Lighting video?
Hey guys,
Just wanted to say whats up? Also, just wanted to let you know that after a year of planning, I'm FINALLY starting my lighting video! My video will be unique to the market and promises to have something for every one. I'm not sure of the price yet, but I will have an early bird special sign up.
This video will have full break downs of lighting setups as well as walking through the creative process of lighting. There will be TWO versions! One for model photography and one for general portrait! I will break down complex lighting patterns and make them do-able to the every day person. As it stands, the video will most likely be about eight hours lol, just kidding. If I record everything I want to, it most likely will be that long, but I'll edit it down.
Want to get on the mailing list to get first dibs at the sign up? contact me and let me know you want to be on the mailing list!
To hold you over, here's a few images taken over last week:
“Real models…”
Every day I get more and more caught up in the various social networking programs such as Facebook. On there, there are a bunch of clowns who THINK they know what makes one a model and usually I enjoy reading their comments, but for some reason, this one clown made a comment that irked me. So I'm going to blog MY opinion regarding it.
His comment was something along the lines of;
"All these girls wanting to be models. They go get their hair done, their nails done and make up. Honey, you're getting nothing more than a senior portrait done."
This was a few days ago, so I'm not entirely sure if that was the quote word for word, but he did make the senior port comment. Behind his stupid comment, there were dozens of girls saying "I agree" to which he replied "...cept you, I consider you a model" and "...you should be a model, you're hot enough!"
I could get very technical and copy and paste the meaning of the word "model" but what fun would that be? I posted the comment on my page and got some very good responses. One was from a model who said what makes a person a model is getting paid for modeling and striving to get better and better photos. I understand where she's coming from, but it's not always about the money. Any horny guy with a camera will drop 100.00+ per hour to see a hot chick naked. Doesn't make him a photographer or her a model.
Another guy said modeling is "Model: A person who can convincingly act in front of a camera. Plain and simple. "
And most likely, the most profound statement of the post was something that was short and sweet "whoever is in front of my camera?"
There were many great replies, but being a model is taking the ability to come alive. For ME, being a model is stepping outside of your every day comfort zone and pushing yourself, physically, mentally or emotionally, to get the shot that otherwise, is impossible. When a person is in front of my camera, it is MY job to make them a model. If I can't elicit the emotion, then I have failed, not them. Usually, a model-models something. Keeping the item or interest that one is modeling in mind. I.e. if it's an editorial shoot, as a model, you should tell the story. Fashion shoot, sell the product. Glamour shoot, sell your sexy.
As a professional photographer, the term model means something different to everyone. It's just funny to me that the drunk guy at the bar, who has no idea what he's talking about, is always the ones to define who or what a model is.
Whites, white?
I'm back! This post is proof!
One of the questions I get asked is "Dude, how do you get your white seamless, so white? Is it post?"
Answer: Yes and no.
As you may or may not know, I don't use a light meter. I know they are an amazing tool and when I used film, I didn't trust NOT using one, but with digital, there's no need. That and my attitude now is totally different than what it was then. Today, I preach: "learn your lights" and of course "learn to see light"
So let's start with a pull back:
As the above photo shows, I use three lights;
Photogenic PL500DRC as key
2 Photogenic PLR1250DR in photogenic 12x36 strip boxes
I meter by eye, my backdrop lights to be around f11, the key light, around f8. Of course this all changes in relation to what the model is wearing, but stick with me here. Assuming all is well in the world, this setup should produce the following results:
This photo is the shot right after the above pull back.
Where the extra "pop" comes from, is the curves adjustment I do on the RAW image. It's not a big one, just a slight one to bring out the highlights. Here's the final image:
I’m not dead!
Hey guys!
I'm not dead yet!
Been playing catch up since Meeting of the Masters took up the last month. I'm working on a TON of new images and things to share with you all. I'll be back at that mid week this week.
I just wanted to post a few sample images of the models that will be at my workshop this Saturday. The workshop is an implied Nude workshop so here are the models:
Diana and Kayla
Sorry
That I've been slacking on the blog! Meeting of the Masters has officially kicked my butt. But that is over for this year, so now time to concentrate on my stuff and blog is number one!
Just as an fyi, the blog WILL undergo some small changes. The domain will change, but everything else will stay the same.
I just wanted to upload a few quick beauty shots.
These were shot on high key (all white backdrop) The setup was simple;
2 Photogenic AKC320 watt strobes in 12x36 strip boxes pointed to the "curve" in the backdrop
One Photogenic PLR1250DR 500watt strobe
24' ch white beauty dish
Meeting of the Masters is this week!
Hey guys,
Sorry I've been non existant over the past few weeks. We're in the final stages of my event; Meeting of the Masters and that's sucking up all my time.
The event is going to be a HUGE success, in part because all the guys coming out are looking forward to it, the attendees are looking forward to it and we have a GREAT group of sponsors-that are also looking forward to it!
I will of course have videos and photos from the event and will post some of the photos that I have of the models that are coming out for the evening shoots.
I'll try and make a post later tonight.
Flirting with comfort lines…
For me when I shoot, I always discuss the psychology of photography. As a psych major in school, I love the dynamics of relationships. I know this is mostly a sociology type attitude, but leave me alone. I like to find out what a model is mostly comfortable shooting up to, and push the boundaries as much as humanly possible! I am always careful to not over step the boundaries and will often describe the pose and have them turn around to emulate it before we shoot it,
Be careful when flirting with people's comfort line; always approach it in a fun non pervy way and as long as it's with in their line, they will be open to it. For me, I find the best images are the ones that pushes both the model and photographer. Here's Jamie. Jamie is open to the idea of nudes, but approached it with some hesitance. I explained to her that it's her shoot, shoot what she's comfortable with. She said for sure on topless and implied nude. Here's some photos of how we approahced her shoot of nude but not really:
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- Jamie lost her bottoms
Specs: Canon EOS 5D | 2 Photogenic AKC320 with 2 stripboxes | 4x6 softbox
I love MANY strobes, but one light is just as powerful!
To continue on with my one light series, I have to say that I love strobes. Nothing makes me feel more warm and fuzzy inside! The way they pop, the way the images look. The more the merrier! The one thing that I sometimes forget; great images can happen with just one light! If I borrow from my post earlier in the week, one light is how I really got started. David Hickey told me years ago that "There is only one sun. The purpose of photography is to emulate it." After he said that, I shot for many years with one light. Then I started adding more and more. Now that I'm comfortable and am often told that I have a "recognizable" style, I want to change it up a bit.
IMHO, I've got the glamour thing down. I'm almost annoyed with it. I want to branch out and shoot more fashion and beauty. So I grabbed a model, she's not fashion height, but she's beautiful and shot some fashion lighting. I'm going to check with my buddy T, to see what he has to say. I hope I'm not too far off lol.
These were all shot with the following:
Canon EOS 5D
Photogenic PLR1250DR
Diffusion Panel
What do ya think?
Reece and her “big smile”
Here's a quick video of Reece at a semi private "Boudoir" shoot. She talks about and shows us her "big smile" Lets hope she doesn't come to the blog or she'd KILL ME lol.
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