Our First Fashion Shoot

We had the pleasure of being invited by one of our photographers to join a photography group called Panay Digital Shooters (PDS). Thanks to Nikon D300, Nikon D70, and *coughs* Canon Ixus 90 IS. That’s still digital, right?

A week ago, we went to the group’s first monthly EB. It was an opportunity to shoot budding models at the studio. There was a congregation of designers, models, makeup artists and gawkers, as soon as we arrived. This must be serious, I told myself. But, to be honest, I was more excited to mingle with people than to snap away photos. After all, I haven’t really spent a hundred hours taking photographs seriously. Perhaps when I already have a powerful lense.

Later on that day, we realized that these models wanted to build their portfolio and so they posed gratis in exchange of gratis photos. What’s a more ideal setup than that?

As soon as PDS members arrived one by one with a camera on one hand and food on the other, everything started to be in order. Then, a mob of photographers came in and started clicking away their cameras. They were lugging their precious Canon and Nikon DSLRs and what-have-you. Believe me, it was quite intimidating to be in their company.

One struggle that we had while taking photos was to “direct” the models to what we wanted them to do or to coach them to wear varying facial expressions that we want to see. This was particularly difficult considering they are not (yet) professional models who can readily turn themselves into chameleons at any given time. Their major stumbling block is the inability to internalize directions and the lack of realization that they are there to act their character and market what they wear, and not merely pose for a Saturday afternoon tea party shoot. I should write a separate entry on how to be a good model, although I have no plans of hitting the runway ever. I don’t meet the height requirement, and what would Daniel say?

Anyway, here are some photos that we took. Please excuse the outcome as I have yet to master the post-processing part of photography.

Photo taken by Thea

Photo taken by Thea

Photo taken by Amarind