How should a group model photo shoot be organised?

[student]

Personally, as MOST models told me, they prefer one-to-one shoot so that they can know the photographer better.

There is absolutely no question that one-one is the most ideal, both from the photographer and model's point of view.

But how much are you willing to pay?

How much are other photographers willing to pay?

Because there is a (mainly) financial constraint, there exists group shoots. So as what the TS asked, how best to organise such shoots?

 

[jeanie]

Actually, once you get better, you will find that pro or amateur models, make little difference.

And you are correct. I rarely see any of the photographers I shot with, the male side of the spieces, talk to the model at all during the shoot.

communication is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
important for a portraiture shoot.

if you dont open your mouth, forget it.
if i'm the model, i'll just sit there and wait to be paid, and i'll term you as a shy photog and have lots to learn(my 2 c)

btw, i still wonder how 3 hours can do portraiture.
when i do my friends, my MUA came at 630am.got model ready by 8-8.30am, and i fire all the way till evening.
if outdoor shoot, i'll usually make it about 4-5 hours, and when i see my friend tired and about to perspire, i'll get her to sit in my car, blast the a/c to cool her.

if you take care of your model, make her comfy, you will be rewarded with 110% of her effort on her part.

 

[yqt]

Depands on what you want from the shoot.

A) If you just want to shoot a SYT in a bikini:
1) don't care about make up ( waste time )
2) don't care how many person ( best is can shoot from start of 3 hours till end )
3) don't care who pose the models ( just want the low angle and must get the top down angle )
4) don't care about lightings ( just make sure have enough lights to shoot )

B) If you want to hopefully meet someone who can give you some tips or exchange pointers:
1) Make up OK ( can use the time to plan the shoot of just to break the ice )
2) split into 2 group is good ( can use the time waiting to check and plan how and what to improve for the next session )
3) Good to take turn to pose so that can learn from others and also practise your model direction )
4) better to be able to change the lighting condiction like indoor/outdoor ( can learn to shoot under diff light condition.

C) If you want to capture an image which you can call your own creation and use it for your portfolio:
1) Make up must be according to the concept you have in mind ( to call something your own you maust have control over it )
2) Best to shoot 1 to 1 or max 2 ( photographer ) to 1 ( 1 shooting while the other assist, or else how to claim it to be your and put it inside your portfolio if so many people have the same image )
3) Best to shoot 1 to 1 or max 2 ( you'll be able to communicate with the model better and have more time to shoot, direct, and play with the lightings and concept before the model becomes tired )
4) Must be able to plan/control/change the lightings ( lightings and shadow is very important in photography. If you can't plan/control/change the lighting according to your wish/vision, how can you claim it to be your work/portfolio? )

So, at the end, you have to ask yourself, what do you want before you join/org a shoot. Is it A), B) or C).

 

[jeanie]

yqt,

your point C4 i agree hands and legs and hair down.
:thumbsup:

 

[contaxable]

This is a good post here, DP.

A group shoot is usually value for $. That's where the organiser can make enough money to hire a professional overseas model.

Yes, it can get messy sometimes with photogs edging infront of the main photog (during the main photog's turn), sometimes overtaking his turn when a good pose is being directed by him/her. Usually, a little reminder helps.

To have it fair and square, some people would brand it being childish. But really, to be fair, sometimes, there has to be some rules to guide everyone.

The fairest form of session, with DP's requirment ($60+, 6 photog, 3hr, 3 costume, etc) is to have a timed session. I am saying this in the occurance when there are some strangers in the meet where they have no clue about rules. Yes, the organiser literally pass a timer to the main photog and it beeps when time's up. A good 5min shoot per photog can yeild 2 rounds per costume per photog. Alternatively, it can be 2.5min, 4 rounds. Art direction will be up to the main photog to either repeat other people's style or have it his own. For those who prefer to chit chat will miss their turn and is not uncommon once a photog believed he/she had captured the essence. With some choosing to miss their turn will help fill in the gaps of time required to change scene, styling.

With the main photog shooting, others behind can shoot quietly beind the background (with a longer lens?) but without flash to distract the session.

After breaking it down, it seema like 5min per session is a very short time. But 5min can yield plenty of clicks and poses. Besides, the photog had over 20min to plan ahead of time after getting ideas from the rest who shot before him. A common thing that will happen is that not many photog like to be the first to shoot. Perhaps this explains why.

