A Photo Shoot - what goes on?...
OK, I get asked this a lot by people considering becoming a model, or those that have decided to have a go and just posted a few photos taken by their friend or partner on one of the many modeling web sites, and want to know what actually goes on at a photo shoot.
If you know the process and what's involved, it will help you to understand how we (photographers) get to an end result.... fantastic photos of you and photos the client wants.
So I will take you through a photo shoot and lets assume that this is a studio shoot.
First thing to remember is the photographer has hired you to do a job.... be a professional model, therefore you need to be professional in how you act. It is the photographers job to make sure everything goes right and the final images are "wow" images. It is therefore important that you help the photographer achieve this. The easier you make it for him or her, the easier the shoot will go and the more likely chance the photographer will want to recommend you in the future. Photographers hate working with stroppy or uncooperative models!
Second, remember the photographer is responsible for the shoot.. if things go wrong, it is usually the photographer that takes the blame, they have been hired to produce photos for the client... if they don't, it is unlikely the client will hire them in the future.
Good photographers can pull almost anyone off the street and make them look good, but a model that knows what they are doing and allows the photographer to get the results he or she is looking for will get repeat bookings!
The night before...
Sort out what outfits you will need and what makeup you will need.... it's no use turning up with the wrong clothes because what you wanted to wear is not ironed or you have run out of lip gloss! Unless it's a fashion shoot, with someone providing the wardrobe and a MUA... you will need to sort out this yourself.
Re-read the Model Release (your photographer should send you this BEFORE the shoot) so you know what to expect and you are sure of where the photos are going to be used.
Get a good nights sleep!
On the day...
You may need to apply base makeup before you leave or you may decide to wait until you get to the shoot. Don't be frightened of what you look like! I have had models turn up for shoots with rollers in their hair and wearing scruffy tracksuits.... sometimes they are not even recognisable and look nothing like their comp cards. Remember, loose clothing, as we don't want to have to wait for lines in the skin to disappear from wearing tight clothes.
Always leave plenty of time to get to the shoot and get ready. If you are going to be late for whatever reason... contact the photographer and let them know. Studios are booked by the hour... and someone somewhere is paying for that time and the time that people are stood about waiting. You can always ask the photographer beforehand to make arrangements for you to arrive early, so you can get ready. It is likely that he or she will be there earlier anyway to set up backdrops, lights etc. Don't forget to take your copy of the Model Release.... the photographer will bring copies with him/her for you to sign, but you need to check that what you sign is the same as what you have been given previously and you have read.
Show Time.... Your On!
Communication, communication, communication! You need to listen to the photographer and be able to take the directions they give. It is also a good time to establish some ground rules.... "touch or don't touch" Some photographers will want to move you into poses, some will just do it by giving you directions.... it's up to you. You are a professional, so you decide. This is one time it's OK not to make the photographers life easier if it makes your's harder! It is OK to have a "don't touch" policy - all professional photographers will respect this.
During the shoot, some photographers become chatty and talk non stop while they are shooting... some become quiet and give one word directions, we are all different. As a professional model, it is up to you to interpret the directions given, no matter how they are given, into the poses that they are looking for. In general, the less direction that a photographer gives you, the more likely it is that you are getting it right. This is not always the case though, so if you are unsure... ask them for feedback.... "How were the last few shots, did i give you what you wanted or do i need to change something" It is always OK to say to them "Do you want me to do...." Sometimes models have a pose in mind that we haven't thought of. In fact, some of the best shots can be of things we haven't thought of. Hey, you are a professional model, and you know what you are doing, that is why we hire you!
During this first "set" you will establish a relationship with the photographer and through out the shoot, this will develop to the stage that sometimes, all the photographer has to do is move his head or just look at you from behind the camera for you to change part of the pose... when it gets to this stage, you are both working well and the photos will reflect the understanding you both have. This is now your professional working relationship with the photographer.
Dry Time...
Sometimes on a shoot this happens.... the flow and the buzz from the shoot just stop and I have never found a reason or a pattern to it. If this happens, it is best for everyone to take a break, get a coffee and sit down for ten minutes and talk about something else... anything but the shoot. When you start back again, it will slowly return and the buzz will come back. If you feel this point in the shoot coming on, it will also be felt by your photographer, don't be afraid to say "can we take a break, I am drying up" They will usually welcome it and would be on the point of saying it to you. Don't attempt to continue, the photos that are shot at this point will be flat and not have that sparkle... take a break!
After the shoot...
When the shoot is over, it's time to pack up and remove your makeup.... When you first start out, you will have loads of questions (that's why I started putting all this information on my web site because of the number of questions I was asked) and you will want to ask about other modeling opportunities with the photographer and get feedback from the shoot. I always sit down with a model at the end of a shoot and give them feedback. Now, you may well get good feedback - yey, well done! or you might get negative feedback... don't take this personally... you are a professional and ALL feedback is GOOD! If the photographer tells you something that he didn't like or was not happy with, ask them how you could have improved it or changed it... it is also a sneaky way of saying "OK I understand and next time we work together, I will do that and we will get better shots"
It's a chance to sell yourself as someone who is a professional and can take negative feedback and turn it into a positive.
Post shoot comedown...
Yep, It happens to everyone.. models and photographers alike... the buzz of the shoot and the new professional relationship you have just created - it's all a high. You need to be able to unwind and relax.
Again, this is a good time to get out of the studio, and talk to the photographer, MUA, wardrobe people, in fact anyone who was involved in the shoot. Talk to them about their side of things, not always about the shoot you have just completed, but about their work. It's called networking, and an essential part of your profession. The more people that get to know you in the industry, the more chance that someone will say "Hey, I remember working with So and So, they were really interesting to talk to and professional, I wonder if they would be available for the next shoot"
