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DanaM
Joined: 25 Nov 2007
Posts: 8
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 Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 10:29 pm Post subject: Best tips for making my model look photo-fabulous in outdoor |
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| I'm just starting to learn about photography. This is my first outdoor shoot to build a portfolio, with my sister as my model. I'd love to hear some tips with regards to makeup, lighting etc that will help me turn out beautiful photos. I'm using a Nikon D40, I figured just a reflector would be sufficient, any other sources of artificial lighting I should consider using? |
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danashelchan5177
Joined: 13 Dec 2007
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:00 am Post subject: Best tips for making my model look photo-fabulous in outdoor |
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Flash is fine outdoors. You might even try holding the camera upside down so that you don't place shadows under the eyes (that method will actually lighten the area under the eyes). Other methods is to move in close so that your subject fills the shot and choose an aperture that is large so that you blur the background. If you choose a large aperture make sure that the eyes are in focus. Also, choose a variety of shots so that your subject is diagonal to the frame or only fills one third of the shot allowing perhaps a bright green background to fill the other two thirds. Also, use a gray card for the best exposure. Good luck!  |
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danashelchan5177
Joined: 13 Dec 2007
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 1:32 am Post subject: Best tips for making my model look photo-fabulous in outdoor |
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| Have your model face the sun, I know its hard to do without squinting but makes pics great. To make it easy, have her close her eyes until you are ready to take the pic. For makeup..colored film make her look natural, not too heavy. For black & white her makeup has to be dark, like the eye shadow, lipstick and so on...but clothing will depend on the background, dont use printed clothes in blck & white film |
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Dale
Joined: 24 Nov 2007
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 3:03 am Post subject: Best tips for making my model look photo-fabulous in outdoor |
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| Depending on the lighting, a little bit of fill flash will go a long way.If you can, shoot in the shade and adjust your white balance accordingly.If you must shoot in the sun, do so either early in the morning or late evening when the sun is just rising or setting. Not only is this lite good for the landscape, but it is less intense at those times. Less stress on the model during the shoot in the event that you want to have the light coming straight at them.I would recommend that you consider side or backlighting(fill flash helps with these as well) instead of direct front lighting.A reflector or off camera flash could help fill in spots(with the D40, it has no commander mode, so foroff camera flash, you'd have to have an SB-800 with another remote flash or get the wireless commander module that plugs into the hotshoe and acts as a commander. |
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Dale2928
Joined: 25 Nov 2007
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 4:35 am Post subject: Best tips for making my model look photo-fabulous in outdoor |
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| Basically outdoor lighting is better in the early morning or late afternoon or in "Open Shade". If shooting in direct sun, have the sun either behind your model or to one side NOT BEHIND YOU! In the shade watch out for "dappled" light coming through leaves, etc. it can make a very unpleasant effect.The reflector is a good idea but they can be tricky to handle if it is windy unless you have an assistant to hold it in position. Keep backgrounds simple and uncluttered, use a wide aperture (low f number) and maintain as large a space as possible between the background and you model.Keep make up as simple as possible, wind or rain can mess it up and then you spend time trying to fix it. Lipstick should be a shade that provides enough contrast to make the mouth stand out from her normal complexion (dark skin, light lipstick/light skin dark lipstick). Many models also use a small amount of clear lip gloss or Vaseline over their lipstick to make their lips appear moist or shiny. This can give the lips a "luscious" appearance.You might also want to take some thin fabric, like an old piece of pantyhose or a nylon or silk scarf, to put over your lens with a rubber band for a few shots. This can give a very "soft focus" that looks very pleasing.When posing, ask her to show you different feelings or ideas like "flirty", "hot!", "sensuous", "regal" or "serene". Change these every few minutes to get a variety of poses and to keep her mind on expressing herself, that will usually keep her from concentrating on the camera too much.Good luck, and have fun.P.S. Take along a mirror large enough for her to check her make up in and possibly to watch herself pose. It can also double as a reflector. |
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DanaB
Joined: 13 Feb 2008
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 6:06 am Post subject: Best tips for making my model look photo-fabulous in outdoor |
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| your eye will make you turn out beautiful photos. if you're just starting don't bother with extra stuff. shoot natural light. and remember that what's in the background is just as critical. even if it's out of focus. |
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danashelchan
Joined: 02 Dec 2007
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 7:37 am Post subject: Best tips for making my model look photo-fabulous in outdoor |
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| You got some good tips from the others and I will add to this list also.You are working with a Nikon D40 so stay away from the pop-up flash since it will not help for this kind of work since it is small and you have to be close and it will not flatter your model.Make sure you pick a good location be it an old building, woods or field. You do not want a distracting background with power lines, supermarkets etc behind her.If you shoot in the day time get up as early as possible to shoot (morning light does not last as long). At this time of day your light is coming in at a very low angle and is not intense yet so your model can be facing towards the sun. She will not be required to squint if you have her facing a little to the left or right so the light is hitting her from a slight angle. Here is where you can use a reflector if needed to bounce light from the sun to the other side of her face.The light just before sunset is longer and you will have more time to work plus it is more warmer and not intense. Same rules go as above but depending on how strong the light is when you are shooting.Not knowing what type of lenses you are using I would open up your aperture as large as it will go (f~2.8, f~3.5 etc) and zoom in, this will "lift" your model from the background and give your images more impact directed on the model. If shooting portraits no mater what "focus" on the eyes. Everything else can be out of focus for portraits except the eyes.If using the nylon stocking as mentioned from a previous poster to give you a "soft" focus. Cut a real small hole in the center, this gives your AF a place to focus.One other thing....... DO NOT turn your camera upside down to shoot with the flash. There are better ways.Here a some links to also help:http://www.photonhead.com/beginners/http://www.lexar.com/dp/index.html?CMP=EMC-DPHope this also helps you,Kevin |
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danashelchan2305
Joined: 27 Dec 2007
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 9:09 am Post subject: Best tips for making my model look photo-fabulous in outdoor |
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| You can get great photos with a D40.All the suggestions are good, here are a few non-conventional ones:- Place her in the shade, more like half shade and half sun, like under a tree with the leaves letting in some sun through. Use fill-in flash so the face is not dark. You might also want to bracket your exposure.- If you find a great view, have her look parallel to it. Move in close, expose for the view, and fill-in flash to light the face.- Instead of just posing with the flowers, have her DO something, like smell the flowers, reach up to a tree branch with both her hands- If you have zoom, use it to help isolate your subject from the background.- If there is water, a bridge, include reflections- Try unconventional composition, e.g. from the top looking down- Frame her using a doorway, an arch, a gazebo, etc.Basically, what I am suggesting is to go natural, experiment, don't get stuck in one location (which happens when you rely on artificial lighting and end up with basically more boring model photoshoots) and find the picture that is the real her -- that's really hard to do and will set you apart as a good photographer. |
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