New Photography Private Workshop Day Two
November 9th, 2010Ok so Day two of my private photography work shop with Kevin started off with looking over the images on my large monitor and critiquing when necessary. Kevin will admit he was amazed at how often I pointed out little things that could ruin a photo. For example, every single little tiny detail matters especially when it comes to the hands. Experienced models know how to place their hands and make them look soft and pretty as they use them to pop a collar or rest them on the hips or running them through their hair. However, an inexperienced model often develops the “claw” look. This is when she might pop her collar with her hand and grab it with her palm facing out and her fingers bent so that her hand resembles a claw. This is a major no no and so is palms facing camera. Now I know what you’re going to say. Sometimes you see models in magazines with their palms facing camera. Well so what ? Does that make it right ? No it doesn’t. I could open a Vogue and point out at least 20 mistakes that a model made in her shoot. My God I have seen hundreds. Don’t get into that way of thinking that just because you see it in a magazine then it’s ok. So I told Kevin that when a model gives you the claw, it’s your job to point it out and have her correct it. If you are shooting an experienced model it is still your job to point out a mistake and correct it.
Going over Kevin’s images I also pointed out things like the bottom of the shirt is folded up or a bracelet was sitting too far up on the arm or the bra strap was slightly showing. If you had a wardrobe stylist on the shoot it would be their job to watch for these things BUT he or she might miss it and it is YOUR responsibility when looking through your viewfinder to look at everything before you click that shutter. We also went over how he directed the model and he did a great job. Many photographers get intimidated by the model and are afraid to direct them. The reality is the model expects you to direct them and it is your job to direct them. Overall Kevin really nailed some great shots.
Next thing we did was talk about how to find jobs and market yourself to potential clients. I also went over how to approach agencies and obtain models for free test shoots. Putting together a team of make up and hair is another step in the process and I showed him how to establish a good solid team. By this time the make up artist and the model for the second day arrived. Again Kevin observed the make up artist and this time he told her how he would like the make up to look. He also used this time to get acquainted with the model which is a great time to break the ice.
Kevin wanted to learn a bit of glamor photography so in this case the make up is going to be different as well as the hair and wardrobe. So we picked some outfits for our model to wear and we started to light for our first set up. I showed him how to incorporate flair into his images and also how to use smoke for a cool effect. I have a small fog machine that is great for this. This image shows the result from our first set up.
When looking at this image remember that flair is real and shot in camera, NOT done in post. As Kevin kept shooting he is constantly giving encouragement to the model, directing her expressions and poses and keeping that photographer to model connection flowing. One bad habit I had to break Kevin of was looking at the image on the LCD after every single shot. That is a surefire way to not create that connection and IF you have created that connection it will break it instantly. DO NOT LOOK AT YOUR LCD . I turn mine off after I know I’ve got my lighting set the way I want it. It’s no different than shooting your first few Polaroids and then shooting until your next set up. Kevin eventually took her off the stool and shot some fabulous poses in true glamor pin up style.
This image has it all, great expression, the wind blown hair, great make up, great styling, great lighting. It’s like cooking a stew, all the ingredients have to be there otherwise the stew won’t taste just right 
This is another clothing change we did. Kevin went in tight on this shot and you can see how beautiful the make up and hair is as well as the edge light on HER left shoulder and arm. That strobe is doubling up as a back light for the smoke and to also provide a nice edge light. The model’s expression is really what makes this photo, all the other stuff just accents it and adds that special touch. It’s important to not over use the bells and whistles. By that I am talking about the edge light, the smoke etc. In any photograph you make, the expression is what will sell the photo to the viewer. To dig into the model’s soul and extract her inner most thoughts and capture them on film is the magic that happens when the photographer and model are in sync with each other. This cannot just happen. It takes many many shoots and much practice shooting with a variety of models to nail that skill. I provide you with the psychological tools to give you a head start and start creating beautiful images.
The second part of our day was spent learning how to shoot on location with reflectors and a speed light. Using the sun as your friend and combining it with a speed light can get you very nicely lit images. I also taught Kevin how to use the hi speed sync mode for his flash and also how to deal with the model who has to deal with the elements you encounter when shooting outdoors. If it is summer then you have heat. If it’s winter then you have cold to deal with. Models don’t have much fat on them and they can’t wear a heavy jacket. They still have to pretend they are in a fabulous mood even if it’s 40, 50 or 60 degrees outside. By the same token if it’s 100 degrees outside and they are tired and sweating, they can’t just pour a bucket of cold water over themselves. So you the photographer must make her feel like she is doing just fine and keep her interested and excited all the while making sure your technical details are correct as you watch the sun go down faster than a speeding bullet lol. Not as easy as it sounds. This is one of Kevin’s images from that outdoor session.
