My very first model shoot.

[mwcfarms]

My very first stranger model shoot. Canada's craigslist I guess you would say. All I have to say is damn I got lucky. Any and all c&c is appreciated.

1.

Jana by Deanna D Chambers, on Flickr

2.


Jana by Deanna D Chambers, on Flickr

I do have these in a vertical but I actually liked her expression in this one better.

3.


What did I learn. Well no to reset your flash to factory because I forgot how to set the damn thing to channel A :blushing:, you always need to bring an assistant or holder and damn that 70-200 mounted with a flash weighs too much after twp days I feel like I have carpal tunnel.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/deannadchambers/5608573043/
I'll have a tonne more on flickr later just wanted to share the first couple I processed.

 

[Crystal]

Well done! Really like 2 - stunning.

 

[mwcfarms]

Thanks Crystal.

 

[Robin Usagani]

post more!

 

[Derrel]

I like how the full-frame camera's different working distances and shallower depth of field leads to more subdued backgrounds than a crop-body camera does. It shows in the ones with the fir tree backgrounds.

 

[mwcfarms]

@Schwetty I will lol, I have to edit some more but don't you worry I have more for you. Um Schwetty she's only 19 though k. :greenpbl:

@Derrel, Yup I really love this camera, I even love the 70 - 200 but find that its not practical for me to shoot with all the time. I have little bird wrists that are weak. I think I might try an off brand and see if its any easier on me or I need to decide on a different lens.

 

[Derrel]

@Schwetty I will lol, I have to edit some more but don't you worry I have more for you. Um Schwetty she's only 19 though k. :greenpbl:

@Derrel, Yup I really love this camera, I even love the 70 - 200 but find that its not practical for me to shoot with all the time. I have little bird wrists that are weak. I think I might try an off brand and see if its any easier on me or I need to decide on a different lens.

You know, the main thing big lenses cause is not so much excess weight, but poor balance, and a lot of torque on the wrists and forearms of the shooter. It's not the weight that's so tiring, it's that nose-dive tendency that the 70-200/2.8 brings with it on the lighter bodies; on the largest, most bottom-heavy Nikon s like the F5 and D1-D2-D3 series, with VERY heavy batteries and very heavy bodies (think 3.8 lbs), the larger lenses are less prone to that awful nose-dive action. The old 28-70 f/2.8 zoom was also like that--very nose-heavy. Have you thought about a hand strap on the camera, to remove a lot of the torque by redistributing the weight of the camera/lens combo to a different part of the hand? Failing a handstrap, there are always dumbbells and kettle bells...

 

[Big Mike]

Yes, a big body with a big lens and flash can really make for a heavy bit of gear to be holding & lifting all the time.
One thing that I think could really help a lot of people, is to learn to use your left hand to hold the weight of the camera & lens. Ideally, your right hand shouldn't be holding the weight while shooting...and having a set up with good balance can really help this (as Derrel mentioned). I think that most people just get used to holding the bulk of the weight with their right hand, which puts a lot of strain on the wrist and leads to a much less stable camera, which can lead to blurrier images.

I have little bird wrists that are weak. I think I might try an off brand and see if its any easier on me or I need to decide on a different lens.

Have you considered trying a monopod? It would certainly allow you to take the weight off of your wrist and would help insure maximum sharpness. You'd just have to learn to shoot with it. I know of a wedding shooter who uses one almost all the time.

(I had a quick look at a couple photos on FB, they look good). I'll have a better look later...as I need to use a proxy to see Flickr here at work.

 

[Fleacz]

wow these are pretty good, she has really intense eyes.

 

[mwcfarms]

@Schwetty I will lol, I have to edit some more but don't you worry I have more for you. Um Schwetty she's only 19 though k. :greenpbl:

@Derrel, Yup I really love this camera, I even love the 70 - 200 but find that its not practical for me to shoot with all the time. I have little bird wrists that are weak. I think I might try an off brand and see if its any easier on me or I need to decide on a different lens.

You know, the main thing big lenses cause is not so much excess weight, but poor balance, and a lot of torque on the wrists and forearms of the shooter. It's not the weight that's so tiring, it's that nose-dive tendency that the 70-200/2.8 brings with it on the lighter bodies; on the largest, most bottom-heavy Nikon s like the F5 and D1-D2-D3 series, with VERY heavy batteries and very heavy bodies (think 3.8 lbs), the larger lenses are less prone to that awful nose-dive action. The old 28-70 f/2.8 zoom was also like that--very nose-heavy. Have you thought about a hand strap on the camera, to remove a lot of the torque by redistributing the weight of the camera/lens combo to a different part of the hand? Failing a handstrap, there are always dumbbells and kettle bells...

