6 PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS on HOW TO WORK WITH A MODEL

“When you”re modeling, you’re actually acting for the camera and the photographer. It’s more fun, too because there are no lines to memorize.”

Cindy Margolis

Working and most importantly, guiding another human being is not an easy task. It requires good management skills, keen perception and sustained friendly attitude throughout the whole shoot. In this “ASK 4 PHOTOGRAPHERS” Youtube episode our PROs share their tips on how to prepare, communicate and guide the model on set.

The full interview is available of YOUTUBE. For your convenience, here is the transcript of it as well.

Molly Pan @mollypanphotography: The top one is probably that they’re really nervous, and so I just tell them to not be nervous because there’s really, like, there’s literally nothing to be nervous about. I have photographed so many people, and I feel pretty confident that I’ll be able to make people look good. I just tell them they can literally cannot … it up. Sorry, I don’t know if I should swear, but they can’t … it up.

Steven Pressler @stevenpresslerphotography : I think it’s critically important as a photographer to early on connect and to develop the chemistry with the model, because you’re looking for a certain mood. You’re looking for emotions. You’re looking for the artistry with the model. For me, it’s critically important to develop that chemistry, a form of relaxation, if you will, so when the model comes in, she’s relaxed, she’s prepared to work, her emotions come out, and the end result is you’ve got a great shoot.

Arturo Evaristo @artcrooks : You have to make sure that your model not only looks, I guess, attractive, but you have to make sure that you’re capturing their essence. That’s the most important part of a photograph, is capturing the model’s essence, and not just the subject.

Ace Style @ace_style : I prefer to get very close with the model, with the subject I’m working with. It has a very special connection. It is just more relaxed.

Steven Pressler @stevenpresslerphotography : I do a lot of work before. I meet with the model, I speak with the model, I get a sense of what the model is about. I give her, usually, a cue card of how to prepare for the shoot. Bring your A game, because if it’s the B game, I’m not interested, and it is going to show up in the work. Don’t go out partying to 3:00 in the morning, where you have bags under your eyes. Have your nails done. Have your makeup done in advance.

Molly Pan @mollypanphotography: I guess another thing is like people don’t know what to do. That, my friend, is your job as a photographer. You are supposed to tell them what to do. You can’t just expect someone to be on the other side of the camera and know where to put their limbs to look good. You are going to be in charge of the situation and you are going to let them know what to do. They’re going to totally relax, because they trust you.

WANT TO LEARN HOW TO MAKE THE BEST OUT OF YOUR PHOTOSHOOT WITH A MODEL, MUAH & STYLIST?

SIGN UP FOR OUR Colorful Editorial Group Shoot w/ 3 Gorgeous Agency Models that will take place on June 30th in one of our Los Angeles studios

Watch the full episode :

!PHOTOGRAPHY MIXER! Picture Purrrrfect on a Rescue Mission

Rescue Mixer : Photography Event with extra Feline

In a few weeks we are going to try something new, something we have thought for a long time of doing and finally decided to make it happen. You can call it a charity event, a rescue mission or a goodwill affair, but we will just say: it’s gonna be an aMEOWazing time!

We love animals so much that we decided to host our first ever Rescue Mixer, Kitty Edition. (Dog people have no fear, a Pup’tography Day, aka the Rescue Mixer “Puppy Edition” is planned for August, stay tuned and come support your feline brothers!)

Here are few details about group shoot:

Who?

We’ll be partnering with several Los Angeles Animal Rescue Organization over the summer (and probably over the year) to give back to the community. So expect lots of cute kittens everywhere, ready to shoot, ready to cuddle, ready to be adopted (if you’re willing to take them with you) and find their new home.

What?

You will have 4 hours of studio time to shoot cats, cats with humans, humans, no cats and no humans (although this one would be hard since our models are unstoppable explorers and will most certainly photobomb your shots.)

Where and when?

On Sunday July 8th, 11 to 3pm, at 1808 S Hill st, DTLA you’ll have access to a couple of corners in Hill 4(like our new textured yellow corner) to shoot and mingle, and when you need to take a break from all that crazy network, you’ll be able to sit down, put a kitten on your lap, and let your heart melt.

