|
Forums >
General Industry >
New photographers with no images to show
So how do you get them of models if that is what you want to shoot? I'm starting to see where models are not shooting even if they are being paid if they can't see a photographers work. I'm not talking nudes. I'm not talking lingerie. While I can understand a models not wanting poor images of herself around. How can a photographer pratice his/her craft if you can't get models to shoot? May 10 06 08:11 pm Link Of course there are plenty of wonderful models that will pose, if paid, with virtually any photographer if they conduct themselves properly. My portfolio didn't exist when I hired a model for my first shoot. She was very professional and helpful. May 10 06 08:14 pm Link Avicdar wrote: Ditto - May 10 06 08:16 pm Link Everyone was new once. All it takes is looking in the right places. There will be someone willing to pose for the new photographer. I have seen many models on here mention they have no problem posing for new/student photographers who show an actual interest in photography and have some ideas and concepts they want to shoot. Although fattening their purses is getting more and more important these days, there are some who also do it for the enjoyment of being photographed and creating art. When I was new I never had an issue finding someone to pose. It is all in th approach and where you look. But then again I DO live in a very popular college town packed full of some of the most gorgeous women from allover the world. One thing I just thought of though. Perhaps the new photographer might find an established photographer that would allow him to tag along for a few shoots with models who would not mind a second photographer being there. He could assist and get a few images for himself along the way. I am one of those photographers who does not mind doing that as long as the model does not mind. May 10 06 08:16 pm Link shoot "non-models" "non-models" can be found on the street, at work, at family functions, and in the mirror. May 10 06 08:17 pm Link I agree. It's a problem. I see that it will be self resolving soon. When internet models can't get shoots because the good photogs move to agency models only. I have watched some model profiles in my area that go down in flames because they demand paid work only or have unreasonable demands. I have some attractive friends that will pose for me if I ask. Either that or you recruit off the street though I hate doing that. May 10 06 08:19 pm Link I found assisting other photogs was a good way to go as well. I got to meet great models and see how other photographers worked with the models. May 10 06 08:22 pm Link NewBoldPhoto wrote: Absolutely damn right. May 10 06 08:23 pm Link Speaking from experience.. (Being a newb who made half his contacts or more through MM).. 2 things.. Group shoots.. They're a lousy place to take good pictures because you're not in control of anything and if you're not aggressive (and how many really new photogs are?) You're not going to be the one shoving his way in to get the right angle for the best shot... BUT! The upside is, if you're kind, polite, and sincere.. Show an interest in getting pictures to the models (very few photogs at these things actually bother to give the models much of anything).. The models there are usually fairly receptive to the idea of more shoots.. (After all.. There's as many new models as there are new photogs.. Relatively speaking..) Forums.. Make some noise.. Seriously.. And it doesn't have to be all about work either.. If you're new, there's generally two things models want to know.. 1) Are you a creep? 2) Are you any good.. If they get a feel that you're not #1, they'll often give you a chance to prove #2.. Now, I'm a pathologically shy guy.. I tend to make quirky, non-modely pictures.. I admit up front I'm poor.. I still get just enough interest in my work to keep me busy.. And probably more if I moved a little faster.. Now just imagine how well these things would work for someone who's sane! Try it out.. Be patient.. You will get flakes.. You will get interested models who vanish for no reason.. It's not a race, though.. Don't expect too much.. Don't turn into one of the many self-righteous types who demand to know why the models don't behave exactly as career professionals who do this for a living.. You'll end up taking pictures.. And that's all that counts for now.. May 10 06 08:26 pm Link ADGibson wrote: I'm sorry, but honestly, how many photogrphers started out shooting models? It's got to be a tiny percentage. You start out on friends, family and your pets. If that stuff is any good, then the "models" will come. May 10 06 08:27 pm Link Olaf S wrote: I started shooting models. I knew a few agency girls and went to a art school May 10 06 08:31 pm Link Tony Lawrence wrote: Why not sign up for one of the model shoot out weekends. Check out the casting call forum, and join a active camera club, that conducts shoots. May 10 06 08:32 pm Link Marvin Dockery wrote: This isn't for me player but how would you have refrences if you haven't been able to shoot? May 10 06 08:33 pm Link Olaf S wrote: I started in landscape/nature stuff and had been shooting outdoors for years. May 10 06 08:35 pm Link Blue