Nope I haven't thought of the hand strap thats a good idea. I was wondering if I should grip it as well to help with the weight. My husband just says I need stronger wrists and suggests how he could help. :lmao:

Yes, a big body with a big lens and flash can really make for a heavy bit of gear to be holding & lifting all the time.
One thing that I think could really help a lot of people, is to learn to use your left hand to hold the weight of the camera & lens. Ideally, your right hand shouldn't be holding the weight while shooting...and having a set up with good balance can really help this (as Derrel mentioned). I think that most people just get used to holding the bulk of the weight with their right hand, which puts a lot of strain on the wrist and leads to a much less stable camera, which can lead to blurrier images.

Well my left hand is the one hurting so maybe I have been doing it right so far lol. Who knows.

I have little bird wrists that are weak. I think I might try an off brand and see if its any easier on me or I need to decide on a different lens.

Have you considered trying a monopod? It would certainly allow you to take the weight off of your wrist and would help insure maximum sharpness. You'd just have to learn to shoot with it. I know of a wedding shooter who uses one almost all the time.

(I had a quick look at a couple photos on FB, they look good). I'll have a better look later...as I need to use a proxy to see Flickr here at work.

I hadn't thought about a monopod either but thats another good idea. I might play around with one and see how it goes. Thanks. I don't have any more editted yet other than whats on my Facebook. Ill try to get some done later tonight.

wow these are pretty good, she has really intense eyes.

Thank you, yes she does.

 

[c.cloudwalker]

Exposure and focus wise they are all good but the only one that works for me is #2. It is not perfect mind you. Some people hate to see arm pits

For a first try though, I have to say they are quite good and you are obviously here to build on that. So, here are a few thoughts.

I don't like the clothes at all. As the photog you need to control everything and that includes the clothes. It is not easy to meet the model before hand in this kind of situation (assuming this is a trade for print type of situation) to go through their clothes and pick a couple outfits you want to work with. It would be even harder for you to have clothes for the model to wear so you need to ask them to bring a few different outfits in the hope that at least one will be great.

Make up and nails are easier to control. Just say None. None until you meet and decide what the needs are. In this case her make up is fine but her yellow nails are very annoying. They don't show in #2 or 3, but that is about all I can see in #1. I have the same rule with jewelry, especially body jewelry. And with tattoos too. LOL, I'm a darn pain in the neck. But I just don't want someone to show up and tell they can't remove the nose or lip ring... And I don't want to spend time removing tattoos in PP for a TFP job. Fook that.

If a model has a problem with that, you can tell them to either take a walk or explain that the shots won't look as good as they can and that it is a waste of time for the both of you... Most of them will show up without the crap. But it also depends on how hard it is to get free models in your area

That said:

#1 I don't like her pose. It may have worked if more of the legs showed. Maybe including the feet. Depends on how those look.

#2 definitely the best but I would crop the dark part (tree?) on the right of the frame and also the knot in the tree right over her. The bracelet and earrings look kind of fancy compared to her top and they don't go together very well. IMO. Also, there is not enough looking space. Always more space in the direction the model is looking than in the other.

#3 The shoes do not fit with the rest of the clothes imo. And the pose is awkward. Lots of fashion model poses are awkward but the clothes here don't look like high fashion...


As far as little bird wrists that are weak, how about prime lenses? Much lighter they are.

 

[mwcfarms]

Thank you for the excellent C&C cloud. All great points. I have more i am sure to post these were just the first few I did. Different outfit too. We had spoken about clothes prior to this but I think it all went out the window before she showed up. I do have a different crop of number 2 but I liked the expression in one. I will be back with more later but thanks for the precise C&C.

 

[c.cloudwalker]

You're welcome. I'm here to try and help. Of course, a lot of it is nothing more than personal opinion. At my age though, or should I say with my experience, fewer and fewer things have to do with personal opinion and more and more have to do with what works and what doesn't.

That, btw, is dictated solely by what sells and what doesn't. Or, rather, by what the clients ask more or less of ... Having just spent an afternoon with a gallery owner I have very strong opinions right now, LOL.