How much?

5$ participation – all proceeds will go to the Kitten Rescue and NOT in our pockets.

Head over to our EVENT PAGE and RSVP if you’re looking to adopt a kitten, if you want some cuddle time with a fur baby or if you’re just interested in meeting fellow creatives while giving a hand to animals in need. Even if you are not ready to adopt (that’s totally fine, it’s a big responsibility, we get it), come out to play, shoot and network!

Our Partner: The Kitten Rescue

“Kitten Rescue is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization devoted to finding loving homes for unwanted, homeless cats and kittens. We rescue cats and kittens from the streets of Los Angeles and from City Shelter euthanasia. Since our start in 1997, we have grown into one of the largest, most well-respected animal welfare groups in LA.”

How To Shoot “Holy Grail” Timelapse With Daniel Bergman

Shooting a time lapse is quite a challenge. Shooting a good time lapse with changing lighting conditions adds complexity. The challenge is how to keep the time lapse both correctly exposed and smooth looking to prevent the “flickering”.

The “Holy Grail” time-lapse technique describes the process of capturing day-to-night or night-to-day time-lapses. Today, with Daniel Bergman and Adorama TV we discuss a couple of ways to capture “Holy Grail” the right way!

Your Camera Settings.

There are two ways to shoot these sorts of time-lapses: aperture priority or manual adjustment. Make sure the keep the focus set to manual. In aperture priority mode, you simply let the camera adjust the shutter speed. However, the technique only works well when the sky is clear. Conversely, if the sky is cloudy your camera sensor might be fooled by a sudden change of exposure when clouds move. So the exposure will jump around and the final time-lapse will not be as smooth as you would like.

When shooting on manual exposure, you only change your settings throughout the shoot. DO NOT move more than a 1/3 of a stop at a time. Instead, do it really slowly over a lot of frames to ease the transition. This might be ok if you are shooting for 30 minutes or so but will be a nightmare if you are shooting for hours and hours.

Whichever method you use, the sudden changes in exposure are going to be noticeable – those a called “flickers”.

To get rid of flickers use software like LRTimelapse or TLDF to smooth out your video and get rid of that flicker.

In the video example below, Daniel is shooting a time-lapse indoors and uses Lenskirt – a lens hood that protects against undesired reflection.

Also, to create smooth movement of the time-lapse, Daniel uses Syrp Genie Mini Panning Motion Control System that turns his camera gradually over time.

Watch the full episode with David Bergman and Adorama TV:

!GROUP SHOOT! With 3 Gorgeous Agency Models

Colorful Editorial Group Shoot w/ 3 Gorgeous Agency Models

It is no secret that in order produce professional quality photographs, you have to have a team behind. And a team of MUAs, stylists, lighting assistants, and of course models doesn’t come cheap. Thus, it might be financially challenging if not impossible to transition your production from trivial amateur hobby sessions to a full speed serious photo productions.

Well, not anymore.

On June 30th you will have a chance to experience all shades of grey that a professional production photoshoot comprises for a tiny monetary fraction. Let us introduce you our Colorful Editorial Group Shoot with 3 Gorgeous Agency Models.

Here are few details about group shoot:

Who?

3 Professional Agency Models with diverse looks
3 Colorful Setups
Props, Styling, and a Makeup Artist
Networking Time with other Creatives

What?

At this event you will have 4 hours of studio time to shoot 3 models against 3 color backdrops and other props, all professionally prepped and ready to go. Do the math and you will have 9+ different possible settings for your images. Have you ever had 9 different settings to be captured in just 4 hours? I don’t think so.

Here is the mood-board of what you can expect from the shoot:

Where and when?

The event will take place at stage Hill 6, a clear open corner stage with lots of daylight, south-east facing windows and highly glossy floors. It will happen on June 30th, 3-7pm, so mark your calendars.

How much?

If you were to organize such a shoot yourself, you would be looking to invest at least $1500 to make the session happen. But since we are that awesome and decided to take the workload off of our shoulders, your fair share is ONLY $125.

GET YOUR TICKETS HERE!

