Advice on shoot needed. First time shooting a pro model

[Ernicus]

Hey all....

So...I asked for advice on my wedding second shooter experience and got a lot of great responses and advice. I am hoping for the same deal here. So fire at will.

I have been invited to a 50's pinup shoot with a pro model tomorrow. Only two photogs, well main and his wife both shoot, and me. Last minute invite, but thankfully I am pretty much set up with portable gear which is cool...the photog who invited me will have gear too...so it should be great learning.

Basically we are shooting seperately. One will take lead...do their thing...the other watches and sees their ideas...then trade...etc. So at some point I will have lead with creative control.

I plan to bring my monolight kit, flashpoint 320, I'll also have two 36" inch umprellas (reflective not shoot through), and speeds for them. I also have my main sb360, borrowing a bracket (camera rotating), and a fong.

Other than kit, I have my 50mm 1.4 and my 80-200 f/2

So, I can't think of anything else to say that I have at my disposal. Any reads you may know of or advice you'd like to give....I'm all ears.

Thanks,

Ernie

 

[Ernicus]

update, I snagged a 32" white shoot through umbrella from work....ran out of the big ones, lol. So I got one of those, oh, and I have 46 or 48" 5 in 1 reflector set as well.

 

[Ernicus]

location update. we are shooting here

Hotel Senator Inn & Spa, Augusta, United States of America - Lowest Rate Guaranteed!

the photog knows owner and usually gets free reign over the hotel...sometimes...so we'll see how that goes.

 

[MLeeK]

My advice to you: Have fun. Watch what the other photog does for posing. Make sure the arm is away from the body and allows you to see the curve when possible.
Shoot some really outrageous and sassy poses-that's pin up! Shoot for sexy and shoot for G rated. Try EVERYTHING you can think of. If she's a thin model shoot from every angle imaginable. Shoot your friends while they are shooting. Take notes.
When you get home write down all of your thoughts while they are right on the forefront. Then go back and read them every so often because they'll spark more thoughts later down the line.

 

[Ernicus]

Thanks for the info. I have not looked up the model yet, been crazy busy. I was told she does pinup a lot and has the thick/curvy physique for it as it was back in the day. I never thought of shooting him shooting her...great idea.

 

[shefjr]

I have no advice for you sorry :/ I am jealous of your good fortune with your offers to second shoot a wedding and now a model! What luck and great experience!

 

[Ernicus]

I have no advice for you sorry :/ I am jealous of your good fortune with your offers to second shoot a wedding and now a model! What luck and great experience!

thanks. I feel very lucky. Some locals are noticing my hard work, dedication, humility, and willingness to learn and I am getting offers left and right...so life is good in the photog world for me right now.

I decided to sort of "journalize" my efforts this year, so to speak, here for others who are in similar boat and want to shoot as a pro eventually. My hopes is that they realize what it takes to learn and grow, and do not just drop 600 bucks on a dSLR and present themselves as a pro. I am seeing that mentality more and more every day in person in the store, and it really irritates me and I have now seen personally how it gives a bad name to photographers as a whole by the chit they produce. So, I hope my posts reach those who are trying to learn.

I can't complain one bit. I need this, and other experiences to become what I want to be and start shooting professionally. I do not feel comfortable selling myself and services without such experiences under my belt, so I am trying to get invites to as many things as I can to prepare myself for next year.

 

[Designer]

Just questions. Are you paying for one third of her time? What outfits/props will be there? Are you expected to bring props? What furniture/posing benches will be there? Inside or outside? Or both? Is someone doing hair and makeup? How many outfit changes are scheduled?

 

[Ernicus]

No, no money. freebie swap. I have all rights to shots, and she gets free photos. She is bringing her outfits and props...I have no idea what she'll bring, but was told she's a pro and does this sort of thing a lot, so I'm assuming she'll have many things at her disposal.

as far as furniture, inside outside etc. I put a link up earlier in thread to the location. We were going to do outside abandoned industrial area, sort of an idea on contrast of soft skin, harsh environment. but today is rainy and crappy overcast so it will be inside.

It's more of a "pad the portfolio" event. She needs updated shots for her portfolio, I need a portfolio. lol. so it won't be regular as in terms of hired events, with scheduled outfit changes, and that sort. So she'll be changing to whatever she feels like it and doing her own dressup basically.

 

[cgipson1]

Just have fun! Looking forward to seeing what you get!

 

[orljustin]

Sounds like she'll wear and do whatever she wants in the hotel lobby, and you get to snap away and hope you get something that doesn't look like it was shot in a hotel.

 

[gsgary]

No, no money. freebie swap. I have all rights to shots, and she gets free photos. She is bringing her outfits and props...I have no idea what she'll bring, but was told she's a pro and does this sort of thing a lot, so I'm assuming she'll have many things at her disposal.

as far as furniture, inside outside etc. I put a link up earlier in thread to the location. We were going to do outside abandoned industrial area, sort of an idea on contrast of soft skin, harsh environment. but today is rainy and crappy overcast so it will be inside.

It's more of a "pad the portfolio" event. She needs updated shots for her portfolio, I need a portfolio. lol. so it won't be regular as in terms of hired events, with scheduled outfit changes, and that sort. So she'll be changing to whatever she feels like it and doing her own dressup basically.

If she was pro she wouldn't be free

 

[Tee]

Probably a Model Mayhem "pro". One look at her port will tell. Either way, have fun. Any chance to get in front of a model is progress. Are you going to have her sign a model release? Start thinking about the admin side of things as you progress. Shameless plug: I use the Top Model Release app in iPhone. It's brand new but simple, to the point, and covered in the 50 states <--- cue kmH to link to a government website about releases.

 

[Ernicus]

No, no money. freebie swap. I have all rights to shots, and she gets free photos. She is bringing her outfits and props...I have no idea what she'll bring, but was told she's a pro and does this sort of thing a lot, so I'm assuming she'll have many things at her disposal.

as far as furniture, inside outside etc. I put a link up earlier in thread to the location. We were going to do outside abandoned industrial area, sort of an idea on contrast of soft skin, harsh environment. but today is rainy and crappy overcast so it will be inside.

It's more of a "pad the portfolio" event. She needs updated shots for her portfolio, I need a portfolio. lol. so it won't be regular as in terms of hired events, with scheduled outfit changes, and that sort. So she'll be changing to whatever she feels like it and doing her own dressup basically.

If she was pro she wouldn't be free

Not entirely true. The main photog and her are working a trade. She needs a cover for a local mag entry and he is padding his portfolio; since they are acquaintances, there is not monetary exchange. Pro's do trade work too, it's not always about the money. I was just lucky enough to get invited.

Anything useful to add other than douchebaggery?

 

[Ernicus]

Probably a Model Mayhem "pro". One look at her port will tell. Either way, have fun. Any chance to get in front of a model is progress. Are you going to have her sign a model release? Start thinking about the admin side of things as you progress. Shameless plug: I use the Top Model Release app in iPhone. It's brand new but simple, to the point, and covered in the 50 states <--- cue kmH to link to a government website about releases.

Since I was invited by a friend, and they are friends, I had not thought about it. Good advice though. Thanks. ;-)