Well, if the group are all buddies, it would be no brainer to follow the old style of shoot till they drop. Honestly, I enjoyed both a timed session and a free and easy shoot with buddies. With a mass group shoot, the organiser plays an important role to align the chemistry amongst the participants and the model(s).

Cheers

 

[yqt]

Personally, as MOST models told me, they prefer one-to-one shoot so that they can know the photographer better.

I don't think so.

A model may prefer to shoot 1 to 1:
1) she's not confident enough with a big group.
2) she hopes to learn from the photographer so 1 to 1 give her the time to ask.
3) less stress 1 to 1
4) the model can have/wil be allowed more input on a 1 to 1 as there's more time and the mood is more relex
5) easier to control where the images end up. In a group shoot out, who knows who shoot what? Most of the time the images will look the same. So if it end up on some porn site, who to go after? If it is 1 to 1 than it have to be THAT photographer and no one else.

these are just some reasons. If the model wants to know the photographer better, she would have done it over coffee/phone/net and also before the shoot, not during.

 

[razor]

I think participants just to be realistic. If you want to shoot a good model, but only have $60-70 to spare... den you have to work within your constraints. So far, the shooting kakis I meet have been considerate and gracious to give me time to shoot, esp when I use a long lens and standing very far away or use a super-wide angle lens and need some shooting space to get the shoot. I guess communication, not just to the model, but to the other participants is just as important. Time constraints is also a real issue when you work in a pro sessions. So if you can be fast, this efficiency will be a good skill.

Otherwise, why not save your cash for a while and then maybe share the cost with a buddy and do your own private shoot. (say 3 shoots = $70 x 3 = $210 plus another $210 with a buddy = $420. u can get a good 3-4 hr session with a good model.)

 

[Deadpoet]

communication is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
important for a portraiture shoot.

if you dont open your mouth, forget it.
if i'm the model, i'll just sit there and wait to be paid, and i'll term you as a shy photog and have lots to learn(my 2 c)

btw, i still wonder how 3 hours can do portraiture.
when i do my friends, my MUA came at 630am.got model ready by 8-8.30am, and i fire all the way till evening.if outdoor shoot, i'll usually make it about 4-5 hours, and when i see my friend tired and about to perspire, i'll get her to sit in my car, blast the a/c to cool her.

if you take care of your model, make her comfy, you will be rewarded with 110% of her effort on her part.

Can. Last Sat, sat around waiting for my turn, waited for about an hour and have 10 minutes to shoot. Quickily set up one light with large softbox, check how the lights fall on the model, decided on 3 different poses, got off about 12-15 shots per pose, all same with minor adjustment here and there, got 3 images that I can use.

Cannot. The above was my first round. Round 2 and 3, SNAFU! Nothing really to show, maybe 1 just for record.

Btw, for a model shoot, the 3 hours are for shooting. Makeup is done prior to the shoot, and the time should not be charge against the photographers.

 

[hobbit6003]

There is absolutely no question that one-one is the most ideal, both from the photographer and model's point of view.

But how much are you willing to pay?

How much are other photographers willing to pay?

Because there is a (mainly) financial constraint, there exists group shoots. So as what the TS asked, how best to organise such shoots?

Yup, these points are absolutely some food for thought...I guess if one is gonna organise a one-on-one shoot, the photographer must be willing to fork out a premium as compared to amultiple photographer session.

 

[jeanie]

seriously, have u guys tot of shooting your friends rather than going for these paid shoots?

i mean, friends, you know them, they know you, communication is easy.

unless, one doesnt have a lot of friends or only wanna ogle at bikini babes lor.:embrass:

 

[jeanie]

wat's snafu dp?

 

[Deadpoet]

wat's snafu dp?

Situation Normal, All F***** Up.

This came out of the US Army during WWII.

seriously, have u guys tot of shooting your friends rather than going for these paid shoots?

i mean, friends, you know them, they know you, communication is easy.

unless, one doesnt have a lot of friends or only wanna ogle at bikini babes lor.:embrass:

I just get my female friends to pose in bikini lor. Simple

 

[jeanie]

Situation Normal, All F***** Up.

This came out of the US Army during WWII.

:bsmilie:

btw, the MUA cost,who pay?organiser?