Get Cropping! With David Bergman and ADORAMA TV

How often do you crop your images? Do you leave the final image as is once it’s recorded on the camera or do you cut unwanted portions of the photograph in the post-production? According to professional photographer and a star of AdoramaTV Youtube channel, David Bergman, he gets to crop his images in post 9 0f 10 times.

WHY Is Cropping Important?

There are several reasons of why you might want to crop your image.

First, if your image has too many elements that make it hard for a viewer to focus on the main subject, cut those out.

Second, if you are shooting from the distance, your subject will appear too small on a photograph, and cropping zooms it back in to be front and center of your composition.

Third, if your camera’s horizontal or vertical level is off and the image looks tilted, cropping will come in handy as an easy fix.

Fourth, If you were free framing your subjects while the shoot but then decided to place it on photograph according to rule of thirds – cropping will make it possible for you.

WHAT not to crop?

If you are cropping a photograph with a model, DO NOT cut parts of model’s body off the frame.

In general, you don’t want to make a cut right where something bends any way – knee and elbow is NOT a good choice for a cut – your model will look like he/she has undergone amputation.

It’s much better to crop mid thigh instead of at the knee.

Watch the full episode with David Bergman and Adorama TV:

PHOTOGRAPHY MIXER! Free, Effective, Fun Social Networking Event

On June 21st, yet again we will be hosting our Rooftop Mixer at the art location, the event dedicated for photographers, models, MUAs, stylists and other industry professionals to expand their network over a few drinks and good music. This event has already left a prominent mark on Los Angeles photographic community and continues to do so every month.

Here are few details about event:

Who?

You. This event is about you and what you can bring to the table. Bring your models over, take some shots, expand your portfolio, have fun with fellow photographers and enjoy breath taking, iconic Los Angeles sunset.

When?

June 21st, 4pm till 9pm is when the event is will take place. By lucky coincidence this day is the World Music Day, so expect karaoke to take place. Tune up your vocal cords, have a glass of vine for courage, and grab a mic! We’ll shake our hips to the song of your lips.

Where?

1048 Santee St, DTLA on Rooftop AND Art 4 stage. If you ever shot at the Art location before, you already know the spot. And yes, it is not only the rooftop but also Art 4 stage will be available for you!

Why?

The industry that we are in is personal experience oriented. In order to organize a photoshoot you usually need at least 2 -4 people to participate. So the social engagement is not only inevitable, it is essential to your career. Over the course of multiple interviews with well known photographers we have come to realization that most vital connections and resulting projects were a result of personal encounters and meeting, not the online advertisement.

Thus, it is really important to get involved in networking events, for your own good.

How Much?

Most networking events would charge a fee to get in. Here at FD, we decided to go one step further and make the Rooftop Mixer event absolutely free! Moreover, as it has become a tradition, we are also going to have another series of lottery. During check-in, everyone who RSVP’d will get a ticket with a number to participate. Don’t forget to check-in!

Take a look at the Rooftop Mixer Event page and photos that were made on our Website.

Katharine Stroble + Wanthy D

Photographer Wanthy D would make a lot of beauty photographers jealous. His work is that good. Working with both strobe and natural light, Wanthy’s models look flawless in any setting. Although it seems like there is a lot of skill and time involved in the post production process, each photograph benefit tremendously from it.

Few of our favorite picks from photographer’s Insta feed:

Photo by me | DM for rates

A post shared by Wanthy D 📸 (@wanthy_d) on Mar 24, 2018 at 9:59am PDT

This session’s crew comprised of:

Model Katharine Stroble INSTAGRAM

Photographer Wanthy D INSTAGRAM

Dress AVNAH Collection INSTAGRAM

Photo by me | @milkyy.__ | Wardrobe @lamaisondefashions | @avnahcollection

A post shared by Wanthy D 📸 (@wanthy_d) on Mar 3, 2018 at 12:48pm PST

The crew has chosen Stage A due to its size and affordability. Nevertheless, this Stage provides outstanding natural lighting conditions where there is a direct sunlight in the morning through north and east-facing windows, and beautifully soft indirect light as the day goes on. Equipped with all of the same great gear that’s included with all of our studios – strobes, light modifiers, radio trigger, and paper backdrops – it’s a wonderful place to be able to achieve different looks all in the same place. Visit Stage A on our website to learn more.

