Modeling Portfolios

[HannaPhotoChik]

Hi all, Im a newbie to this website and Ill like to ask a few questions.

I have a Canon 350D which was a gift from my dad and has sat in my cupboard for nearly 12 months unused. My 2 girlfriends have come on an awesome idea of me shooting modeling photos of them to send to an agency in Sydney the only problem I don't know how. My 2 friends want me to take their photos because they are worried about some sleezy guy seeing them semi-naked. They are 21 and 22yo.

1 Is my Canon good enough?
2 Is the standard lense which came with the camera OK?
3 If not what other lenses would I need? My friends have offered to help me buy extra lenses. How much do they cost?
4 What kinda photos do modeling agencies require?

thanx everyone
hanna

[ssim]

I have seen some amazing work done by photographers using the 350D class cameras. As initial shots to send in to an agency the camera would be just fine.

I'm not sure what the standard lens is that came with that body so I will leave that to someone else to answer. If you are looking for a top notch lens for shooting this type of shoot, give serious consideration to the 24-70 f/2.8 and/or the 70-200 f2.8 IS. You will need a flash(es) to do a really good job of modelling work. You cannot always assume that you will be working in perfect outdoor lighting.

I would just visit the websites of the agencies that you are going submit your shots to. They all have the standard minimum requirements.

[Deckham]

*snip*My 2 friends want me to take their photos because they are worried about some sleezy guy seeing them semi-naked. *snip*

Makes sense.
Take photos of them half naked, and send them off to people you don't know, so it won't embarress them :rolleyes:

[PhotosGuy]

Model Posing Advice
http://www.bobpardue.com/articles/secrets-of-model-posing.htm
All the poses you'll ever need (They say!):
http://polisphotography.com/Documents/Imagesforweb/posing.pdf
Posing Using The 1-2-3-Positions
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=190878
The Rules Of Good Portraiture
http://www.photocamel.com/forum/tutorials/16516-rules-good-portraiture.html

[Halliday]

Makes sense.
Take photos of them half naked, and send them off to people you don't know, so it won't embarress them :rolleyes:
Or worse, they become famous and a whole world of guys can see them half naked ;)

[HannaPhotoChik]

The lense on my 350D has EFS18-55mm written on it.Is it any good?

My friends don't have a problem with anyone seeing them in photos wearing swimwear or lingerie.They are just nervous being photographed by someone they don't know wearing that.I have told them if they want to get anywhere in modeling to get over it.

Hanna

[Subyn00by]

only one way to find out, take the pics and post em!!!

[HannaPhotoChik]

I might just do that.We are having our first shoot next weekend.Maybe you can give me some ideas.

How do I post photos here?

Hanna

[Subyn00by]

well, since you mentioned sleezy men, all the ideas I have are out of the question.

haha, what kind of modeling are they loking to do? in door, out door? with an object, just themselves, etc.

[HannaPhotoChik]

Outdoors.Can you give me any tips?

Hanna

[Subyn00by]

Outdoors...

I would say check out photosguy's things he posted. A great pose can fix anything wrong with a model, that and lighting. But get out there, do some test shots, come back and look at what you've got, then proceed from there. Don't ever shoot at a location you haven't yet checked out and test shot.

[HannaPhotoChik]

My friends parents have a beach house.We are planning to go there.it is very private.

Hanna

[Subyn00by]

My friends parents have a beach house.We are planning to go there.it is very private.

Hanna
very cool, just remember to post them (=

[HannaPhotoChik]

How do I post them?

[Subyn00by]

you'll have to upload them to some sort of a photo hosting site...

or send them to me...and I'll host them for you...

hehe

There are a lot of photo hosting sites out there, photobucket, tinypic, etc.

[HannaPhotoChik]

Can I post them here?

[Subyn00by]

yes, you can attach them to posts by clicking go advanced and then manage attachments

[HannaPhotoChik]

Ok,,thank you.I very new to this.Sorry for all the questions.

[Subyn00by]

I'm new too, just signed up today (=

[HannaPhotoChik]

Wow.But you are very good. :p

[Subyn00by]

I'm a forum whore in a few other forums (=

[Deckham]

Anyone else notice the irony here?

