On Facebook I’ve been engaged in a group discussion about the selling of RAW images.
As you may or may not have known, I’ve moved back to the Midwest after eight wonderful years out West. With me comes everything I’ve learned from working out West and West Coast. One of the things that was a hotly debated subject about five years ago was the RAW images and allowing clients to purchase them.
I am not opposed to implied nude shots, however, it sickens me to see models say “I don’t shoot nude” then you see implied NUDE’S on their page, or a full on topless. When asking them, they say they put it on there because they want to keep away the creepers or those who only want to shoot nudes. I tell them they’re hurting themselves because those photogs that would pay them, skip right past them. Their body their rules. While looking at these photos, I figured this would be a much better blog post to cover lighting.
Years back when I got serious about photography, I started to make a name for myself in the model photography world and quickly realized that it was MUCH more difficult to chase the penny vs chasing dimes in general portrait photography. I had decided I was going to do everything most people said NOT to do-ads in the newspaper, yellow pages and planned out a tv ad. A few weeks ago, I saw the Sunday paper and it had this in the funnies
If you know anything about me, then you know I’m an ordained minister when it comes to Black and White images. I preach that black and white is over done and should only be applied to SPECIFIC images. More so to images that were shot with black and white in mind, i.e. more contrast than anything. The reason is because I hear lots of photographers that shoot an image wrong and can’t get the colors to look right,
I can’t began to stress how important it is to have your best foot forward in ANY situation! The model/photography world is one that is built off of looks and first impressions. When I’m using these sites, I’m looking for images that blow me away. I’m looking at a thumbnail about 150×150 and have three seconds to make up my mind if I want to contact you. There are 148,587,335,114,1578,2 portfolios to look through
A problem found (most often) with newer or those who want to be models is what I call “Posing regret” As it turns out, I live and work out of Glamour states and as a result, I don’t tell a 5’6″ girl that I want to shoot “fashion” I am honest with them and tell them either, “We can shoot a fashion inspired theme” or “I don’t shoot fashion, I’m the glamour guy!” as a way of skirting around the fact they’re too short. Every once in a while, I will run across a young lady that wants to submit to a glamour magazine or website, then totally freak out and change her mind.
I have made my feelings known regarding hotshoe flashes being used as “strobes”, Nothing more than a gimmick, oops… But I did take a portable strobe and beauty dish out for some shots!
Last week a facebook contact sated on an update:”Ive said it before and i will say it again. It is about the light people! Photography is about lighting!!!”
I replied; ” Its about the connection first! Lights second!”
She replied: ” I could take a person off the street and not say a word to them…..and get an outstanding pix if i have the right light. Connection is only a necessity for portrait biz….i am talking u and being one with your camera.
Repeat after me…..i can see the light!!!!!!”
I hate to hit you with the importance of Mentors but I am. One of my Mentors, Art Ketchum once told me “You aren’t sh!t” if you can’t shoot white on white and keep the integrity of the clothing. Do THAT and hell, I’ll say you’re good”
Of course after he said that, I went out and tried to shoot white on white.
Back in 2001 when I got “really fricken serious” about photography, I found myself trying to decide which genre of photography I should get into? Fashion? Glamour? Swim? Beauty? It was at this point that I decided a mentor was crucial and found one. The mentor I had was a glamour guy. I didn’t chose to shoot glamour strictly because he was a glamour guy, at that point in my career I had enjoyed the bluntness of glamour.