Band Photoshoot Advice
Discussion
A little advice please guys.
I have reached the stage in photography now where I have made waves within my family and friends and get pretty regular begging emails for all manner of things (from photos of a girl I used to work with and her daughter to full scale events - all expect it for free I might add!) However, a very close friend of mine has just offered me something a bit more interesting.
He has been in music since he could open his mouth and finally his hard work has paid off and he has got in to a band that definitely look like they're going places and have played festivals etc. They aren't particularly famous yet, but it certainly could happen. Since he joined the band recently, they have decided they want a small photoshoot done for the website. Nothing incredible, but good none-the-less (until they have a magazine shoot anyway.)
As I'm sure you all can guess, he has offered this gig to me. I don't want to turn it down but I'm not sure how to approach it yet.
They want:
I have no experience with poses or anything for more than one person, let alone location and so on.
If you're still awake and have advice for me, I'd appreciate it
I have reached the stage in photography now where I have made waves within my family and friends and get pretty regular begging emails for all manner of things (from photos of a girl I used to work with and her daughter to full scale events - all expect it for free I might add!) However, a very close friend of mine has just offered me something a bit more interesting.
He has been in music since he could open his mouth and finally his hard work has paid off and he has got in to a band that definitely look like they're going places and have played festivals etc. They aren't particularly famous yet, but it certainly could happen. Since he joined the band recently, they have decided they want a small photoshoot done for the website. Nothing incredible, but good none-the-less (until they have a magazine shoot anyway.)
As I'm sure you all can guess, he has offered this gig to me. I don't want to turn it down but I'm not sure how to approach it yet.
They want:
- A shoot done at either golden hour.
- No external lighting or studios or anything like that
- All 5 members of the band clearly visible
- It to be interesting and cool.
I have no experience with poses or anything for more than one person, let alone location and so on.
If you're still awake and have advice for me, I'd appreciate it
Edited by Robbie B on Tuesday 20th September 16:44
What sort of music is it?
What "image" do they have?
What "image" do they have?
Robbie B said:
A little advice please guys.
I have reached the stage in photography now where I have made waves within my family and friends and get pretty regular begging emails for all manner of things (from photos of a girl I used to work with and her daughter to full scale events - all expect it for free I might add!) However, a very close friend of mine has just offered me something a bit more interesting.
He has been in music since he could open his mouth and finally his hard work has paid off and he has got in to a band that definitely look like they're going places and have played festivals etc. They aren't particularly famous yet, but it certainly could happen. Since he joined the band recently, they have decided they want a small photoshoot done for the website. Nothing incredible, but good none-the-less (until they have a magazine shoot anyway.)
As I'm sure you all can guess, he has offered this gig to me. I don't want to turn it down but I'm not sure how to approach it yet.
They want:
I have no experience with poses or anything for more than one person, let alone location and so on.
If you're still awake and have advice for me, I'd appreciate it
I have reached the stage in photography now where I have made waves within my family and friends and get pretty regular begging emails for all manner of things (from photos of a girl I used to work with and her daughter to full scale events - all expect it for free I might add!) However, a very close friend of mine has just offered me something a bit more interesting.
He has been in music since he could open his mouth and finally his hard work has paid off and he has got in to a band that definitely look like they're going places and have played festivals etc. They aren't particularly famous yet, but it certainly could happen. Since he joined the band recently, they have decided they want a small photoshoot done for the website. Nothing incredible, but good none-the-less (until they have a magazine shoot anyway.)
As I'm sure you all can guess, he has offered this gig to me. I don't want to turn it down but I'm not sure how to approach it yet.
They want:
- A shoot done at either golden hour.
- No external lighting or studios or anything like that
- All 5 members of the band clearly visible
- It to be interesting and cool.
I have no experience with poses or anything for more than one person, let alone location and so on.
If you're still awake and have advice for me, I'd appreciate it
Edited by Robbie B on Tuesday 20th September 16:44
Have a look at Zach Arias's work, thats exactly how he got started shooting that kind of stuff. He still shoots bands and he gives out so much info on twitter and via photography blog websites.
Now specifically for your problem, I've got a shoot exactly like that coming up soon. With peoples back to a perfect sunrise/sunset there is no way to get the sunrise well exposed and the band memebers faces well exposed at the same time without some sort of fill light or doing it all in post. Either you over expose the sunset and expose for the faces in shadow, or expose for the sunset and under the faces or HDR it.
My tip with your equipment would be to hold the camera very steady (preferably on a tripod) and rattle off a few bracketed frames and overlap in photoshop and exposure blend in post. Rattle off quite a few sequences of frames as someone always blinks or will twitch. Take shots while the sun is setting but I find the best shots are just after the sun actually sets, there will be less contrast in the frame and so will be easier to blend and keep it looking realistic.
The easiest option of course is to hire a speed light and light stand, bounce it off your reflector to make the light softer and get the shot in camera without doing any work in post.
Hope this helps
Now specifically for your problem, I've got a shoot exactly like that coming up soon. With peoples back to a perfect sunrise/sunset there is no way to get the sunrise well exposed and the band memebers faces well exposed at the same time without some sort of fill light or doing it all in post. Either you over expose the sunset and expose for the faces in shadow, or expose for the sunset and under the faces or HDR it.
My tip with your equipment would be to hold the camera very steady (preferably on a tripod) and rattle off a few bracketed frames and overlap in photoshop and exposure blend in post. Rattle off quite a few sequences of frames as someone always blinks or will twitch. Take shots while the sun is setting but I find the best shots are just after the sun actually sets, there will be less contrast in the frame and so will be easier to blend and keep it looking realistic.
The easiest option of course is to hire a speed light and light stand, bounce it off your reflector to make the light softer and get the shot in camera without doing any work in post.
Hope this helps
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