Frequently asked questions about our workshop

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ABOUT OUR GLAMOUR PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP

Q: Is there actual instruction at your workshops?
A: When I first started the workshops in 1991 I would have a Thursday night session at my studio where I would demonstrate lighting techniques and talk about any photography topic that the attendees were interested in. I discontinued the Thursday night sessions after the first or second year. I've been to some workshops that spend half the workshop talking or showing slides before you get to do any shooting. I don't want to do that. I believe in learning by doing. Besides, most of the photographers who come to my workshop have been to many of my previous workshops so it would be redundant to go over the same instructional material each time, which is why we do not have formal instruction during the workshop.

If you need assistance on how to set your camera or have questions about lighting equipment my staff and I will be happy to assist you. One of the main benefits of a workshop environment is that you can learn from each other. By watching how other photographers work with models you can start to develop a shooting style of your own.

Our workshop is team effort. The other members of my team include:

DIGITAL WILLY:
Digital Willy started attending my workshop in September, 2001, and has attended over 100 workshops. He is now my official workshop photographer and has done many of the photos on individual model pages, posts a page of photos for each workshop, and has posted many individual model pages for our workshop models. He also brings special props and helps us set up theme sets for special occasions. Bill is also an expert at Photoshop and will answer your Photoshop questions at the workshop. We plan to run "Glamour Photoshop" classes at the studio sometime in the future.

Check out Digital Willy's web site - http://www.digitalwilly.com/workshops.html

JAY BUHAY:
Jay is my best friend and is a tremendous help in running the workshop. He builds most of the sets that we use at the workshop and is always here at the studio late at night on Saturdays helping me get ready for the workshop. He also deals with all the emergencies that pop up during the workshop and makes sure that the one-on-one sessions run smoothly. Jay has also attended over 100 workshops since September, 2003.

Check out Jay's work on his MM page - http://modelmayhem.com/member.php?id=100256

TOM S.
Tom is our official electrician and workshop helper. He built the "world's largest ringlight" for us and usually comes in early on workshop Sundays and helps set up the lights and does whatever else he can to make the workshop run smoothly.

FRANK WOOD:
Frank lives in Connecticut and recruits many of the models that we use at the workshop, and often gives them a ride to the workshop. Frank is also our location scout and has procured all of the locations that we have used in Connecticut and NY State. Frank has attended over 75 workshops since October, 2001.

Q: Who attends your workshops?
A: My workshop is open to photographers of all skill levels. It does not require a technical expertise in photography, just a good attitude and desire to take photos of good looking models. Most of the attendees are advanced amateurs. Professional photographers have also attended, as well as beginners. Although the workshop is open to both male and female photographers the attendees have been overwhelmingly male - which is no surprise considering the subject matter. Although most of the photographers come from the NJ-NY-PA area some have come from as far away as Calgary (Canada), the state of Washington, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Arizona, and Texas. One photographer from South Carolina has been to at least 17 workshops, another one from Toronto has been to 7 workshops, and an 80 year-old photographer from NJ has been to 80 workshops.

Q: Do you use male models at the workshop?
A: We have used male models on two or three occasions but we do not use them on a regular basis. When we do use male models they model with female models, not solo. We also use dog models from time to time.

Q: Why don’t you have workshops in other areas of photography?
A: In the past I have been involved with camera clubs and have given programs on special effects, shooting glass abstracts, lighting techniques, and the business of photography. I also ran studio nights at my camera club which eventually led me to start the workshops. The reason I only have glamour workshops is because it is my favorite area of photography. Also, it is the only type of workshop that attendees will come back to over and over again. Most other areas of photography are adequately covered in camera clubs, but when I started my workshop there seemed to be a void in the area of glamour photography, at least in the NJ area. This type of workshop was extremely popular in California at that time.

Q: Why do photographers come to the workshop more than once?
A: My workshops are designed to be more of a shooting opportunity than a class. You do not just learn glamour shooting techniques and then go out and shoot models. Most amateur photographers do not have access to models, especially ones who will model nude, nor to locations or professional lighting equipment. That is what we provide. Also, the workshops are fun and a good opportunity to network.

Q: What can I do with the photos I take at your workshops?
A: Models at the workshop sign a limited workshop release. This allows photographers to use photos taken at the workshop for their portfolio, and to use the photos for self-promotion, display, exhibition, and competition. Photographers may use workshop photos on their own web sites, or on portfolio hosting web sites like Model Mayhem or One Model Place, as part of their portfolio, but may not use them on a pay web site. You cannot use the photos for any commercial use without a full release from the model. Models are advised against signing a full release from photographers at the workshop because they are paid workshop rates, not commercial rates. If you want to use a workshop model for a commercial shoot you should make arrangements to hire her specifically for that purpose. We also schedule one-on-one private sessions at many of our workshops. Many of our models will sign a standard (full) release for photos taken during these sessions.

Q: Do you use a makeup artist at your workshop?
A: In the past I've used a makeup artists but discontinued it for two reasons: (1) It was too expensive - most photographers would prefer that I spend the extra money on another model rather than a makeup artist. (2) It took too much time away from the workshop: the makeup artist would spend up to 45 minutes with each model - time not spent modeling. I’ve found that most of the models do a pretty good job of doing their own makeup. Sometimes a model will bring her own makeup artist to the workshop.

Q: What type of camera and film should I use at the workshop? What about digital?
A: Most of the workshop photographers now use digital cameras. The cost of digital cameras has come down and the quality has gone up. I personally started shooting digital in early 2003 and have not gone back to film since then. A very small number of our shooters still shoot 35mm, and a few shoot medium format. One of the nice things about digital is that you can see your results immediately. I find that I do a lot more portable flash shooting with digital than I did with film. I recommend that you bring a portable flash with you to the workshop, whether at the studio or on location.

I use my 24-120 mm zoom (which equals 36-180 on a film camera) for my glamour photography. I think that it is the ideal range for this type of shooting. I usually set my ISO at 100-200 when using studio strobe and 400 when using my portable flash or available light. I will often use 800 or higher when shooting in low light conditions.

Q: What kind of lighting do you use at the studio workshops?
A: We have different kinds of lighting set up at various areas of the studio:

We have 2 large windows in Studio A. This studio is often set up with 3 or 4 sets, including a bedroom set, a school room set, and a living room set. You can shoot with just available light or you can supplement it with an on-camera flash.

Studio B is always set up with studio lights. We usually have a platform with a multiple light setup. We also have our white box in this room that is 3'x3'x3' that you can put one or more models in. We usually shoot the box with our Alien Bees Ringlight.

Studio D is our largest room and has a white cyc wall that is 21'4" wide, wide enough to shoot a motorcycle. This area is always set up with 4 or 5 studio lights for a total high-key effect. In the same room is a black section where we usually have the "world's largest ring light" set up. This light was built for us by our electrician friend Tom. It is 4' wide and has 16 compact florescent bulbs. This gives a very unique lighting effect and doesn't require any other lighting equipment. It is suggested that you set your white balance to 2500K when you shoot with the ringlight. This room also has a red and a yellow wall.

It is suggested that you bring a portable strobe with you to the workshop if you have one to trigger the studio strobes.

Q: What is the actual shooting procedure at the workshop?
A: The entire workshop is devoted to shooting. We usually have between a 2:1 to 3:1 photographer to model ratio, so you will usually be working with a small group of photographers shooting one model. You can spend as much or as little time with each model as you wish, then move on to the next one. The models will rotate through the various sets throughout the day and change outfits from time to time. When you are shooting a model with studio lighting the usual procedure is for one photographer to shoot, then the next, etc. The model will look at each photographer in turn.

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