Modeling 101
I get a lot of questions from aspiring models, about how to get into the business, what it takes, do they have the right look etc. Having never worked for a model agency, I have a very limited frame of reference…I’m the client after all! I give whatever advice I can, but I’ve just found an interesting site that should help. It’s even written from the model’s point of view. While the site’s main purpose is to tease you into buying a book about the modeling business, that’s no bad thing. And there’s plenty of helpful information there if you’re starting from ground zero. So check it out!
Seven in the Park (Family Portraits)
Here’s a family portrait I did just before Christmas. The client called me the day after I’d marked as my cut-off point for Christmas card portrait sessions. But she was willing to shoot immediately, and desperately needed images for her holiday cards. So I agreed. We picked a day that fit everyone’s schedule, but our start time would be only 45 minutes before sunset. And since this was a park in Thousand Oaks, CA, there are mountains and trees to contend with. I had only shot at this park once, long ago, and so wasn’t really familiar with the way the light falls there. But there simply wasn’t time to scout the location ahead of time.
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Q and A: Seamless Paper
I just had this blog comment question from “PhotoJunke” on a previous blog post (here), and thought I’d answer it as a new post.
Great light Matt,
Is that a paper backdrop? I am using a bed sheet but the wrinkles are overwhelming and I can’t get rid of them. Have you ever encountered this? If so, how did you deal with it until you were successful enough to buy high end equipment?
Thanks! Yes it’s a paper backdrop. You can’t beat paper for wrinkle-free backgrounds! (Well a permanent ‘cyc’ wall is even better, but hardly anyone ever paints them black)
An alternative to paper is black faux-velvet cloth. It reflects even less light than black paper, and while it might wrinkle a little, they don’t show because it’s so dark. It has a different look though, as it’s completely black and there’s no detail in the background whatsoever. Also rolling up the cloth instead of folding will reduce wrinkles. The trick is to find a piece of cloth wide enough.
But really, a roll of paper isn’t “high end”. A 9 ft wide roll is about $43 at the local Samy’s. The trick is to have a local store that sells it, because shipping is expensive on these rolls (freight only).
I have a portable backdrop stand I often use that cost me $60 used. You can find new ones here, for about $100. This is what I use if there’s nothing available in a studio.
In this shoot above, the studio had a pole on a pulley system for seamless paper, which was very quick and convenient. In my garage, I have two large hooks on the rafters about 9.5 ft apart, and I have an 11 ft length of 2″ PVC pipe, which I run through the seamless paper core and simply suspend from the hooks. My garage isn’t really big enough for full-length shots, but I have pulled it off on occasion when necessary.
Or you can make one yourself. DIYP has a few different articles on this, including one here.
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