some time ago I wrote some lines about how to improve photos taken at events and about gear decisions. Today I try to write down my experience at a photoshooting and Nicu will follow some time *hint*.
Other then an event the photos at a photoshooting cost a bit more preperation. You have to look for at least one model you want to shoot. In our case we had several very nice girls and also some guys – all together 6. In addition a MakeUp Artist is allways a good-to-have thing, but often they want some money for the Equipment they use.
If you have more then one model its also good to have more than one photographer (in our case we were three) so there is no waiting time and everybody has something to do at the Set. The coordination for that should take place via Mailinglist or a forum (in our case a german social network) where all the infos can be posted and everybody in that small (closed) group has access to it. Sometimes you begin the project with 2-3 people and then some came later and you do not want to explain EVERYTHING AGAIN, so … you know the drill…
For the location with so many people its good to choose some outdoor location, because there is plenty room to take picture with all photographers paralell and the makeUp Artist can do her job also. We choose the Völklingen Ironworks. because it has different spots with different lights, backgrounds, etc. Depending on the location and maybe the region in the world you also should ask before the Shooting what is needed for a permission for photoshooting (at this place they are very experienced and had permission-forms for photographers). Also you should have Model Release forms for TfP shootings printed out for each model, photographer and the MakeUp Artist.
After arriving and shake-hands (if you do not meet before) we choose a central point where we can spread out from, had some place for the MakeUp Setup and also some place where the models can change.
After some short preperation time (change cloth, first MakeUp’s, etc.) we spread out – every photographer took one model, take the pictures, rotate, change MakeUp and clothes, etc. – and had fun. Be creative, look how the modell looks like and try some out. If the model is creative he/she has at least 2-3 Outfits in his/her bag and you can try out different looks.
Depending from the location try different angles, lenses (if you have), lights, etc. and take as much photos as you can. Mostly you did not have another Appointment where you all can come together. If possible try to shoot in RAW so that you can post-process and change minor failures you took at the shooting can be fixed easily without changing to much.
If its warm outside its good to have enough to drink, because you never know where the next Restaurant or shop is. Also prepare for the worst case: I had at least two sets of batteries with me and as much Storage (SD Cards) as I can get. Also check your Equipment twice and choose only the Equipment you want to really use. More Equipment means more weight to carry around and to take care of. For this Shooting I choose my backpack for the Equipment, because I also had to climb the pipes, crawling the tubes and want to have my hands free and all my gear with me when I go from one shooting-spot to another one.
You also want to be very flexible, because you did not know EXACTLY what you can expect (e.g. light and weather conditions). You can not allways check the location before the shooting, so it is good to have a backup plan or some ideas on the way to the location what you can use instead (in our case the Ironworks also had some Indoor rooms – not so perfect as the pipes and steel around, but for a backup plan ok).
After 6 hours of straight shooting and two short breaks for eating you may have about 20-50GB data (around 800-1200 photos) and you hopefully had much fun as well as some good shots…
Here are some shots I took. They are unedited (no cropping, color post-processing, effects, etc.) – that would be in the next part also as some kind of workflow for Picturemanagement.
comments and additional ideas are welcome 
