"History of Models" - One of my Favorite Shoots! Creek "Creatures"/Dark Waters Shoot July 2017

So this was my second, organized themed photo shoot arranged through a Meet-up Group and I was both very excited about the concept and also quite...fearful because I didn't know a single soul and also because it called for some techniques and skills that I didn't quite have. 

But!  I prepared by reading a lot of info on "dark waters" shoots and watching you-tube videos about shooting in these conditions and how to achieve the affects.  I personally didn't have any lighting except for my on-camera flash which I knew I wasn't going to be using after watching the videos and reading.

The goal was to get the subject - models in makeup and costumes to resemble otherworldly creatures - in stark contrast to the "dark" water and background of the creek where we were shooting.  And we were shooting during the afternoon, so the only darkness was going to be from the shade trees surrounding the creek.

The group putting on the shoot were also providing a fog machine and dry ice.  I LOVED using the dry ice but the fog machine proved to make it more difficult to adjust my manual settings and still get clear shots. But it did make the background suitably eerie.

There were quite a few models and photographers.  I think it was like 7 models and probably 15 photographers.  Most of the photographers seemed way above my level and quite a few had lighting - at least speed lights but there were a few with portable studio-type lighting. Everyone was pretty nice and there were some photographers who were extremely nice and helpful to me.  But honestly, I don't remember getting too much help aside from some beginning settings for the light, etc.

It was more difficult trying to insert myself into the shots.  Photogs were gathered in small groups around the most popular models and each model had at least 1-2 photogs.  As I tend to do with my social anxiety, I was hanging back and watching for a bit and taking shots were I saw fit.  

The models were so nice and professional for the most part and tried to throw looks to each photographer.  I don't necessarily care about having eye contact in every shot...in fact I tend to like to sneak a lot of photos where the models are looking away and - especially in my early shoots - appreciated having other photographers giving directions to the models that I could then piggyback off of if I saw a set up I liked. A lot of these pictures are like that. :)

Also, I did have to do most of my effects work in post-production since I didn't have lighting.  So I went for a mainly eerie look with colors, etc., to emphasize the otherworldly nature of the shoot although there are some with "dark" waters.  We shot this in Antelope, California at a park with a popular swimming creek. The water had some deeper spots for swimming but we were in an area that was fairly shallow.  We had people on either side of us and they thought we were pretty interesting!  lol

That all being said, three of these models became three of my favorite models to shoot.  They were amazing and so nice to me.  As a noob, I really appreciated their kindness.  :)))

One of these wonderfully kind and talented ladies will be the entry and ending fairy for the pictures in this post (K-Pop reference):  Sandra

The second one of my favorite models, who also became a friend, is Cathi.  Here she is in the back behind Jennifer who was the organizer of the shoot. 

Cathi

I don't remember this young lady's name and I only have this one pic to share here (I think there are more in my original posts which are below). She was also very good and nice but I was having trouble with the fog in the area she was working. 

And this is the third lovely lady I mentioned above:  Maya

This is the same photo as above but I tried to add a "fifth dimension" aspect.  lol  

From dark to light!

I identify so much with Cathi's "Save Me/I'm Fine" and PTSD tats that I wanted to make them the focus of this photo.  Not sure I succeeded but I tried which is all one can do sometimes. 

Cathi's eyes are always so beautiful.  

I don't know anything about this gentleman model.  I only know he showed up somewhere along the way and most of the ladies wanted to pose with him.  Can you blame them?

In these shots with Siddalee, I was going for "Green Magic" in my color grading. Siddalee always looks like magic with her poses!

And we are back with our ending fairy, the captivating Sandra!

And that ends my throwback to this fun and wonderful photoshoot!  I definitely would love to do another dark waters shoot in the future!  It was so fun.  Fingers crossed!

Full Posts:

Post 1

Post 2

Post 3

xoxo

Nikon D3300 (don't remember what lens I used - kit lens? or a 70-300 I had bought used)

Throwback Thursday: "History of Models" - My 2nd Photoshoot with Beautiful Ladies in Flowery Clothes July 2017

In my last post, I was reminiscing about how I switched from nature photography to human photography, I decided to post (or in some cases, repost) my photoshoots involving models in chronological order.  Shoots like these are such fun!  And challenging. 

