Today is #anythingcanhappenday on this Blog. Lately, I’ve increased the number of portrait-related posts on this blog and based on an increased number of page views, people seem to be enjoying them. (If you don’t; let me know.) This is a genre I’m passionate about and was the subject of my four most recent books.
Today’s Post by Joe Farace
“She had large, questioning eyes that seemed to draw me in and a sense of quiet outrage that simmered just beneath the surface. More than anything, within her features, there was a streak of wild quirkiness that made her dazzlingly attractive.” ― Shades of Grey
I’ve written several posts about the different approaches that I’ve used for finding models. You can access all of the posts on this subject, by using this site’s search feature—the magnifying glass icon—and entering “finding models.” A few people asked me to write an eBook on this subject and if there is any demand maybe I will.
What Happens Next?
So what happens after I discover a new model who would like to work with me? With models I haven’t photographed before, I like to have an informal interview to take a look at her portfolio (if she has one) and if she isn’t familiar with my work, I show her the kind of photographs I create, so that there are no surprises when we finally shoot together. This exchange helps establish rapport with the model that usually pays off in the future because we will have begun to establish rapport that only builds with time.
Next, I like to schedule a test shoot to see how we like working together. The feedback from the interview affects the kind of images that get made during the test shoot. A test shoot in my home studio or on location typically takes about two hours (or less) at which time I’ll usually make approximately two hundred (digital) photographs. During the test, I’ll shoot both color and direct black and white images. I’ve previously mentioned my philosophy of shooting RAW+JPEG at the same time allowing me to capture some images in direct monochrome, that I’ll give her, and you can read about my reasons for using this technique here.
In working with the model during a test shoot I don’t have a formula for posing. I pretty much let them do their own thing, which also helps show off their creativity.
I always try to accent a model’s good points and minimize the ones that she may be self-conscious about, even if I think she’s wrong about them. I tell each model, and wholeheartedly believe it to be true, that I want to make them look as beautiful as possible. And that’s also my goal for a test shoot, to create great photographs that makes the model happy and helps us build a longstanding partnership.
How I made this portrait: This low key headshot of aspiring model Laura May Bachmayer was made with the simplest of lighting setups using the Bron Move L power pack and head system. The main Bron MobiLED head with 28×28-inch (71x71cm) Bron soft box was placed at camera right while a second Bron MobiLED head, with its standard reflector attached, is directly behind and aimed at the subject’s back.
The background is a 5×7-foot (1.5x2m) Savage Black Infinity vinyl backdrop suspended from JTL background stands. She’s leaning on a Savage Tech Table that’s filling in for a posing table that I don’t own. The camera used was a Canon EOS 5D Mark I with my favorite EF 85mm f/1.8 lens with an exposure of 1/125 sec at f/11 and ISO 200.
My favorite part of this story is that if you look at the lighting setup at above right, you will see a causal pose of a sweet young women but if you look at the finished image at left, you’ll see a dramatic portrait of a dynamic and beautiful woman. I think it was Mandrake the Magician who said, “It’s all done with lighting…” and he was partially right. The other part is the attitude that a talented model like Laura May can bring to any shoot, even a headshot like this.
My book Joe Farace’s Glamour Photography is full of tips, tools and techniques for glamour and boudoir photography and includes information on the cameras and lenses used as well as the complete exposure data for each image. New copies are available from Amazon for $30.54 with used copies starting around ten bucks as I write this. The Kindle version is $19.99 for those preferring a digital format.