This was shot with the model facing the sun. How did she keep her eyes open and not squint ? I held a 60 inch white convertible umbrella up to scrim the sun. Kevin also used his flash to add some snap to the shot. By using the high speed sync mode he was also able to hold the blue in the sky behind her. By this time it was getting breezy and cold. The model doesn’t show it at all. Kevin did a great job talking to her and keeping her focused.
The shoot finally ended and we went back to go over the images. Kevin learned a great deal of information, more than I shared with you here of course and had a great time. He was a pleasure to work with and a wonderful person.
This is where the photography workshop takes place. I show you how to set up an in home photography studio with very little expense. It’s also a huge write off ! If you would like to know more about my private one on one photography workshops please call or email me jason@jasonchristopher.com. You may also view testimonials and information about my private one on one fashion photography workshops here.
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Tags: behind the scenes, fashion, fashion photography workshops, jason christopher los angeles, photography work shop, private workshop, speed light
November 9th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
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November 9th, 2010 at 4:05 pm
WOAH WOAH WOAH!!!!!!!!
Jason this is amazing, he did a great job…One question…why use the boom for your softbox?
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Jason Christopher Reply:
November 11th, 2010 at 1:05 pm
Bryce thank you !
The reason why me and many other photographers use a boom arm with any kind of light modifier is so I can place the light directly in front of the model up high and still be able to stand in the center to shoot. But there are times when I might use a boom arm to place the strobe at a different angle not necessarily right in front of the model. I just allows more freedom to place your light and for the photographer to shoot where he wants.
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November 9th, 2010 at 4:12 pm
OH! as for the lighting set up for the first image…how? how was this lit? Its just incredible
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Jason Christopher Reply:
November 11th, 2010 at 1:16 pm
Thank you Bryce ! My main light I mounted a 32′ white satin umbrella on the boom like you see in the behind the scenes pic. To camera left, behind the model and up high pointing down and slightly into camera was a strobe with just the standard reflector which provided the flair. it also gave me the back lighting I needed to light up the smoke AND give me a nice edge light to the model. Can you imagine that ? Two lights accomplished all that.
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Bryce Chapman Reply:
November 11th, 2010 at 8:11 pm
nice! really nice!!
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Jason Christopher Reply:
November 12th, 2010 at 3:03 pm
Thank you Bryce !
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November 9th, 2010 at 6:16 pm
Hey Jason,
Great info!
What kind of floor do you have the model standing on in the house shoot?
Thanks, Jayson
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Jason Christopher Reply:
November 11th, 2010 at 1:08 pm
Hi Jayson ! Good to see you here.
The model is standing on two 4′ x 8′ sheets of panel board. They are side by side and I get them in 1/8th inch thickness. I then paint them gray. The other side is white for when I use white BG paper. Thanx for the question !
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November 10th, 2010 at 2:07 pm
Hey Great article. Kevin really got some wonderful images from his time with you. I do a lot of outdoor location work so that tip about shielding the model with an umbrella is a great idea. I am also amazed at the amount of people that are surprised when i use flash outdoors. To take away the shadows from underneath the eyes etc and if you have an off camera flash you can really get some great images by having the flash off at a different angle. Thanks for the post
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Jason Christopher Reply:
November 11th, 2010 at 12:53 pm
Hi Brad. Thank you. Yes it’s amazing how many “soccer moms” are shocked when I tell them to turn on their flash in day light. It’s very important to fill in the shadows. Thank you for your comment Brad. If you think others could benefit from this post please retweet and click on any of the Share and Enjoy buttons.
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November 17th, 2010 at 7:06 pm
Hey, everyone! Kevin here…….from the photography workshop above.
I just needed to add my two cents to this blog. This one-on-one workshop with Jason is the single best thing I’ve ever done for myself to improve my photography.
I truly felt like a novice when I walked in the door. There were functions on my camera and on my flash that I hadn’t even really understood until this session. More importantly for me, I learned so much about lighting, directing the model and make-up/hair artists, etc.
I can tell you that I walkd out of my workshop so much more confident in my skills and having learned new skills that I can replicate today.
I recently tried a group workshop in NYC offered by a well-known photography magazine. Never again!!! I received no individualized instruction; had to weasel my way to the front of a group of 15-20 photographers to get a few shots of a mediocre model; had to deal with poorly lighted sets; and had no one to really ask questions of when they arose.
