Step-by-Step digital slr camera photo advice on shooting a Teen Model in a Studio or on a Bikini Beach
Faced with the prospect of shooting a Model with your new Digital SLR Camera on a 'Bikini Beach' location or in the studio, what are the odds of your success in pulling off a professional style photo-shoot and how would YOU manage!
Well a little planning is the first necessity and besides preparing your new Digital Camera Equipment, memory cards etc, this should be followed by some location background scouting for your 'Teen Bikini Model' beach shoot and if your using your camera in a studio, working out the requirements for the photo shoot indoors.
Once you feel that you have that sorted and assuming you have a model as well as your new camera, the next task is to sort out garments that she will ware for the photo shoot session, weather its on your bikini beach or fashion model studio. A stylist would be a great help to you right now, but don't forget the Models Mom who might do just as well.
The best advice I can give is always to have contingency plan up your sleeve, as even the most carefully thought out photo session can go sadly wrong and usually when you least expect it, just be ready to go to plan B.
If you plan to shoot a semi-pro photo shoot such as this, I would also suggest that you brush up on your digital photography technique and remember it's only the technology that has changed, not the basic rules of portrait and fashion photography, which is hoped you will learn from these photo info pages.
Also if your propose working on a Beach location and largely depending on whare your located, and even in the height of Summer watch out for a bought of 'stormy weather'. For example it can rain in August and when I was last in the UK, it rained almost every day and it was a little cold.
I try to work it so that when I've have my Model booked, I also have a indoor studio location planned if the weather is looking bad for a bikini beach shoot, for example.
Sometimes that's a very good thing to do and you know you will get some results with your digital camera, especially if your working for a client to a deadline.
Now lets turn to what you should have with you on location with a model, especially if your located some distance from base on say a Bikini Beach shoot, you will need a sort of check list and there are other items besides your digital camera equipment, that you should have with you.
For example, If your working on location at your 'Bikini Beach' in the heat of a summers day, the number one consideration is the cold box, containing soft drinks and if the box is cold enough, an ice cream or two. You wont believe how this will put new life into your model, especially if shes new to modelling.
But if your working on a chilly winters day, flasks of hot coffee or chocolate, has never known to fail me yet. Not to mention reviving the photographer as well as all who are present.
Your Film or Digital slr Camera, camera lenses and all accessories, camera flash gun, reflectors, tripod, film or memory cards and storage device, etc. should all be packed with your camera case and ready to go. For further info on using Fill-Flash in sunlight, with more on slr cameras and models, check out this page; Lets Talk About: Fill-Flash, Cameras & Models
The best possible way to shoot these assignments is with a Digital Camera and the two most professionally used and also the most popular among the non-professional, are the "Cannon EOS" and "Nikon" range of digital cameras. Check out our page on this website; Lets Talk About Cameras
Now the wardrobe, the clothes that the model will be wearing on the beach or other previously scouted location. All this should be prepared well in advance to prevent a last minute panic.
My advice from experience, is to be over prepared and if you are lucky enough to carry out assignments whare you can cover the costs of additional help, you must still be personally involved in checking the inventory, especially if you plan to work on a beach location that might be situated miles from base.
The same applies if your lucky enough to have a camera assistant helping you, make sure he/she has a check list of everything that you require for the photography model shoot. I use to find that the check list would always save the day, as everybody involved with the beach Bikini or Studio shoot, would all know what is needed as each one was dependent on each other.
Shooting fashion or head shots in the studio is a far more controlled situation whare your models and the photographer are not at the mercy of the elements and although the check list still applies, at least all that is required should all be found in your studio or home studio.
Have you ever photographed a model and you find yourself scratching your head and racking your brains on how to get her to pose in front of your camera, now you can learn Posing Secrets and never be stuck for a pose again.
Yes, posing your Model can be nerve racking, especially if your using an inexperienced young teen model and I suggest you should also brush up on some ideas by reading a few fashion magazines and looking at the Pro images, also check out our page on this website; Lets Talk About: Posing Your Model
If you using a new lighting set up in the studio, it would be wise to run tests before the event to check out the effects and camera settings, the same applies if your new to shooting a Teen Model Beach shoot, run a test shoot before hand, borrowing a stand in model, who may just love a set of pictures of herself. Also check out this Model page; Lets Talk About: Models
