I had a chance to take pictures in a professional studio. It is so helpful for creative development. I would say just a must! Work with light to make it soft and beautiful, build a composition.
Hey! This text has been translated into English using automatic Google translation. So I apologize for the inaccuracies in the text. The original in Russian can be seen here
But most of all that time I was lucky with the model. Such a bright and cheerful person. Many thanks to Natalie for the chic look and great mood.
What should a photographer consider before going to the studio?
And not so much, really. Just a few moments. I put them together for myself in a peculiar order of actions in order to look in the future and quickly figure it out. So look:
- First, always remember, a professional studio is rented for a short period of time, usually. Therefore, the time of the photo session is limited and cannot be stretched in the process. And here it is best to decide all the points in advance.
- Secondly, you need to clearly know what you are going to shoot. If this is a portrait, it means to determine what kind of portrait (for example, half-length or full-length), in what style it will be.
- Next, based on the chosen image, style and manner of shooting, decide what kind of lighting we want to create.
- After we have decided all the nuances for ourselves, we need to discuss with the studio the possibility of creating the necessary lighting and background. In order not to run around, cursing yourself, already during the shooting and not to puzzle over how to be and how to get out when the lighting is not right and there is no suitable background in the studio.
- It is best to come to the studio in advance and discuss all the nuances, see where and how you will work, whether there is the possibility of shooting in full growth (if required). Be sure to ask to be shown the equipment you will be working on. Check in advance whether it is compatible with your camera.
Seems big and complex, doesn’t it? Everything is simple, I will briefly repeat the most basic. The studio is rented for a short time, decide for yourself the style of shooting and discuss with the studio all the nuances of a future photo shoot. And just something.
What should a photographer discuss with a model before going to the studio?
Well, for ourselves, we determined what and how we want to shoot, in what conditions, and even solved the difficult issue of equipment compatibility. But is our model aware? Does she know what to do and how to do it? After all, experienced people in terms of posing are not often found. Therefore, it is worth meeting with the future heroine for a cup of coffee in a cafe and discussing plans for the upcoming photo shoot. Let’s come up with a rough list of questions for such a conversation, so that the model is finally ready and feels confident.
- Start from far away. Let’s try to figure out what the model itself wants. Gently ask how she sees herself. Perhaps she already has a ready-made image in her head that she wants to bring to life.
- If the model “floats” and does not see itself in any way, tell us your options. Describe how you see the upcoming photo shoot. It is better to offer several options to choose from.
- Further, I believe, there will be a rather lengthy process of discussing options. Since the fantasy of both will play out strongly. And here the main thing is not to restrain yourself and express even the craziest proposals. As a result, they always come to some general option that suits both.
- Since coffee or tea, most likely, has long ended, it is worth ordering more. In the meantime, the order is being carried, think about one more spare image for a photo shoot. It is convenient to have several congenial ones, if one does not work, you can always change for the second.
- So, when you and the model have decided what kind of images will be, it is worth discussing the main style and manner of shooting. Perhaps the model wants black and white photos of only the face or upper body.
- Now it would seem everything, but no! Do not rush to release the model. And perhaps she herself will tell you that she does not know how to pose and does not know how to do it at all. Calm her down and tell her that everything is not difficult and you will certainly tell how to become, how to turn your head and where to put your hands. And so that she completely ceases to be afraid, invite her to practice at the mirror. It is very important that the model is self-confident, calm and not afraid of anything. Otherwise, the photographs will turn out to be clamped and constrained. True, in this case there is also a way out, everyone has a way to quickly relax.
Now that’s it, you can safely release the model, it will definitely be ready. True, it is best to start with such a meeting, and only then solve technical issues with the studio. But this is how it works.
What to remember before the photo session?
It would seem that everything has been decided and all issues have been discussed. It remains only to go and shoot for pleasure. And let’s go through and see if we forgot something:
- Call the model and ask if she is ready for the upcoming shoot. Have plans changed? How is the mental attitude? Is there everything for the image (clothes, props)?
- Scroll through and consider the options for poses. It’s up to you to frame and compose. Don’t expect the model to always take the most advantageous poses. Most likely, many of you will have to correct. Therefore, be prepared to work with the model and with the light.
- Lastly, look and test your technique. Is everything in place and is everything working. Charge the batteries and clean the memory card of old pictures. So that later there would be no surprise at the most inopportune moment.
Now you are ready for a future photo shoot and you can safely go and enjoy the shooting process.
Say that all this is already known and understandable. Yes, I do not argue. But it will not be superfluous to remember the most important. To pay valuable attention to creativity, and not to the technical nuances of preparation. That’s all, I wish you all successful photo shoots. Perhaps my notes will be useful to someone. Even if after reading the article you remember that you forgot to charge the camera. So I wrote not in vain.