I seriously plan to attend another one-on-one workshop with Jason. He’s amazing photographer and a stand-up person. How many photographer-instructors do you know who join their student for dinner each night or take them out to a couple of clubs each night??? We had an opportunity to get to really know each other and I had so many opportunities to pick Jason’s brain away from the studio.
If you’re considering this workshop, schedule it NOW!
If you’d like to see how my work has progressed, please feel free to go to my page on http://www.flickr.com and my user name is Renoir7777. Or, go to http://www.modelmayhem.com and check out my page at Illini Photography.
And finally, Jason, thanks for your instruction and your friendship.
Kevin Miller
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Jason Christopher Reply:
November 18th, 2010 at 12:25 pm
Kevin,
You truly are a special person. Spending two days teaching and guiding you was a great time. Even better, I made another friend !
And you know you are always welcome to call or email me with any questions you may have about a specific shoot or just talk shop.
God bless
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November 19th, 2010 at 3:09 am
Very interesting and informative. Will be sure to bookmark your site. Keep it up!
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November 26th, 2010 at 9:26 am
[...] New Photography Private Workshop Day Two [...]
March 21st, 2011 at 7:20 am
I might have some suggestions:
In the second picture it’s seems to me you ellongate the face too much (imo)
In the third picture the shadow on the fence it’s a little bit too much and it’s two kind of shadow in the picture (one from the umbrella and one from her body).
Otherwise nice shoot and I have now doubt that Kevin learn allot (and others who vissit this site – includding myself).
Cheers
PS: sorry for my language.
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Jason Christopher Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 3:55 pm
Thank you for your input Razvan.
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March 22nd, 2011 at 2:03 pm
Hi Jason,
Sorry haven’t been able to visit your blog for some time..
But I was thrilled (and not so surprised) to come back and see all the super new stuff on it.
Great pictures as usual. I just loved the super glam effect you (and Kevin) have achieved here. That is something I dont see too often even when people have lit their shot real bright trying to achieve that.
Too bad I am not in your vicinity .. else I would have made sure to attend one of these workshops. (If I am even there for a short visit.. I am in)
But I do have a small question.. If we had to pick one light(ing) that is use-able for most glam shots and gives a super glam effect (like the ones you have in here).. what would it be? .. I am not sure if there would be one such light that suits most glam shots and is versatile enough..
I have seen umbrellas, beauty dishes etc being used for different shots.. but is there ONE light that is good for “most” situations and good enough for top half and full length shots? .. any guiding ‘light’ for me?
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Jason Christopher Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 3:54 pm
Thank you very much Joey ! BTW my private workshop can be scheduled at any time you have available. I work around your schedule.
I really don’t think there is one lighting set up that can accomplish as you say, that glam look. Every photographer has their own lighting style. However, I do LOVE the octabank which can always give a great fashion and or glam look.
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July 29th, 2011 at 9:14 am
Jason hello!
I’m writing from a foggy UK. I found your blog a few days ago and i already hae read almost all posts! It’s so informative! I really like your work first – its a beautifull very glamour. This kind of images i like to do myself! I wish i only lived in USA i would defenetly come to your workshops!
Second – i like your personality – you communicate with your readers. And this gives me a hope to get an answer from you.
I’m learning portrait,lifestyle,fashion and glamour photography. I’ve got a lot of books on light, natural and artifical. Wathed a lot of DVDs.Also i have 5d mark ii with 50 1.2L (which im regred i bougt! its cost 1300 GB and and very usable in portraiture). Please can u give me advice!
I’m learning natural light ,then i want to move to strobes. The reason – while you can get very good glamour looking shoots with just natural lights and reflectors – its very hard to get it any time you want especially really glamour look. Thats why all fashion/gl photographers us softboxes, umbrellas,speedlites. But which lite setup i need to make a glamour photos like yours for example??
Do i need nvest in medium/large umbrella? Or i need to buy 2 softboxes? Or beauty dish? What i really need ? Everyone suggest different, all book suggest different light setups. And because i like your work i want to know what you will advice! How you started ? What u been using for lights? Did you start just from 1 speedlite and then got umbrella?
Please help! I dont want to spend fortune for equipment which i will not rellally need for glamour/fashion photography (im planning to shoot mostly on locations and outdoors(sometimes in studio)).
Thank you very much in advance! I wish i would have menthor like you!
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Jason Christopher Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 2:34 pm
Well Andrei this is alot to answer in a blog post. The bottom line is a photographer needs four strobes, umbrellas, soft boxes, grids, a beauty dish etc. But don’t try to buy it all at once. As I have shown on this blog, that one can accomplish much with just two strobes.
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