Model 1st or Environment 1st?
A model once post this question to me in a Forum … quote from her :
“Do you look at (the) environment to suit the model shoot or do u look at which angle da model looks good to suit the atmosphere?”
My answer to her was “A typical Malaysian photographer’s perception would be lighting, environment and most probably equipment to suite later. For me, it’s the model first, then lighting and lastly the environment.
Let me explain …
1. Model - A model who is determined to work with me to create a good image must be able to co-operate and strike a good pose to drive that message home. Attitude is everything, and I always wanna strike a good chemical mix with her in order that we can AGREE what we wanna achieve in the end. Model shooting is not a one-way thing, it’s not a photographers’ ‘experiment’ or ‘a day out’ where you get a model to pose, shoot all you wanna shoot, get done with her and go home. What you wanna MAKE the model to look like does not necessarily mean she likes it. It applies to any models shoots, whether it’s shooting for fun, for profile, or for commercial use. Nobody wanna look bad in the end. I am here to make everybody look good.
2. Lighting - Lighting plays in important part, but I dun wanna bore you with technicalities. Amateur photographers often use DIRECT to FLOOD lighting technique because it’s very easy to control and also to make post-processing easier. Make-up won’t blotch and any girl with any height, any size and any looks will look good in those kind of lighting, the only drawback is that, you dun get see the ‘drama’ in that shot … it’s just another shot you show agents, clients, etc and I am SURE you have PLENTY of those photos. My favorite lighting would be either pure-yellow or bulb light, or sunlight. I use lots of sunlight during indoor shoots and I use a very bright and sharp lens to create indoor shoots, so it’s not a problem at all. Anyway, lighting is not your headache.
3. Environment - If you wanna take portraits, I won’t worry about the environment, unless you intend to include nice setting like a garden, the beach, the bedroom, even the bathroom or bathtub (I did that long time ago)!