One thing you will find after you have been shooting for a while is that not all poses work for you or your model. For this shoot Shannon had an idea for a photo that sounded very promising however after taking a couple of shots we did not like the results we were getting. I quick determined that we wouldn’t be satisfied with any shot form the pose we were attempting and came up with another idea. When I first started out I would have several poses in mind I wanted to capture and I would get so frustrated when things didn’t work out. During the first year if I had an idea that didn’t work I really didn’t know how to proceed. I would plan my shoot around one central image and not being very experienced the photo would not be right for the model I was working with and the shoot would fall apart. I would get flustered and everything would just go downhill from there.

When you come up with an idea for the shoot try and select a model similar to what ever has inspired you. A little forethought and planning go a long way. If you are trying to recreate some Victorian painting you saw when you were a kid don’t hire a 110 lbs. model, it’s not going to work. Having said that just because you select the proper model for the shoot doesn’t always mean that her proportions will be what you expected. Try to develop a backup plan just in case you are not getting the results you are looking for. If a shoot does go downhill no you, explain to the model you are not getting the results you had originally wanted and ask for suggestions to work they have done before. Most experienced models know what poses they excel at. Remember it’s okay to have dialog with your model. If you are working with an inexperienced model be honest and let them know you would like to shift gears. Don’t tell them the shoot is going badly since they might think it’s their fault and your photos will suffer. Just tell them you would like to move into a more relaxed shoot and get some really candid shots. During the rest of your time you may find exactly what fits them best. You can always go home and do some more research based on the candid shoot and setup another time to meet with the model and try again. Don’t be afraid to make a mistake. Just do your best to regroup and move on.

Until next time,

JW Purdy