Modeling Shoots Lessons Learned

I finally managed to schedule in a photo shoot with a local model/actress from Toronto. I was aiming to enhance my portfolio with something edgy, and figured the local "grafitti art" near a school would be a little more interesting than the white or black backdrops I usually used.

Jasmine arrived on time, and we headed to our shoot location, not far from the Go Station. We were on location and setting up within 15 minutes of meeting her. Smooth.
=> Lesson learned: use professionals and they show up. Using models from Craigslist or teenagers from Model Mayhem have highly variable (negative?) results.

We ignored the dark clouds on the horizon, knowing the forecast told us no rain was coming.
=> Lesson learned: weather forecasting is an inexact science, even when the predictive timeframe is < 1 hr

I quickly set up using my two lights, stands and an umbrella. Within taking my first few shots, the flash, transmitter and stand hit the mud.
=> Lesson learned: even in sheltered outdoor environments, wind will find an umbrella. Luckily, everything continued to work. Maybe use light modifiers that don't catch the wind.

I switched from soft to hard light for both flashes (the plan was one of each). It was necessary to be a little more careful with the direction and power of the lights to avoid hot spots on the grafitti and avoid any harsh, horrible shadows on Jasmine's face.
=> Lesson learned: whatever you planned, expect you'll need to change it up on the fly to play nice with the environment.

I dropped to ISO 200 to darken the available ambient light, and used the harsher direct flashes to make the pictures "edgy". In hindsight, the grafitti was a little hot, so the eye is drawn to the grafitti first and not the model.
=> Lesson learned: take time to review shots on something bigger than a camera LCD screen.

About 75% the way into my shoot, I realized I was still shooting JPG so I switched to RAW. Later, after reviewing the photos on my netbook however, the exposure and white balance were where I wanted them, so RAW wouldn't have added any value.
=> Lesson learned: shooting RAW helps to contain WB and exposure mistakes. Next time, I'll leave myself some wiggle room.

Recycle times were a bit of a problem (I learned later) where 2-3 of the 100 shots didn't flash correctly. Could have been the transmitters, but probably likely the batteries in one of the flashes didn't recycle fast enough.
=> Charge batteries the day of, not the night before.

By 7:30pm, I was starting to be pelted by raindrops. Jasmine was in a better spot and stayed pretty dry. Eventually I called it, we packed up quickly and within minutes we were heading back to the Go Station.

Softboxes

I took some time out to tape together another softbox using a tin dish and a $2 shower curtain. I estimate it reduces.the.flash output by 1 stop. It also just hangs.off the.flash without any real rigging. Won't work outside probably, but it looks like it'll work indoors.

A little small, perhaps, but it smooths out the light a little bit. Might work as an accent light tho.

Now to catch Kaylah!

Touring on the Flashbus

No, its not a bus that goes.around baring parts of themselves to the public (maybe it does actually, have to check). But mostly its a seminar by two well known photogs that have made their living taking pictures with flash. Most everyone has a camera these days, be it in their purse or in their cell phone. Not all those cameras are ideal for off camera flash. But for those of us with a dslr, taking the flash off camera allows the photog to layer light throughout the picture, and create something that pops.

For $100, a bunch of us canucks went down to Buffalo to see Joe Mcnally and David Hobby speak. They informed and entertained. David went through the tasks.of.creating a shot he had done.with a local tech head. Joe actually brought up audience members to photograph using a wealth of expensive, and not so expensive gear.

Pure awesome. Leaders of the next revolution in photography and I got to be in the.first row.

Mind bending.