Expert: Kitty Kavey - 6/16/2008

Question
Hey Kitty, i am a beginner photographer and my neighbor is a beginner model, well i have no idea on how to set up proper lightin( In expensive cheap ways are good).  I have a sony digital camera, but do i need a better camera to get great shots?  If you have any suggestions please tell me that would be great.
Kayla

Answer
It really depends on the type of camera you have, and what you and your neighbor will be using the photos for.  If you plan to use the photos as an 8x10 photographic print, you may be better served using a higher-end pro camera.  For an online portfolio, or even sometimes to start a modeling composite card even the "consumer" digital cameras can be used.

Lighting is always an interesting subject among photographers.  There are books on lighting and digital model photography that you can pick up in your local library or bookstore that may be helpful to you.

My opinion is that natural light is the best, although that is a personal preference, and I'm speaking from as a model on that.  I love the light at sunset/sunrise.  Sunlight can be very harsh when it's directly above, in that case a reflector can be a very important (and inexpensive) accessory to avoid distracting shadows on a model.

Again, my opinion, but finding your "style" as a photographer, and for a new model to learn how to best show themselves to the camera, can take a bit of trial and error.  Keep it as simple as you can when photographing a model - you want to make sure the focus is on the person without too much else in the frame - at least to begin with.

Particularly if you are shooting female models (teens or older), makeup and hair can be something important to work into the equation as well.  Perhaps you can find an aspiring makeup artist (check local schools) who can help out with that too.

Makeup (and hair too) is done differently on a model than one might tend to walk around in - and digital photos (on lower end cameras)sometimes need a bit of color adjustment or lighting adjustment either at the shoot, or later in Photoshop or similar program.

I know my digital photos come out more grey, (I have a consumer digital camera) and it never gets reds right, so I adjust that later with my personal photos.  You also tend to have darker images once uploaded online, so I also either shoot with more light, or increase the light level by about 5-10% before I post the photos online.

There are also a ton of websites that have tips on everything from posing and model photography, to composition and lighting.  I would suggest to also look at the photos that are close to the type of model you will be shooting.  You can do a search for model composite cards on your favorite search engine - the companies that print them all have samples of male and female models of all ages online for you to refer to.

Good luck to you (and your neighbor),
~Kitty