Model shoot - Marta

[PhilipHowe]

I was lucky enough to complete two model shoots on Saturday. The first was with Marta, a young model from Angola (she lives in the north west, she didn't travel just for the shoot). These are for her model portfolio.

http://getyourtshirtshere.com/Other/Marta/

I would welcome any comments you have.

I am trying to speed up my workflow, so I used Lightroom exclusively, including building the web page.

[Paul Jones]

Hi Philip

It might have been better to post a couple of photos here rather than a link. I think sometimes that can encourage more replies.

Technically, the photos seem fine to me and show off what she looks like for her portfolio, so you've achieved what you aimed for.

I have no idea how experienced Marta is at modelling. I feel, however, on viewing the collection of images together that she comes across as a bit lacklustre. She has similar facial expressions in almost all the shots and she has a fondness for raising her right hand to her head as though she's unsure of what to do or how to pose. I think I would have liked to see more spontaneity from her, maybe you could have dragged her out of her comfort zone and got some more natural expressions from her.

My favourite photo is the one of her sitting down against the red shutter door. I'm not so keen on the sunglasses shots, but can appreciate what you were aiming for.

[paulinefisher]

A lovely looking model Philip (where do you get them all). My favourite is the black and white where she is crouching. The only negative I can see is the stiff looking pose (with her back arched). I can see what Paul means about her facial expressions when viewed as a set but individually it isn't a problem for me.

[-KT]

My favourite is the one of her on the stairs, the darker one of the two, but really they are all very high quality. I am sure she will be very pleased.

[PhilipHowe]

Thank you for the comments.

Paul, agreed on the poses, however, they were for her portfolio. She hasn't been modelling long, but is signed to an agency, so the poses came from the agency, not really from me, rxcept where I could entice her slightly. She had a set to do. I struggled to get her to look at the camera as fashion agencies don't like that! I had the same with a second model later that day.

The red shutter door and loading bay were a complete fluke. I had an area of Manchester in mind, but couldn't use the doorway I wanted as someone was running a photography course there, so, I wandered up a side street and found this in a small back alley. There were flats opposite (5 metres away) and they were watching through the window.

Pauline, just for reference, all the models are safely locked away in my shed, and are stored alphabetically. Actually, they are all on ModelMayhem.

KT, thanks, I really like those stairs as a location. They are in the Abode hotel in Manchester. Marta wanted somewhere to change into the dress and also somewhere better than a back street to show it off. I've realised you need to be a bit hard faced, so I asked for the manager in Abode, told him I'd stayed there previously and had photographed a model on the stairs (all true) and asked if I could again. He didn't even bat an eyelid or ask what they were for, he just said yes, get on with it.

Marta and her agent are really pleased with all but the last three photos, in fact, they have asked me to do an underwater shoot as a follow up. Two problems, I don't have an underwater housing for my camera and secondly, I can't really swim.

[Theo Dibbits]

they have asked me to do an underwater ... ally swim.

Looks like a job for Aloison.
Nom-de-plume (see other post) scubadiver

I like the one against the red door and the first one on the stairs.
The first of the two sunglass images will make a good front cover or centre spread.
Hair tide up suits the model better then loose (just my opinion)
Nice job

Theo

[paulinefisher]

[quote="PhilipHowe"]Pauline, just for reference, all the models are safely locked away in my shed, and are stored alphabetically. Actually, they are all on ModelMayhem.

quote]

I know where you live I shall be checking out that bar/shed of yours.

[Paul Jones]

Marta and her agent are really pleased with all but the last three photos, in fact, they have asked me to do an underwater shoot as a follow up.

Good result, Philip!
Keep in with the agency and they may send more girls your way.