 

[yqt]

yqt,

your point C4 i agree hands and legs and hair down.
:thumbsup:

Thanks...... I think :think:

I though that when you agreed with someone, it's hands and legs UP? But maybe because you're a nice lady so "legs UP" may not sound so nice :sweatsm:

Anyway, Thanks, glad that someone see it the same way.

 

[Static]

Actually, once you get better, you will find that pro or amateur models, make little difference.

And you are correct. I rarely see any of the photographers I shot with, the male side of the spieces, talk to the model at all during the shoot.

I agree. Maybe most of the male sg photographers are either shy or dun want to risked being labelled as a "chi hong"

Just sidetrack abit.
This kinda of mass photoshoot, invites all sorts of ppl. And there are those "action more than badminton" jerks. For example a photographer requested the model to do some poses, when his turn over, the other photographer make scarastic remarks like, "now, i want u to do these...blah blah blah, i am not those photographers who got a fetish for that kind of silly poses"
Newbie photographers who want certain poses may felt itimdated and just keep quiet thru out.

 

[jeanie]

Thanks...... I think :think:

I though that when you agreed with someone, it's hands and legs UP? But maybe because you're a nice lady so "legs UP" may not sound so nice :sweatsm:

Anyway, Thanks, glad that someone see it the same way.

think what think.simple statement.no hidden meaning.

just imagine.i join a 6 photog shoot.
got 1 lau jiao.5 newbies.
lau jiao pose model. i tag behind him, fire away.

when pic turn out good(assuming exposure,wb ok), whose credit?

i really wouldnt say it's mine.i dont even DARE to use this pic in my portfolio.

you can only say the pic is yours when posing, lighting and all other factors are directed by Y O U.

Period.

 

[compro_1975]

Depands on what you want from the shoot.

B) If you want to hopefully meet someone who can give you some tips or exchange pointers:
1) Make up OK ( can use the time to plan the shoot of just to break the ice )
2) split into 2 group is good ( can use the time waiting to check and plan how and what to improve for the next session )
3) Good to take turn to pose so that can learn from others and also practise your model direction )
4) better to be able to change the lighting condiction like indoor/outdoor ( can learn to shoot under diff light condition.

C) If you want to capture an image which you can call your own creation and use it for your portfolio:
1) Make up must be according to the concept you have in mind ( to call something your own you maust have control over it )
2) Best to shoot 1 to 1 or max 2 ( photographer ) to 1 ( 1 shooting while the other assist, or else how to claim it to be your and put it inside your portfolio if so many people have the same image )
3) Best to shoot 1 to 1 or max 2 ( you'll be able to communicate with the model better and have more time to shoot, direct, and play with the lightings and concept before the model becomes tired )
4) Must be able to plan/control/change the lightings ( lightings and shadow is very important in photography. If you can't plan/control/change the lighting according to your wish/vision, how can you claim it to be your work/portfolio? )

So, at the end, you have to ask yourself, what do you want before you join/org a shoot. Is it A), B) or C).

hmm i like these points as quote.

anyway, back to topic, i think if in a big group, it is very hard to shoot because of communication, everyone will be goin, look here and sometimes, before you click the shutter(without flash) the model may had look else where. strong communication is very imp in my opinion when it comes to big group shoot

 

[jeanie]

static, i really have problems with jargons...

what's chi hong?

 

[contaxable]

seriously, have u guys tot of shooting your friends rather than going for these paid shoots?

i mean, friends, you know them, they know you, communication is easy.

unless, one doesnt have a lot of friends or only wanna ogle at bikini babes lor.:embrass:

Jeannie,

Perhaps, sometimes, it not because it is difficult to call our friends to shoot. Many people choose to shoot a good/pro model as the model knows how to work with the photogs. Things like giggling, fidgiting and unsure what to do will just make the session a lot longer. Thats why there are sessions called tfcd to help a amature learn the skills required to be a model.

cheers

 

[Deadpoet]

:bsmilie:

btw, the MUA cost,who pay?organiser?

Btw, want to clarify, it was an organised shoot Sat. The organisation was good, just difficult to shoot sometime with so many people, so little time.

If it's an organised shoot, MUA and organiser profit, all inclusive in the total take. For my example, let's use $60/pax. Total take is $360, that will have to cover everything, model's fee, MUA, studio if any (I doubt it), transportation, refreshment (if any), organiser's profit.