Getting Inside Model Photography: How to Work With a Model

Here you are, ready to start your journey as a model photographer. But, one thing hit your mind. What should you do first? Well of course, doing a model photo shoot will be your first choice. Now another thing hitting your mind, how to work with a model?

From my experience, there's a lot of ways to work with your model. There are certain aspect that you and your model needs to reach the same goal and also there are some aspect that you need to find before doing your session. I will show you 5 steps that I really recommend doing and if you understand this 5 steps, you will be out there shooting in no time.

1. Do you know anyone that....?

Of course before you begin with everything, you need the model first. How do you find them? There are three options:

1. Web
Finding your model from the internet is easier than you thought. There's a lot of model website that provide you with all the date from the model, such as high, body type, weight and so on. Getting model on the web will also cost you and every model cost differently, so make sure to find the right candidate that is not going out of your budget.

2. Are you a model?
Ask around your neighborhood if they know anyone who are a model or starting in the industry, this could be quite tricky since you are walking around asking people if they know someone. But if you are lucky, you might find the perfect model for you.

3. Hey Bro, want to try?
Friends or relatives are the favorite option from all three, for a newbie who just got into the industry, asking their friends or relatives is the easiest thing to do. Since you already know them, you can skip the chemistry part which is sometime could be a problem if you just met the model and you don't feel the click.

2. Uhh.. Can we just trade?

This is very popular among photographer(s) who just got in the industry. Like me, I started with nothing, only camera and lens, so to get model, I trade my time and photography skill and instead of money, they get all the photos that I edited for free.

Using this method is good and very beneficial for both model and photographer. Make sure after you contact your model, you need to ask if it's okay to do that. Some model who already in the industry long enough, might not want to do it, but for model who just started, they probably do it, as they also need some portfolio. Actually in some cases, the model contact you first for a photo session with a trade system.

3. Sign here please..

Model release is very important. Model release is an agreement form that photographer made whenever you do a photo shoot. This release will help you later when you want to use those pictures for advertising or to upload online.

It would be very wise to do this step as sometime the model can sue you because you used that pictures(s) without their permission and whatsoever. The model also has the right to take down that photos from your website and sue you if you are making any profit from it.

4. Beach sounds perfect.. bikinis.. yes use bikinis..

Renting a studio might be cool, but it will cost you quite a fortune, picking an outdoor location might be your best option. Picking the perfect location for you could be easy or it could be hard. Sometime, photographer already knows where they want to shoot before even finding the model.

But if you don't have any idea what kind of model photo shoot you want, now that could be a little bit of a trouble. I suggest you go around your neighborhood and you might find a cool place to shoot. Remember, with the right angle, even an empty space could be a great location.

Don't forget that you also need to pick the right outfit for your model, the cheapest way to do this is ask your model to prepare the outfit by them self. But, even in doing this, you need to be with them while they choose, so you can decide whether or not you need to buy the outfit for them.

5. Can I press the shutter now?

You got everything you need and you are ready to begin shooting. From my experience working with a model, if they have a lot of experience, they will change poses and expression every time they hear the camera click. You let them go with the flow because they know what they are doing.

But, if your model is new to this, you might need to re-pose them for several times. Telling them to smile or stop smiling and so on. The easiest way to do this is using the triangle method. Triangle method is when the model poses and create one or more triangle shape from their poses.

Remember, practice make perfect. The more you practice, the better you get. Model photography could become quite a challenge so I guess you won't be bored quite easily.


                                                                                                                                                                   

About the Author:
Handoko Rama is a freelance photographer and cinematographer. Living in the island of paradise, Bali. Where everyday feels like Sunday for him. Currently pursuing his dream job with Nat Geo and also reaching maximum level for his World of Warcraft Character.
portfolio: www.mibpictures.com