Sequencing a shoot

[userfriendly]

I have a shoot tomorrow afternoon. I have an idea of the sequence of shots and backgrounds I want to cover. I've set it up as a two hour shoot. I have 5 backdrops and plan to use 4 - gray, sky blue, black and white. My goal is to work on the portraiture lighting basics - 45 degree lighting (narrow/broad/rembrandt) and paramount/butterfly plus some of the body accent lit ones w/ black backdrop. Once model gets here we have to decide which outfit w/ which backdrop. I do have a few shots in mind that I already know goes w/ what. My basic idea is for 45 degree lighting setup I'll use mainly gray paper, for butterfly the sky blue, for accent/45 degree lit from behind I'll use black muslin and for a few bright fun happy outfits for isolation the white muslin. I have ideas for some shots w/ her in a white robe and giving the implied nude sort of photo which I'd like both w/ white and black muslin. In a two hour session I may run out of time but this is my shoot sequence plan anyway.

How do the rest of you figure your shoot sequence? If two hour shoot do you use same, less, or more backdrops? I'm figuring about 25 minutes for each backdrop w/ 5 minute break for clothing change and backdrop change. Muslins don't take long to change but the paper takes a few minutes. I assume this question has been asked and answered before but I'm rather new here haven't really found one. Thanks.

[Coastwatch203]

Firstly, are you paying the model or is it a TFCD shoot?

One of my photo shoots with a model doing say 5 costume changes, and a couple of background changes can easily go over 4 hours.

Believe me time flies!
- No model ive met will change in 5 mins..... LOL - not on this planet! - maybe 10 -15mins if shes fast.

For any sitting, standing, laying down poses the lights will have to be lowered, raised, etc - this all takes time...

The first time killer I see you have is the chatting to model about costume Vs background's! - THAT ALONE could kill 2 hours if she likes to chat!
(My wife sorts the clothing out Vs the background color's, and she is very quick and efficient. - and its still a time killer.

If you are time restricted (2 hours total) my humble advice is to go for quality, not quantity. Plan on no more than a couple of background changes, and work on 10 mins each costume change/makeup touch up/ hair touch up.

Otherwise YOU will totally stress out, and so will your model.

All the best, Mark

[Kagemaru]

Don't over think it, man. Just show up and shoot and let the creativity flow.

[notmydog]

Don't over think it, man. Just show up and shoot and let the creativity flow.

I think this might work well once you have a number of shoots under your belt.

I know my first shoots were hectic enough just trying to communicate what poses I wanted to the model. If I was trying to come up with the poses on the spot I would have wasted a lot of time.

Good luck on your shoot ;-).

[hawk911]

yeah- mine never go shot by shot. To me it gets too restricting. If you feel there's a list you want to shoot, then create a checklist that you can review periodically, but I think my shoots are so much better if I just move with the model.

[userfriendly]

I ended up doing three backdrops and many less planned shots. Still, it was a great shoot. All of the lighting practice I've been doing did payoff. The model was found via model mayhem and she was great to work with and said I was easy and fun. We both have many photos to show off. Here are a couple fav's of mine - this are the small size from raw plus s, unprocessed but very nice nonetheless. I'm fine w/ critique. I did get a little quick on a few butt shots that were priceless and the eye focus is off a hair. It will be fine for some things but I know stock will be a little too picky. Anyway, what do you think? http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3325/3216202223_17294e3c1f.jpg?v=0 I have better ones than this next but you get the point http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3110/3216204525_4ba68d6835.jpg?v=0 she is 5' tall and 95 lbs http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3399/3216206419_b3fea952f1.jpg?v=0 & last one for now http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3097/3217061116_7b3df4f4e8.jpg?v=0
These were shot without the sigma zoom, mainly 50 f/1.4 and 85 f/1.8. I did some unplanned laying on the floor ones w/ 35 f/2 and they are better than I thought I could do.
This forum was a big help and i've only been here a few weeks. It is much appreciated!

[userfriendly]

Should I move the photos to the photo sharing thread in glamour?

[Mark_Cohran]

Should I move the photos to the photo sharing thread in glamour?

Unless you have early access permission, you can't. :)

They're fine where they are as examples. If there was any nudity, we'd require you to put them in as links.