4 Photography Styles from PROs | We ASK 4 PHOTOGRAPHERS

“Photography for me is not looking, it’s feeling. If you can’t feel what you’re looking at, then you’re never going to get others to feel anything when they look at your pictures.”

Don McCullin

Although there is a finite number of photography genres you can associate with, like portrait, beauty, lifestyle, wedding, etc, YOUR STYLE is what really makes you stand out in the ocean of competition in any niche. In this “ASK 4 PHOTOGRAPHERS” Youtube episode our PROs share their unique stylistic approach to photography and how it helps them to differentiate from others.

The full interview is available of YOUTUBE. For your convenience, here is the transcript of it as well.

Arturo Evaristo @artcrooks : The type of photography I’m most inclined to shooting would be, I guess, color theory. I love to photograph people in front of red backdrops, yellow backdrops, blue backdrops, all primary colors. Eventually, I’ll venture into darker portraits, and use dark red, but mostly color.

Ben Tsui @bentsuiphotos : I like a lot of colors, not saturated color. I kind of view color and light like foam, like soft foam that has a little bit of texture, and a little bit of weight.

Arturo Evaristo @artcrooks : The best way to stand out, once you’re done with color is, most importantly: Your choice of model, your props, and what message you’re trying to send out.

Arthur Brian Marroquin abmpix.com : My favorite shots are the ones that truly just show the person, and they’re like right in the eyes. It’s great. It doesn’t matter what the clothes are, it doesn’t matter what their hair looks like, it’s just … It’s all about them, and you’re like, “Wow. I want to get to know that person, I want to work with that person.” Those are my favorite types of headshots for sure.

Wanderlust Creatives @wanderlustcreatives : Our style is very dramatic, I would say. With photos, we like to show mood, we like the moody feel. We like shadows, we like contrast in our photos. We like pops of color, even though there’s still some shadows in them, and we love photographing details.

Ben Tsui @bentsuiphotos : I approach my subject … A lot from a distance, where they’re in their own environment, so almost like a little bit of voyeurism.”

WANT TO LEARN MORE FROM PROS AND SHOW YOUR STYLE ON SET?

SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE TO ATTEND PHOTOGRAPHY MIXER that will take place on June 24th in one of our Los Angeles studios .

Watch the full episode :

John Henry Pitts III shoots Miss Justine Marie

#GucciGang is the first thing you will find once opening the website of photographer John Henry Pitts, III. While we do not know how Gucci John is and whether or not he is a gang affiliated member, one thing is certain – his photography rocks!

Few words about the photographer:

Hi! My name is John Pitts. I’m an art director and photographer who has been working in the fashion/lifestyle industry for almost 10 years now~ I love working with young, upstart brands who are looking to bring something new to the table. I also love working with people who are a little different, a little crazy and a lot of passionate!

Passions: Heavy Metal, Coffee, Underground Fashion
Aspires to work with: Malcolm Gladwell, Cara Delevingne

This session’s crew comprised of:

Photographer John Henry Pitts, III INSTAGRAM

Model Miss Justine Marie INSTAGRAM

John Henry Pitts III shoots Miss Justine Marie -wrongron, Wrong Ron, Studio Photography, shot at FD Photo Studio, rental stages, Photoshop, Photoshoot, photography services, photographer, Model, Miss Justine Marie, Los Angeles, John Henry Pitts III, FD photo studio, DTLA, blog, beauty shoot, !Hill2, !done

Stage Hill 2 is one of our latest additions and the second blackout stage we currently offer. Painted all black from top to bottom with the matte color this stage absorbs the light making it easier to control reflections and have complete control of the light painting. Spacious, nicely conditioned and minimalistic, Hill 2 is perfect for video and photo shoots, big or small crew. As any of our stages, it comes with three paper backdrops preinstalled – white, grey and black, and three strobe lights included. For more information please check stage Hill 2 on our website.