Depressing forms of photography

Blasted

Blasted

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I think I’ve found one of the most depressing forms of photography there is.

I really like portrait photography and would love to be able to take great portraits. I know that the only way I’m going to be able to do that is by practising and learning. I‘ve read books, watched videos, scoured other photographers work. I’ve bought a light, some reflectors, triggers and a backdrop. Now here’s where I hit a bit of a wall, I only have me to take pictures of. I set all my kit up and take a test shot, then tweak , then shoot , then tweak then shoot, on an on and on. I then take the memory card and stick it in my computer and check out what I’ve done.

There is nothing worse in my mind than already hating your own appearance and having to look at a couple of hundred images of yourself badly lit and attempting to feign some sort of expression, its soul destroying at best. Why must I put myself through this? Will I never learn?
 
Not really into portrait photography so I may be talking b@llocks, but why not get a model head or an old manikin and use that to sort out things like light etc.
 
Thats a great way to learn the fundamentals for sure, but I think I'm at the stage where I need people though and the lack of available people forces me to look at my own car wreck of a face a bit to much for comfort. Now if I were a narcassist it would be the best thing ever.
 
You better change the header on your website:LOL:
Join a camera club and you'll have some models.
 
Bobsyeruncle said:
Join a camera club and you'll have some models.
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Must be different from the camera clubs I have ever been to ?

munch said:
Not really into portrait photography so I may be talking b@llocks, but why not get a model head or an old manikin and use that to sort out things like light etc.
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I would ahve thought the skin was the important part and you can't replicate that..

To the OP .. You work wiht what you ahve.. and if all you ahve is you then just tinker on... OR ask about for models..(aspirining m odels or just someone who needs some portraits or fam pics) explaining exactly what you are doing and why and offer some pics in return.. I am sure theres plenty about unless you live on a remote farm in the middle of noweher... then the answer is even more wierd :)
 
Ask friends and family.

Make a night of it with a few beers, ask on facebook..or ask on here to see if anyone lives locally and you can both learn from each other and have a night every other week at alternative houses..
 
Bobsyeruncle said:
I was thinking he might meet someone who may be prepared to model?
Don't camera clubs have model shoots etc?
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once a yr at the ones i went to.. so you where guessing wiht your advice.. haha nice one :)
 
I did try a club and sure the people were nice but the endless "its needs cropping" or "it doesn't follow the rule of thirds" got a bit much for me.
 
I'm doing an evening class in photography at my local college and we spend a lot of time in the studio, often splitting into pairs and taking it in turns to be model/photographer.
 
Steve said:
I'm doing an evening class in photography at my local college and we spend a lot of time in the studio, often splitting into pairs and taking it in turns to be model/photographer.
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I remember doing the same, quite a while ago - only we'd split into threes - one to model, one to be "lighting assistant" (often actually being a "human light-stand") and one to direct the shoot and actually take the shots. Worked pretty well TBH
 
Blasted said:
I think I’ve found one of the most depressing forms of photography there is.

I really like portrait photography and would love to be able to take great portraits. I know that the only way I’m going to be able to do that is by practising and learning. I‘ve read books, watched videos, scoured other photographers work. I’ve bought a light, some reflectors, triggers and a backdrop. Now here’s where I hit a bit of a wall, I only have me to take pictures of. I set all my kit up and take a test shot, then tweak , then shoot , then tweak then shoot, on an on and on. I then take the memory card and stick it in my computer and check out what I’ve done.

There is nothing worse in my mind than already hating your own appearance and having to look at a couple of hundred images of yourself badly lit and attempting to feign some sort of expression, its soul destroying at best. Why must I put myself through this? Will I never learn?
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If you have trouble finding people to sit in front of a camera for free, imagine how hard it's going to be when you want them to pay? :)
 
So your sort of doing endless self es that would be soul destroying,as part of photographer for me, is looking thought the viewfinder and waiting for that right moment :)
 
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TheBigYin said:
I remember doing the same, quite a while ago - only we'd split into threes - one to model, one to be "lighting assistant" (often actually being a "human light-stand") and one to direct the shoot and actually take the shots. Worked pretty well TBH
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Of course, you trained up two competitors in the process, lol :)
 
Go and check the community area lower down the forum, there will be forum meets in your area or nearby you can go to and make local friends :)
 
JennyGW said:
Of course, you trained up two competitors in the process, lol :)
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Wasn't really a problem in my case, as I never had any interest whatsoever in shooting people for money, it was just part of the course I needed to learn and get though, so that I could get stuck into the things I do like... I'm not enough of a "people person" to enjoy interacting with people sitting for portraits - i'm far happier with shooting landscapes or still lifes (as neither whinge, moan or complain i'm taking too long to get everything "just so")
 
TheBigYin said:
Wasn't really a problem in my case, as I never had any interest whatsoever in shooting people for money, it was just part of the course I needed to learn and get though, so that I could get stuck into the things I do like... I'm not enough of a "people person" to enjoy interacting with people sitting for portraits - i'm far happier with shooting landscapes or still lifes (as neither whinge, moan or complain i'm taking too long to get everything "just so")
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I take your point on not being a people person, horses for courses. When I have a paying customer I stick to setups that are tried and tested.
 
