Read this before your first photoshoot as a photographer
Read this before your first photoshoot as a photographer because I wish I had. I have brought you my first ever fashion photoshoot experience and how did I actually plan it, processed it, the mistakes I have made and things I have learnt etc. I was going through my google drive today and found my first ever fashion photo taken from my beginner Nikon D3200 camera. It was in 2012 I joined a short term fashion photography course in Delhi, India. I am going to share all the details with you that are important to start your career in photography.
How I Started: I was a little confused and lost in choosing my career. When I realised it was photography, It was hard to convince my Indian parents about it, but after point they accepted. Then I started searching for photography collages in Delhi and I found an institute that was providing a short term course in fashion photography. I somewhere knew that I am always interested in the Fashion photography more than anything else.
When the short term course of 2 months was over, the institute has arranged a photoshoot for us with a model, makeup artist and wardrobe stylist. They have made us work for everything, we have made the photoshoot set by ourselves, we shopped for props by ourselves, running errands for small stuff etc. We created the entire shoot by ourselves.
Studio work (Before shoot): We were paid a limited amount of money by the institute to buy something to make a creative background. My fellow student Tejal and I went to a local market in Delhi to see what can be done with that amount of money. We found some shiny table mats and thought they would be good for the background. We got some chains, guns and hats as well for the prop. We brought everything to the studio and started attaching each background together with the black tread. We kept attaching the table mats together until the background was 9 feet in length and 6-7 feet in width, this took us hours.
Shoot Day: The shoot was next day. We prepared the background a day before and kept it hung on the background stand in the studio that our institute own. The model came in and the makeup process started, the hair was done and it took around one hour. Tejal first started shooting, I was watching her direct the model and getting warmed up for my turn. As students, we could not say much about makeup and hair. Actually, we did not have much knowledge and opinion on that anyways.
It was completely a new experience for us. We were free to change the lighting the way we want to because being a photographer that’s our basic job and that’s what we have learnt in the last two months. We used loop lighting and butterfly lighting a lot, as these two are very good for portrait photography. Rembrandt lighting also gives a great effect in portraits though.
I did not expect myself to be directing the model and talking to her a lot about the moods and poses that I want, I was more of a quiet kind of person when I was learning. I guess I get active only when it is needed. My teacher was also surprised to see that side of me. He used to say that I can’t be a photographer because I used to move a lot while modelling for him. Well, I am still into photography and getting better and better at my work.
What did I learn: Learning is a lifelong process, especially when it comes to photography. If you practice lights every day, you might surprise yourself every time you pick up the camera. There are certain things I realised instantly after the shoot.
- Never use cheap looking props, it’s better to not use the props at all instead. The Gun and Hat is looking so fake and ugly.
- High budget shoots speak for itself.
- Know the rules before you break them. I was trying to do a lot with the lighting and framing which ended up exhausting the model and myself as well.
- Always talk to the model and make them comfortable so you get the best out of them.
- Every photographer has their own way of shooting, do not compare yourself with others and learn your own style of photography.
I wish I knew this before: Before getting into this, I should have done the research about how expensive this field could be if you want to do it professionally. Photography pieces of equipment are expensive and need an upgrade all the time which will cost you a lot of money. However, the good news is, renting the equipment is an option now. You can have one basic kit with you to practice all the time and you can rent other pieces of equipment according to the client’s requirement. Also, you need a studio to run the business and practice studio light every day.
If you are living in a city like Mumbai, real estate is very expensive, which again involves the money part. Costing is the only drawback I could find for this industry, otherwise, it is the best profession one could ever imagine. You create your imagination through the camera. Also, you need to know that it’s teamwork. On a set, everyone is capable of doing everything but the one thing only a photographer can do, is lighting. That’s your core job and no one else should be influencing that part of your job.
Read my other blogs about the best equipment to invest in, as a beginner.
