Shoot's

So far, i have sourced 3 willing subjects to be used for my shoot.

I have acquired the permission of the gym manager to take photographs in the gym facilities and to be able to move equipment into a studio, for a more private, professional environment.

Below is a timetable of the studio's in use on Sundays, this means i have the freedom of studio 2 throughout the entire day. I plan to be commencing my first shoot on Sunday 16th May from 4pm onwards and can secure the use of at least 1 of my subjects on this day.

Studio 2:

As you can see, studio 2 is a large, clean open space that is well lit meaning extra light sources will be minimal and i will be predominantly reliant upon this lighting and a reflector.

This is a model release form, this certifies that i have been granted by the subject permission to take picturesof them. I will assure that a form like this is to be filled out by myself, my subject and a witness prior to shooting them.

Just completed my first shoot with subject, went really well, subject was very cooperative and all went very smoothly. Was not prepared for lack of light as there was a problem with the lighting, and had to resort to tripod work and the pop up flash on my camera, this along with my reflector, i managed to overcome this situation. 

Also did some shots for my subjects personal portfolio as they intend to pursue a career in fitness modeling. Above you can see that a model release form was completed by my subject, entitling me to full capabilities to use the images as i please.

Second shoot, using myself as the subject just completed, composed the shot with camera on a tripod and had my dad compress the shutter, shoot went well, sorted out lighting, very pleased with results.

(After deliberation, i have decided to try and schedule a re-shoot of the images of myself)

Updated Saturday 15th May:
First planned shoot failed to take place due to subject letting me down and not telling me, next shoot with subject number 2 will continue tomorrow and subject number 3 will be on Tuesday, still looking out for more subjects
Update Sunday 16th May: 
Again let down by subject, next shoot planned for Tuesday 18th May at 2pm, dependant on subjects reliability
Lesson learnt:
Paid for models are reliable because there's something in it for them, subjects other than friends or family generally need incentive.
Update Wednesday 26th May: 
Not completely satisfied with images of myself so decided a re shoot. Re shoot unsuccessful, decided against using myself as a model.

Here are some initial shots that i obtained using digital equipment in my first test shoot:

Following this shoot, i decided that a re-shoot was in order as i wasn't satisfied with the images that i acquired:

From these images, i was then able to make my selection for my final images:

During my FMP test shoot:
There were a few problems that i came across;
Lighting, the lack of lighting within the room, i was not prepared for, as many bulbs were out, this meant that a higher ISO was to be used, along with a slower shutter speed and wider aperture, although i could mostly accommodate this unfortunate even with variables within my camera, i still had to overcome the fact that in order to achieve an optimal exposure, without the use of a tripod, i had to use the 'vibration reduction' utility on my lens, this along with positioning myself in the strongest, most sturdy position i could allowed me to achieve optimum results. Along with the situation of lighting, i had only with me a small memory, memory stick, meaning that during the shoot, numerous times i had to unload the pictures i had just taken onto my mac and start again, this became quite an inconvenience as it prolonged the overall time of the shoot, as i was trying to keep it short, sharp and professional so i wouldn't bore my subject.
 I used 2 lenses throughout the shoot, an 18 - 55mm and a 55 - 200mm;
 

I used these lenses as it allowed me to have a vast range of focal lengths in order to work really close and from a distance with my subject, through the shoot i maintained the focal lengths of 50 - 120mm, meaning numerous lens changes were made.

Throughout the shoot, due to my ill instructions, my subject was also very keen on posing in his own manner as he misunderstood my idea, after full briefing and examples of what it was that i wanted, we then decided to plan a re-shoot in which i could achieve my desired shots, my subject was happy with this decision as we had already achieve images that they liked.

During my first FMP final shoot:

After realising various problems from my test shoot, it was then time to realise a means in which i could overcome each of these problems:

Lighting, i brought with me upon the final shoot a Metz Hammerhead flash gun, this is an extremely powerful external flash unit, which i synchronized to my camera, so that upon compression of the shutter on my camera, the flash would also fire. I also brought with me an external sync unit, along with a tripod, this meant that the flash could be positioned meters away from where i was based with my camera and still would fire along with the cameras shutter. Although, now prepared for the eventuality of the lack of lighting, i found myself in no need for the use of this equipment as i had previously reported the lack of lighting and this had been amended, many of the bulbs were replaced.
I brought along with me this time numerous smaller memory cards, i did this, instead of a larger memory single card as it meant i could make quick and easy switches of memory cards when full, allowing for easy separation of the images, meaning that upon uploading and post producing i could see simply and clearly the difference sections of the shoot, with different styles, positions and techniques.
I continued to use the same lenses in the final shoot as i did in the initial test shoot as they are lenses i'm familiar with, meaning that even though numerous lens changes were still made, from my experiences of the test shoot and the adaptations i had made in order for myself to be more prepared i could more easily and smoothly work through the shoot, fully in the knowledge of what it was i had to do to accomplish the shots i required.
My subject, during this shoot, knew exactly what was needed and acted accordingly, obeying my instructions, posing as i willed and i managed to get images that i was looking for and glad to achieve.



Throughout the shoot i was using digital techniques to capture the images, this is due to many factors such as:
This was the most reliable and effective way of recording the images as there is no
When complete, the images could be quickly post - produced and turned around for use.