Because tomorrow is Star Wars Day, I’m moving my Sunday series on outdoor portraits indoors and refocusing it to available light portraiture. For some time, it’s been my intention of flipping the Sunday series to focus on all kind of available light portraits, instead of just outdoor portraiture, so consider this a trail run. Who knows, if people like it, I’ll make that the new series starting on May11.
Today’s Post by Joe Farace
Where do I find my glamour photography models? That’s a question I”m asked a lot by aspiring glamour and boudoir photographers. To start with, the truth is that finding glamour models to pose for your photographs is as easy or difficult as you want to make it. Today I’d like to offer one of my real-world experiences on one way to find models, starting with…
Handing out business cards
While it may seem obvious, handing business cards to potential models you see or meet in your daily life is a good idea. Since this can sound like a pick-up line, I prefer to approach potential models when they are with friends and when I’m accompanied by my wife. I ask them if they would be interested in modeling and suggest they visit my website to see examples of my work. If they’re still interested I ask her to send me an e-mail so we can schedule a test shoot.
A True story: “Are you a Model?” That’s what I asked Tasha (above right) when she and her boyfriend were standing in line, along with Mary and myself, waiting to get into an indoor car show. She looked so young and I asked Mary if she though the woman was 21 year or older—she was 24. So I handed her my business card and talked with her for a few minutes. A few weeks later, she contacted me and that’s when I discovered that modeling had been a longtime dream of hers! We ending up having several photo shoots together. Even though she had never modeled before, I found she was one of the most naturally talented woman that I’d ever photographed and had the bets make-up skills of any model I’d photographed up to that point. Tasha has appeared in my outdoor portrait series before but today’ss featured image was from our very first shoot together.
Another tip: I also give business cards to my wife and friends who may not be bashful about handing them to potential models who might meet in their everyday lives. It seldom works but if you don’t try, bupkis.
How I made this portrait: The above photograph was made in the dining room of my former home using window light along with an inexpensive (less than $20) 30-inch Westcott Gold/White reflector placed at camera left. Shot with a Canon EOS D60 and an EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 USM lens that I made the mistake of selling. The exposure was 1/200 sec at f/4.5 and ISO 400 with a plus one-third stop exposure compensation.
For more tips, tricks and techniques for creating studio lighting effects without spending the big bucks on gear, please pick up a copy of my book Studio Lighting Anywhere, which features a cover photograph by Mary Farace. It’s available used from Amazon for $26.90, as I write this. The Kindle version is only $19.99 for those preferring a digital format.