JennyGW said:
If you have trouble finding people to sit in front of a camera for free, imagine how hard it's going to be when you want them to pay? :)
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Slightly tongue in cheek - but this^

When you shoot landscapes - it's not just about pointing your camera at a hill. You have to understand your subject. With portraits, it's that x2, because not only do you have to understand them, you have to manipulate them too. It's not about lighting and posing - it's about attitudes, moods, personalities and lots of other woolly stuff it's difficult to label.

So it's a test of your personality - to get them to show theirs, or a facet of theirs, or a fantasy 'them' that's not even close to the real them. I'm sure you can find someone who'd like a new facebook profile image? IOn fact if you can't find 20, you're not looking in the right place - or making the right offer. The portraits on your site are nice enough - and certainly good enough to entice people to get similar. (just looked again - it's an object lesson - avoid the 'model' types, who believe they know how to pose and what looks good - you'll learn nothing)
 
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TheBigYin said:
I remember doing the same, quite a while ago - only we'd split into threes - one to model, one to be "lighting assistant" (often actually being a "human light-stand") and one to direct the shoot and actually take the shots. Worked pretty well TBH
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I like David Hobby's term.. VAL - Voice Activated Lightstand..
 
Thanks for the input, some great suggestions. I to prefer to be behind the camera and as mentioned earlier by someone, its about getting that right expression/feeling and working with people, both of which I'm comfortable with. The other part is having good lighting to compliment the set up and developing that understanding of light craft is something I'm working on, just on my own. My winge was about not liking my face then looking at it a couple of hundred times, thoroughly depressing, the photography part, all good fun.
 
Blasted, I have had exactly the same problem as you in the past - you can get around it by joining for free

Purple port - http://purpleport.com/front.asp
Model Mayhem - http://www.modelmayhem.com

There is another site, but I cannot remember its name off hand. You can hire models on these sites or trade posing time for prints or for hi res digital images of the shoot.

Another potential path is to join Facebook and look for group shoots or model/photographer groups in your region or city. You will be amazed what comes up. Even local MUA (make up artists) groups can have connections to modelling/photographer groups. Search for something like 'Cardiff models photographers' or South Wales or whatever is relevent for the area you yourself live in. I would say though, if you have no one much to accompany you in a house or building, to do locations shoots in public places to start with as having other people around is more comfortable when starting shoots esp if the model is of the opposite sex. Its always best to have a chaperone if you can get one. Also, get a model release form signed so you can use the images on your web site if you wish, this makes things fair and clear to the model too.
 
MidnightUK said:
You can hire models on these sites or trade posing time for prints or for hi res digital images of the shoot.
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You can swap time for pictures though the models who'll do that are generally starting out and want to build their portfolio so if they do agree to pose for free without seeing your portfolio first, there's every chance that neither of you will have the relevant experience to know how you want to direct the shoot, where you should place lights and reflectors, etc.

It's something I've been meaning to try but like so many things, haven't yet. IMO it'd be worth hiring an experienced model first and asking her for advice based on her experience. Build a stock of images that you like, work out where the lights have been placed using the reflections and shadows and try to recreate them and it'll help you determine the particular 'look' you want to go for.
 
Blasted said:
Now here’s where I hit a bit of a wall, I only have me to take pictures of.
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There are 7 billion people in the world. Go and ask some of them if they can help you with your portrait photography. It's as simple as that. You have to get over your shyness. If you are a shy person, you have to make a decision right here and now: Am I prepared to get over this, or do I stop wanting to be a portrait photographer. By definition, you are dealing with people as a portrait photographer. You can't sit back and wait for some magic method of meeting people.... you need to go out and talk to them.

If you're not shy... you know what to do already. Go ask some people,

Sorry to be blunt, but it really is as simple as that.

munch said:
Not really into portrait photography so I may be talking b@llocks, but why not get a model head or an old manikin and use that to sort out things like light etc.
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Because that teaches you precisely sod all except lighting techniques, and while important, doesn't teach you how to get the best from people, how to pose them, how to tell their story etc. It's just wasting time, and avoiding the inevitable, which is actually asking people to model for you.
 
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Pookeyhead said:
You can't sit back and wait for some magic method of meeting people.... you need to go out and talk to them.
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Totally correct, I know what I need to do and I'm not doing it. Coincidentally I'm reading a book on dealing with fear and how fear can hold us back, when in reality its something that not that bigger deal. Its worse to sit back and let the fear overcome you rather than get up and have a go. Hopefully some it will spur me on to get out of my comfrot zone. Easier said than done though.
 
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