How do you amateur- off camera-light- people picture takers get practice?

[gjman]

Ok so I got an umbrella, pc cord, two flash and my storbist kit is all set to go. For the past two weekends I have been getting on my wife's nerves since she is the only human subject that I can practice on. I tried getting my friend's infant and another friend's 20 month old the pose for me, but the infant would have none of it and the toddler was hellbent on toppling my umbrella.

Off Camera lighting may not be that expensive but it sure is not easy if you are an amateur with no willing subjects in sight. What do you folks do to get some shutter time?

[TMR Design]

Check out this thread:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=254023&highlight=manequin

There are a few ebay stores and links. In my posts I indicate which one I got that I use all the time for learning and experimenting. Even if I had a willing subject I could not get that much time out of someone so the mannequin has been a wonderful learning tool for me.

[Halliday]

I had emailed a local talent agency to find models for testing. A few emails back and forth and I never heard from them again. Poked around on myspace and got,

http://lanceshuey.smugmug.com/photos/149143675-M.jpg

http://lanceshuey.smugmug.com/photos/149140922-M.jpg

http://lanceshuey.smugmug.com/photos/149141826-M-1.jpg

Got to try out all my new backgrounds and mess with lighting. Oh and shoot some photos ;)

[AginKajun]

Check out this thread:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=254023&highlight=manequin

There are a few ebay stores and links. In my posts I indicate which one I got that I use all the time for learning and experimenting. Even if I had a willing subject I could not get that much time out of someone so the mannequin has been a wonderful learning tool for me.

I'm with Robert. I call her Matilda. I started having to pay my daughter to be my model. Matilda will sit for long hours and not complain, in fact I've never heard her say a word.;)

[Az2Africa]

http://stores.ebay.com/displayfashion

[photosytes]

I use myself as the model (yuck!) but I'm always available when I need to be. I connect my camera up to my laptop and use EOS Capture to set up a timer to take so many pictures with a certain lag in between. The lag gives me time to check the shot, move the lights around or change their settings and think about what other pose I can try. It's not perfect but it does the job. Would much rather shot someone or something else.

[RPCrowe]

She is the most patient model I have ever worked with.

I like to experiment with different lighting arrangements and Ms. Mannequin has never complained. I will say however, the white stuffed animal that I use as a stand-in for portraits of my white dogs is equally patient and understanding.

This is not a lighting shot that Ms. mannekin posed for, it was a test of my 70-200mm f/4L IS lens shot in my back yard. I don't normally save the lighting arrangements but, I always like to save my lens tests so that I can tell in the future if the lens is still working.

I tripped and fell with my lens between my 210 pound frame and the sidewalk. I matched the sharpness of images after my fall with this one. Verdict: the "L" lenses are really built well and can take a good wallop.

[sk8ape]

Try putting up a thread on Craigs list, if your in L.A there should be plenty of up and coming strugling artist that need head shots. You get some practice and they get Head shots.

[TMR Design]

I did that and it worked out rather nicely. I had a simple ad running in craigslist and offered a CD with images for modeling time. I had many responses and sessions with 3 of them.

[::John::]

I have Sophia and Julia - a pair of hairdressers manikins.

And, for the full body shots, :oops: , I use me. EOS Capture, a PC screen and a LONG shutter cord.