Water Photography wrote: D'oh! I left out all those inanimate things. Sure, if your landscape or nature or still-life stuff is good, a model will see that.... May 10 06 08:41 pm Link Tony Lawrence wrote: References can be your friends, another photographer, your mother and father, or the local chief of police. I have even used my daughter as a reference. You should have at least one friend that will say that you are OK. May 10 06 08:42 pm Link Olaf S wrote: Yep, I think you're correct on both points. I've always felt that shooting outdoors is the best way to learn about the basics - metering, exposure, seeing light, etc. May 10 06 08:45 pm Link Olaf S wrote: Agreed, May 10 06 08:49 pm Link NewBoldPhoto wrote: Exactly. Shoot your friends, your family, your co-workers, your little sister, your friends' friends, their roommates, and so on. There are people all over the place. Models aren't the only ones who will hold still. Some of my best images are of non-models. May 10 06 08:54 pm Link I am still very new at all of this. But I am doing ok in getting this thing going.. at least from my perspective. I have been shooting girls softball and women's football. The pictures were ok. I asked one of my football players that looked almost feminine (JOKE!) and we shot some stuff that turned out pretty good... I posted that on CL begging for anybody for TFP.. a whole bunch of flakes later and I ended up with Michelle - a Plus size model with a lot of credits - and posted those. I took a photo class and worked with some of the models that came to pose for the class. I found this place and posted my profile and a few of my shots. Now I have several "models" that are asking for TFP shoots. I may not be the best, I may not be getting paid.. but I am not having trouble building a portfolio. Usually if you can get one to start you out.. the rest just kind of works. At least it did for me. Good luck fellow newbies! May 10 06 08:57 pm Link NewBoldPhoto wrote: Try calling one of the local escort services. They often have young women that will pose for you, and these girls only want your credit card number. Their rates are about the same as most of the Internet models. They will show up, and nudity is no problem. May 10 06 08:58 pm Link During the early stages of you're practice, the first year or so, like where I am now, you're better off shooting woman you know and amatuers, who arent expecting you to be something you're not and with whom you can practice your skills cheaply or for free. Theres no reason to have mistake filled, mis-lit, poorly composed photos of a $600 a half-day Ford model lying around your place when you can use the hostess from Applebees instead and have her wind up being happy with the results to some degree when you do get a shot right. oh and just to throw something in, Just as it seems that any photographer can sign up on MM, any girl with a picture can too, this doesn't make their services worth more than, er, that hostess at Applebees just as it doesn't make you Ceasar Lima May 10 06 09:14 pm Link papa-rotzzi wrote: Outstanding! May 10 06 09:21 pm Link shoot friends. If you're friends aren't hot, make new friends. Jeff May 10 06 10:50 pm Link Olaf S wrote: I hooked my first model with maxim style glamour shots of my dog May 11 06 02:32 am Link Everyone pictured in my port (except for some of the rock stars) are people I know. I'm still experimenting, still figuring things out, so I have not yet worked with any models. I didn't want to waste their time until I had more confidence. But if a model wants to see your previous work, I think you need to have something to show where you're at, something that shows you have some clue, even it it is not people shots. I think practicing with people who are not models can be helpful as it will give you experience with posing them. If you want to open a studio doing portraits, most of the folks who come through the door won't be models so you need to know how to make them look their best. I started shooting nudes after several years of shooting other things. Like anything else I've shot, it has been a learning process. Most of my early work whenever I try a new genre won't ever be seen because it is rather awful. But regardless of whether you're shooting people or objects, just shoot. You can't expect to just buy a camera and be amazing. Why throw away money on a model if you don't know what you're doing and neither of you can use the images? May 11 06 12:25 pm Link WG Rowland wrote: If the group shoot is well organized you can do very well. I went to one recently, photographed 20 models and got over 1600 images. I also did 3 private shoots outside the group shoot. The models were very good!! May 11 06 01:02 pm Link I suppose that i am very lucky. My "real" job is Sales. I have allways been able to persuade people to do pretty much anything that I want. All of my early shoots and most of my current ones are with friends or people that had not even considered modelling before I showed up. ( one of them is even making a career out of it now) I also am very involved in the fetish club scene in South Africa. I generally have more people wanting me to shoot than time available. I really gotta make some more time. May 11 06 03:56 pm Link |