[PhotosGuy]

The lense on my 350D has EFS18-55mm written on it.Is it any good? It's not bad at f/8 & above. It just "feels" cheap 'cause it's light, hard to manual focus, and it seems like any shake of the cam will change that M focus for you! But it does a good job & it's not a bad lens to start with. And, even though it's slow, I still might use it in cases where I need the 18mm focal length, and 12X18" prints look very good.
So I'd say try to get everything you can out of the Kit lens for now, read what they recommend in the forum, & slowly upgrade to the best glass you can afford when the time comes. Every day there are good deals in "Marketplace" & used "L"s work just as good as the new ones.

[sspellman]

HannaPhotoChik-

I know you're intentions are to help your friends, but realistically-you dont have the skills or equipment to create pictures that will actually help them. Its a good thing to experiment and build your skills, but results that will help their careers take much more experience than you have now.

Good pictures are not even required to get an interview at a real modeling agency. They wil have several open call days where any model can walk in and get an interview. The agency will take their own pictures/polaroids and use these to evaluate models.

Another reason to use a professional model photographer is that they will help a model assess their strengths and skills and make the connection with any appropriate agency.

-Scott

[Strayz]

^^ please feel free to ignore the above poster. More than likely he has not seen what you have shot. You were honest about your skills and how much you have used the camera and if your friends know this as well, then it is all good.

Take the shots see if you and your friends like them, and if they want a bit more then it is ok, and if they don't then it is ok as well.

Standing in front of a camera takes a certain personality. Some people have it and some don't. Some photographers can capture it and some can't.

So take the photos let your friends decide after they take the shots what they want to do from there.

[HannaPhotoChik]

I know I probably don't have the skills yet but I am shooting my friends for a bit of fun maybe to see where it leads to.I have always wanted to be a fashion photographer.sspellman said my camera isn't good enough, why not?I have read that my 350D will take high quality photos in the right hands.I also have a friend who is very good at Photoshop.He has offered to help me get my photos looking good.

I want to learn everything I can so shooting my friends is a good start.

Hanna

[tonylong]

Hanna,

First, have fun! Doing a photoshoot with friends like that can be fun!

Second, since "down under" it's summer and it will presumably be a bright sunny day, I want to mention a couple things that might be very valuable to you:

First, one or more reflectors will serve you well on a sunny day. Shadows will be harsh and won't bring the best out of a model shoot most likely, but positioning a reflector to bounce sunlight into the shadows can really make a huge difference. You can get the model side-lit from the sun, but enough light in the shadows to bring out some nice detail.

Second, an external flash could really help, either mounted on the camera or on a tripod attached to the camera with a cable and, preferably, bounced off a reflector. It will broaden your ability to do creative lighting.

Third, for a "soft light" effect, think about using something as a "diffuser" hanging between the model and the sun.

As far as a lens is concerned, the kit lens could go a far way in good light, but before the shoot get out with that lens and experiment. If you can get good compositions with that focal range and are happy with the image quality, you may not need to hassle with rushing for another lens. If they are really wanting to chip in for something better, it would depend on what is needed: image quality or range? A better lens in either category wil cost, so make sure of what you need before you leap!

Hope this helps a little, and, like I said, have fun!

[Davidoff]

Just go shoot them with what you have, have your friend process them, post them here and learn from the comments.

[LBaldwin]

OK the smart thing to do is contact Jason Cole, look him up in the G&N section he is both a great shooter and a teacher and he lives right in your backyard!!

[Davidoff]

OK the smart thing to do is contact Jason Cole, look him up in the G&N section he is both a great shooter and a teacher and he lives right in your backyard!!

Also very true.

[Redikulous]

I agree shoot with what you have, have your friends preview them and together you guys can pick the shots for their portfolios. Anyways most model aggencies require headshots and then full length shots. Good luck,you should post them on here so we can see! I'm excited to see what you come up with.

[Subyn00by]

again...don't forget to post them here...so we can critique them........and your work. (=

[PhotosGuy]

Afterthought: VERY simple "outdoor studio" (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=122297) It doesn't get any easier than this.

[HannaPhotoChik]

Thanks everyone.

Hanna