This was my first Model Mayhem Shoot (http://www.modelmayhem.com/). It was coordinated by a fellow MM'er, KPA, smugmug and Flickr member, Deb Connors . She invited a handful of models, photographers, MUAs and Hair Stylists to participate in this photo shoot. Everyone was basically trading time for photos and recognition. To say that it was fun would be a disservice to Deb and an understatement . We shot all over Bakersfield's Hart Park http://www.co.kern.ca.us/parks/hart.asp which has landscapes that range from the Kern River to Sharktooth Hill. there is also a barn with AC Power for studio lighting, and excellent exteriors such as creeks, lakes, shacks and plenty of mature trees.
The shoot started at 11:00 AM and went past dusk. All of my pics were taken with my Nikon D60 and a hot shoe mounted Nikon SB-900 Flash. I used bounce flash for all indoor stuff, for outdoor shooting I set my "flash" to 90 degrees and on Fill mode -.03 EV. I also carried a "5 in 1" reflector, which has a built-in diffuser for all direct sunlight shots. The majority of my gear, (i.e. stands and reflector holder) was unusable due to the 20 mph - 30 mph winds, so I enlisted the help of fellow MM photographer Brian to assist. Thanks, man.
I really cheated on this shoot, which means I put the camera in "AUTO" mode for almost every shot. I really need to build my confidence regarding shooting in Manual mode, which was more self-imposed than mandated. I even brought along my Sekonic L-358 light meter so I wouldn't rely on the built-in metering, but I never used it. So some of the indoor shots are at ISO 1600 which accounts for the graininess . I was never rushed with the time spent shooting the models. Being my first time, I was really nervous and I didn't make good use of my time, or the models time. I found myself thinking how much easier it would be to shoot at my Studio, but that wasn't the point of this exercise. We had to deal with Mother Nature: sunlight, wind, temperature, foliage, etc... By 5:00 PM, I had run out of gas and decided to pack it up. I was too tired to even look at the pictures from the day's session. You can view the captures from the Model Mayhem session.
What did I learn?
1 ) Have an idea of what you want to shoot with regard to the environment. Go scope out the location before the shoot during the hours of the shoot.
2) Review the models portfolios ahead of time so you can see which angles accentuate their beauty.
3) Arrive at the shoot while the models are getting prepped for any last minute assessments, such as their physical appearance, i.e. height, weight, skin color, etc. and for any enviromental changes.
4) Don't be shy, if you are looking to create a unique image, chances are they'll want something different, too.
5) Bring everything your vehicle can hold.
On my next shoot, which is this Saturday, March 7, I know what I'm looking to do and defintely have a plan. That's a Wrap, for now.
The shoot started at 11:00 AM and went past dusk. All of my pics were taken with my Nikon D60 and a hot shoe mounted Nikon SB-900 Flash. I used bounce flash for all indoor stuff, for outdoor shooting I set my "flash" to 90 degrees and on Fill mode -.03 EV. I also carried a "5 in 1" reflector, which has a built-in diffuser for all direct sunlight shots. The majority of my gear, (i.e. stands and reflector holder) was unusable due to the 20 mph - 30 mph winds, so I enlisted the help of fellow MM photographer Brian to assist. Thanks, man.
I really cheated on this shoot, which means I put the camera in "AUTO" mode for almost every shot. I really need to build my confidence regarding shooting in Manual mode, which was more self-imposed than mandated. I even brought along my Sekonic L-358 light meter so I wouldn't rely on the built-in metering, but I never used it. So some of the indoor shots are at ISO 1600 which accounts for the graininess . I was never rushed with the time spent shooting the models. Being my first time, I was really nervous and I didn't make good use of my time, or the models time. I found myself thinking how much easier it would be to shoot at my Studio, but that wasn't the point of this exercise. We had to deal with Mother Nature: sunlight, wind, temperature, foliage, etc... By 5:00 PM, I had run out of gas and decided to pack it up. I was too tired to even look at the pictures from the day's session. You can view the captures from the Model Mayhem session.
What did I learn?
1 ) Have an idea of what you want to shoot with regard to the environment. Go scope out the location before the shoot during the hours of the shoot.
2) Review the models portfolios ahead of time so you can see which angles accentuate their beauty.
3) Arrive at the shoot while the models are getting prepped for any last minute assessments, such as their physical appearance, i.e. height, weight, skin color, etc. and for any enviromental changes.
4) Don't be shy, if you are looking to create a unique image, chances are they'll want something different, too.
5) Bring everything your vehicle can hold.
On my next shoot, which is this Saturday, March 7, I know what I'm looking to do and defintely have a plan. That's a Wrap, for now.
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