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. However, 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 attended over 75 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.
PAUL "PASHAPHOTO"
GORR:
Paul is an up-and-coming glamour photographer who has done sports
photography for many years. He has recently become a partner of the
studio;
he speaks fluent Russian and has recruited a number of our best Russian
models for the workshop.
Check Paul's MM page at http://www.modelmayhem.com/pashaphoto
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. 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 not used male models because
there doesn’t seem to be a demand for them. I would consider using a
male
and female modeling team, but not a solo male model. In fact, a while
back
I took a model photography course at the School of Visual Arts in NYC.
About one third of the students in the class were female. When asked if
we wanted to use male as well as female models it was unanimously
decided
that we only wanted female models.
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 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. Some 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. We also do studio strobe
lighting at the workshop. You will need to have a PC socket on your
camera to
attach the
camera to the studio strobes. If your camera does not have a PC socket
I usually have one or two hotshoe adapters that you can use. 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.
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