To be honest, for an introvert like me with social anxiety, it's not easy to learn how to work with models.  I lucked out at my first shoot at Preston Castle, because there were many other experienced photographers on site that were happy to help me and coach me.  Even though I didn't have any lighting equipment and could only use ambient light, I was so excited by how the photos turned out!  Especially with the historical and architectural aspects along with the models. 

I am dying to go back with some ideas in mind and take my own model and props/clothes with me so I don't have to share like I did the first time.  Maybe 2023 will be the year I can make some of my ideas come to fruition.  I tried once and it is wayyyyy harder than it seems to put on a successful shoot with themes, models, styling, etc.

But I was so thrilled with my first experience with models that I couldn't wait to try another one!  Luckily I had found Meet Up through the organizer of the Preston Castle shoot and joined a few groups.  And my next happy, flowery shoot was well-coordinated and staffed by a Meet-up group (not very active in the last few years unfortunately) that is run by a professional photographers.  She had about 6 models there for this "lifestyle" shoot with floral clothing (the theme) at a prime location at William Land Park gardens.  She even brought a changing tent and was also standing by to help the amateur photographers in the group learn. 

I had SUCH a great experience at this shoot.  In large part due to another professional who was there and who was so helpful at casually teaching us amateurs some clever ways to work with models and ambient light. Isi S-M!  You are awesome and I am forever your fan!

It was such a bright and beautiful Summer day when we did this shoot.  I love these gardens at William Land and I was so happy with the experience and results.  Here are some of my favorite shots.  

This is Sabrina and I just loved the way the light fell on one eye in this shot.  And she has such pretty cat eyes.  I know I do like some weird edits and shots that others may not like, but I have to go with what I like.  :)  I guess it might be different if I was a professional.

This is Melissa.  And here we are demonstrating a technique taught to us by the wonderful Isi.   She called it the "HaHaHa".  

Don't tell your model to smile or laugh.  Just laugh yourself.  In this case, Isi recommended just going "hahaha" when you want your model to smile or laugh.  We practiced it for the rest of the shoot and almost invariably, the models would respond with a very nature laugh or smile.  :)

These young ladies were so talented at posing!

Michelle is the next model I had the pleasure of working with.  She was so great posing around the stone columns.

Hahaha!

This is probably one of my favorite photos ever. 

Isi also took great efforts to teach us willing amateurs how to find the light.  Especially the "hair light".  How to position your model in the shade but with the sun slightly behind and shoot slightly upwards. 

Looking at these old photos again has made me realize that I kind of forgot a lot that I had learned from these early experiences.  I'm really grateful for having these opportunities to stretch myself and learn new things.  I always love learning even though I wasn't so great at school! 

For the next installment of "History of Models", I am re-editing the photos I chose to feature.  I like m edits but boy have I learned a lot since then.  I really overdid it with some things and also have some better software now.  :)  I hope you look forward to the results of my "Creek Creatures" photoshoot!

 xoxo

Throwback Thursday - History of Models: My First Time Shooting Humans! Preston Castle June 4th 2017

Relax!  I was shooting with a camera, silly!  

I'm doing a photoshoot this weekend and it's been awhile since I did a studio shoot so I'm very excited and was reminiscing about my various times shooting models.  I thought I would do some posts with my "History of Models" because I'm weird that way. 

The first time I actually tried people photography (other than sports photography) was kind of by chance.  I had went to Preston Castle in Ione - which is a really cool place with a somewhat dark history.  I went because I like "abandoned" stuff, historic stuff, architecture, buildings, and art and this fits the bills!

But when I got there, the organizer (of a "Photographer's Day" event) had arranged for a couple of models to be there for the photographers to shoot if they wanted to.  So I got in line and decided to have some fun!

I'm just going to put a few of my favorites here, but for the whole story and all the pictures of these lovely ladies and this beautiful place, CLICK and also HERE!  

This is the lovely Sarah, who was the more experienced of the two models and was much in demand by the pretty large group of photographers.  So I was to only shoot her at the beginning in the basement and then a bit later when I ran into both girls being shot elsewhere. There are more pictures of the castle and grounds on the original posts too.

You really should click through to see this amazing castle and the rest of the photos of these two lovely ladies!  CLICK and HERE! 

I'm going to continue through my "History of Models" for a bit although don't you worry!  I have plenty of birding and nature adventures to share too!  Not to mention returning to Yellowstone to finish my amazing trip.  :)

xoxo