Photoshoot Advice

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Name
Skippy
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Hey guys I could really use your help.

I've been approached by two friends asking me to take photos for their portfolios, one is interested in modelling, the other is doing makeup and beauty therapy. They want both shoots on the same day.

They have insisted that I do it and they have insisted on paying for my time. Bonus!

Now the downside, never done anything for portfolio before. I have no studio setup and my camera is an fujifilm F72EXR compact (F70EXR with a different colour) which I love and am comfortable with but obvious limitations (lens is 5mm - 50mm equiv, very limited appateur (how the heck do you spell that?) 3.5 to 11 (depending on zoom) no manual focus)

Now I may have access to a lighting setup being used for a 15 minute film at the moment, fixed lighting and umbrellas is all I know atm.

I may also be able to get my hands on a DSLR but know nothing about the camera atm and would have no time beforehand to get comfortable with it and DSLR is currently foreign territory to me, used to have a superzoom but thats all.

No idea what to use for a background atm but should be able to sort something out. Thinking plain white will probably be best?

Can get a tripod, which may be a bonus for any head shots.

What questions do I need to ask beforehand? What do I need to do to set up?

Anything I'm missing?

Thanks in advance for any advice.
 
Aperture :)

Ill have to think before I reply about this topic what would be the best thing for you.
 
First off, any money you get will have to be thrown right back into your equipment! Hiring a studio seems the best thing to do as you can get all your equipment included, backgrounds, light meter, studio lights etc. If you really want a good go at this then I would sell your compact and put a bit of money towards a Canon 350D, this camera is still a amazing one and can hook up to studio lights via pc sync, you may need a adaptor which costs about £5 from ebay. The staff at the studio you hire might be able to help you set up and can show you have to get hi key shots, give them a ring before hand though. Dont use a tripod in a studio as you will be moving all the time. As for a lens, a 50mm f1.8 prime for about £55 would suit you perfect, its sharp, small and cheap. Have a look at some poses that are used on purestorm.com (use this site to find your studio if you want). Check loads of videos on youtube and read the forum daily to pick up knowledge you can use!
 
Ah yeah, knew I had missed something as had to type the message three times, I have access to a hall but no money to spend. Also out in South Africa at the moment, so UK studios are likely less than useful :)

Thankyou for the info though, got some useful stuff out of your post, specially reminder of high key and the 350D may well be something I would like to look into....when I have money.
 
Sorry to necro this thread but been spending some time looking at camera bodies online (but probably not quite enough) why suggest the 350D and not the 300D or the 400D? Is it the price point, features for the cash or that it was a lot better than the two on either side of it? i.e. if you are trying to get into Canon cheaply is the 350D definately the best way to go? Assume a budget of 200 poundsish (cheaper would be nice but yeah)
 
350D, 400d, 20d, nikon d40 - it doesn't matter that much! You need a working one at a good price and then get familiar with it and the whole photography theory. Better look for some goods books too.
 
Don't use a studio. If you don't have any / much experience in one, you're only giving yourself something else to worry about on the day. Just go outside (probably easiest not at midday) and shoot. Natural light is easier to understand and you can see what it's doing, how it looks on your model's face all the time.

You don't need one per se, but if you like, a simple reflector is cheap to buy or even cheaper to make. Get the other friend to play assistant and you can get a lot of different looks from a very simple set up.

Just have a look around at the millions of websites out there that showcase this kind of work so you have a few ideas before you head out.
 
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