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| *SoulEyes Photography>>>Photography Tips |
Best tips for making my model look photo-fabulous in outdoor shoot? |
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? 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. Source(s): 40 + years as an amateur and semi-professional photgrapher. 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! :) 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 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. 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. me http://www.bluphoto.com |
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