Link bencook2 wrote: so you learned somthing Jun 24 09 12:47 pm Link Jun 24 09 04:40 pm Link Chris Macan wrote: I agree. When thhe organizer cancelles and everyone else still plans on attending if someone does not step forward to try and have some simblance of a plan then the gang bang starts... Has to be someone calling the shots or their will be too many chiefs and not enough indians... Jun 24 09 04:56 pm Link LeDeux Art wrote: I did... MM lives another day. Jun 24 09 05:33 pm Link |
