Ultimately, I want to help aspiring models build portfolios. Photography is the art of capturing reflected light. What reflects is another thing Up until very recently, and still the case with many photographers, medium format cameras have been the top choice for portrait and fashion photography. The reasons for this are:
1) Increased detail (vs. 35mm cameras) and smooth gradations in the images;
2) Professional accessories, including lenses, flash attachments, etc.
The most popular cameras for this have included the Hasselblad line such as the 503cw, the Pentax 645 and 67 cameras, the Mamiya 67.
Due to the rapid advances in digital sensor technology, quality that approaches medium format film can be had with cameras like the Nikon D2x, D200, the Canon EOS 5D and 1D mark III. There are also digital sensor backs for medium-format cameras, but they are insanely expensive.
The main advantage of digital is that you can review your results right away, thus you and your client can make adjustments during the session for better results, and then choose the final images right on the spot.
In terms of lenses, you'll need something in the "normal" range for full-length portraits, which means around 80mm for medium-format cameras. Then you'll want something longer for head shots, such as lenses in the 120 to 180mm range. The Zeiss 180mm CFE lens for the Hasselblad system is one of the best, sharpest lenses ever made, by the way.
For digital cameras, I would suggest getting one of the top pro "normal" zoom lenses such as the 17-55 f/2.8 G Nikkor (for Nikon dSLRs) or something similar for the Canon dSLRs. These lenses are expensive but provide top-quality images, and the advantage of zoom lenses is of course the ability to frame the subject at any focal length.
The one big thing that is not part of the camera system, but is critical to your work in this area is lighting. No camera can make up for a lack of understanding of lighting. The basic system for your type of work would include someting like:
4) Monolight heads or a power pack with four strobe heads
2) Umbrellas
2) Soft boxes
Various additional light modifiers, including pans, grids, scrims
4) Backdrops, including painted canvas, seamless white, seamless gray and seamless black
A collection of gels and gel holders
A collection of light stands
But the equipment doesn't use itself! I would suggest taking a class in portrait photography with an emphasis on studio lighting. There are books on the subject, I've provided links below to some of the books I have about this. That's hard too say. It depends on which kind of photos you want. Do you use a studio, are you outside? Try to do other things before you decide to shoot people only, maybe you like landscapes, architecture? Or is it just an excuse to meet girls?
You could use a SLR (analogue or digital) with a short/medium telelens to make portraits of these "aspiring models". But there's nothing like the best camera or lens. It depends on what you want to do as a photographer. Your camera is just a tool to achieve the photography you want to do.
Everybody wants the expensive good brand cameras but a Nikon, Canon, Hasselblad, Leica camera doesn't make you a photographer, it makes you a owner of a expensive camera.
So first explore photography before you spent a lot of money on "the best camera and lens". About 50% of what I shoot is glamour photography. The best lens for that has been a 24-85mm f/2.8 zoom. Whether I am using film or shooting using a DSLR, I can get full figure, 3/4, head and shoulder and face shots without changing lenses.
I use a Nikon F4 (I know it is an oldie) and Nikon D200 when shooting glamour or advertising shots using models. Canon's 30D is a comparable camera if you happen to already own Canon lenses.
Take a look at One Model Place to see what others are doing to build models and their own books. |
