A few people have said to me over the years that my models and my photographs stand out from others they’ve seen because there is just a “little something extra” about them. For a long time I wasn’t quite sure what that meant or even whether it was a good or a bad thing haha. I was doing a photo shoot this past sunday of my friend Collette who is a model, also dances for the Sharks(yes- I’m a sharks fan!), competes in figure building competitions, over and above having a job(super woman) I had a serious LIGHTBULB MOMENT. I was noticing a huge difference in the outcome when the model(Col) was being given direction and when she was being left to thumb-suck what it was I wanted.
It’s really crucial that photographers understand the importance of communication when working with people.
You can have a gorgeous model but without direction they can look average, and this is more than likely what we are trying to avoid.
People don’t know what photographers are looking for or what THEY ARE SEEING… And so I recommend that you let them know things like :
- “I’m not seeing your foot at the bottom, please lift your knees and point your toes towards me”
- “I’m getting harsh shadows across your right side(always talk in terms of the models left and right, not the photographers), please face more towards the light”
- “I’m losing your neck from my angle, please lift your chin slightly”
These are just a few examples but the TWO MOST CRITICAL THINGS TO REMEMBER:
- {GIVE CLEAR AND UNCOMPLICATED INSTRUCTIONS}
- {EDUCATE YOUR CLIENT – TELL THEM WHY THE SHOT ISN’T WORKING}
Have a look at two quick snaps from the shoot on sunday to see a small example of what I mean…
Once Col was given the direction she needed she produced an image like this:
The first pic without direction is by no means a terrible picture but its not what I was looking for and it just doesn’t do the model any justice. But the second pic with direction I feel has an edgier look and feel to it and is not as “safe” as the first pose.
The changes that were made with the positioning of the model were not major but the outcome is like day and night in my opinion. You want your model to look their best and not every model looks great in the same standard poses.
Keep letting your client know whats working and what isn’t but please don’t be rude… even the prettiest models in the world have insecurities and nerves in front of the camera so its best to be as polite as possible. And its also important to maintain a sense of humour throughout the shoot… there is a time to be serious and wear your big-boy broekies and business face but in reality a few lighthearted jokes and giggles will make the experience far more enjoyable for the client and they are more like to want to try harder instead of get tired and frustrated and call it a day after 40min.
I hope this quick tip was insightful :-)
Have a super duper day everyone!
Love Tae
xoxo
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