How to choose, instruct and pose your models


Status
Not open for further replies.

JacePhoto

Senior Member
Oct 1, 2007
6,506
13
38
New York City
www.flickr.com
Hi, i saw these videos online and thought it might be useful to share with fellow photographers.

Yuri Arcurs is one of the top photographers in US, making his living purely (as he claims) by only selling stock photos and employing a group of 9 people. Below are a group of videos i found on the youtube that Yuri shares his expertise on.

New models and photographers may want to take heed of these advice.

Personally, I find that Part II, where models are reminded to freeze so that photographers can click on their shutter and controlling their emotions, are extremely important for new models.

Video 1, Part I - How to Choose, Instruct & Shooting With Models - Yuri Arcurs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XV20gD3t_hQ

Video 1, Part II - How to Instruct Your Models: Free pose, Smile & Freeze
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fCwjQzt ... layList&...

Video 2 - How to Model : Modeling Tips for Prop Photo Shoots
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGYZcf8k ... re=related

Video 3 - How to Model : Runway Modeling Tips: Clydesdale Walk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpE5ixha ... re=channel

Video 4 - How to Model : Runway Modeling Tips: Changing Hand Positions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4Webr5n ... re=channel

Video 5 - How to Model : Runway Modeling Tips: Grunge Walk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzyNESyc ... re=channel
 

Thanks for sharing, JacePhoto.

Have a small problem. I can only view the first video (Video 1, Part I). The rest I get the YouTube message "The URL contained a malformed video ID.":cry:, any clues as to why?
 

Went away and did some searching. Following are the complete video ID's for Videos 2-5. They seem to have the last 3 chars removed from the original post. I have included Video 1 for completeness:


Video 1, Part I - How to Choose, Instruct & Shooting With Models - Yuri Arcurs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XV20gD3t_hQ

Video 1, Part II - How to Instruct Your Models: Free pose, Smile & Freeze
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fCwjQztyXA

Video 2 - How to Model : Modeling Tips for Prop Photo Shoots
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGYZcf8kE2o

Video 3 - How to Model : Runway Modeling Tips: Clydesdale Walk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpE5ixhaPeI

Video 4 - How to Model : Runway Modeling Tips: Changing Hand Positions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4Webr5nAac

Video 5 - How to Model : Runway Modeling Tips: Grunge Walk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzyNESycy3E
 

most of it is drawn from his work as a stock photographer. doesn't apply to other types of people shooting at all. but it is very useful for ppl shooting stock.
 

Good resource bro. :) Thank you for sharing! :thumbsup:
 

most of it is drawn from his work as a stock photographer. doesn't apply to other types of people shooting at all. but it is very useful for ppl shooting stock.

erh, not really lah. Everyone needs to know how to direct models. Unless the photographer is shooting still life or macro (bees, birds and such).
 

erh, not really lah. Everyone needs to know how to direct models. Unless the photographer is shooting still life or macro (bees, birds and such).

the type of models for stock will be very different from a fashion photographer's pov for example.
 

Is it just me or do I feel some models cannot do any non-smiling expressions?

It depends. Some models can pose really well without giving out a smile, while some are just cut out for smiling poses. However, all should be able to do both, depending on their poses, angle, and your composition.
 

Isn't it funny, most of the comments here, revolves what the model can do or cannot do, that some can smile and some cannot, that some can pose by themselves while others cannot. All has to do with the models.

The title of this thread is "How to choose (photographer's responsibility), instruct (photographer's responsibility) and pose (photogrpaher's responsibility) your models".

Let's not talk about mass orgy shoots, they do not count. I talked to many models, all tell the same tale, photographers are generally rather quiet and let them pose as they wish. Some, few, will have some ideas, and others will have these great big ideas that just do not or cannot be executed. At the end of the day, according to the models, they jsut do their own thing, and the photographers will snap away.

If the model's look cannot smile, then don't shoot smiling images. If the model has the girl next door look, don't pose her in some edgy grundgy alternative pose?? If the model has short stubby legs, do half body while if the model has long legs, take advantage.

The photographer is the captain of the shoot. The photogrpaher must be in control of everything during the shoot. That includes instructing the model how to pose and what pose to do, what mood to express etc etc.

Please don't blame the model. If the model cannot deliver, well, the photogrpaher chose the model right, so whose fault is that?
 

I have shot some girls for leisure sake of course. And from my experience, most girls (who are also doing it for fun) in general cant even manage the simplest pose. Usually in a 2 hr shoot, the 1st 15-20 min is spent for them to get comfortable standing infront of the camera. The next 30 min is for them to be accustomed to some of the poses and get their confidence level up.
To be fair to them, they received no formal training to even know what to expect. As a result I was the one to instruct the girls, literally, where to put their arm, where to look, how to stand. After like 4-5 poses, it started to get mentally exhausting as the models seem to solely depend on me to come up with all the poses. And Im not even a pro, so of course I have limited ideas. But I can tell from most of the girls that I shot, they dont really bother to come up with ideas to inject into the session.
I personally feel the shoot can acheive much more if the model is more proactive and interacts with the photographer. Sometimes, by offering certain suggestions like 'How about if I do this', 'What if I try this pose' does make the shoot more interesting. Very seldom do I come across a model, who is confident right from the beginning, and very at ease to posing and even proactive to some extent.
But of course I have yet to shoot a professional model so far.
 

At the end of the day, I will sound like a broken record.

However, all boils down to, someone has to be in control during the shoot. And in general, it's a good thing that the one in control is the photographer.

If you found it mentally challenging instructing the model, I believe this has to do with the fact that you are running out of ideas.

The best way is to plan out the shoot ahead of time. This will give you a road map of the shoot, where to shoot, what to shoot and how to shoot.

It is also important to have breaks.

Multiple short breaks are best. And breaks are not just for the model, it's also for the photographer. And changing is not a break, rearranging light is not a break. A break is when you do nothing and let your brain relax.

I shoot a wide variety of models. And I found my approach works :)
 

Isn't it funny, most of the comments here, revolves what the model can do or cannot do, that some can smile and some cannot, that some can pose by themselves while others cannot. All has to do with the models.

The title of this thread is "How to choose (photographer's responsibility), instruct (photographer's responsibility) and pose (photogrpaher's responsibility) your models".

Let's not talk about mass orgy shoots, they do not count. I talked to many models, all tell the same tale, photographers are generally rather quiet and let them pose as they wish. Some, few, will have some ideas, and others will have these great big ideas that just do not or cannot be executed. At the end of the day, according to the models, they jsut do their own thing, and the photographers will snap away.

If the model's look cannot smile, then don't shoot smiling images. If the model has the girl next door look, don't pose her in some edgy grundgy alternative pose?? If the model has short stubby legs, do half body while if the model has long legs, take advantage.

The photographer is the captain of the shoot. The photogrpaher must be in control of everything during the shoot. That includes instructing the model how to pose and what pose to do, what mood to express etc etc.

Please don't blame the model. If the model cannot deliver, well, the photogrpaher chose the model right, so whose fault is that?

At the end of the day, I will sound like a broken record.

However, all boils down to, someone has to be in control during the shoot. And in general, it's a good thing that the one in control is the photographer.

If you found it mentally challenging instructing the model, I believe this has to do with the fact that you are running out of ideas.

The best way is to plan out the shoot ahead of time. This will give you a road map of the shoot, where to shoot, what to shoot and how to shoot.

It is also important to have breaks.

Multiple short breaks are best. And breaks are not just for the model, it's also for the photographer. And changing is not a break, rearranging light is not a break. A break is when you do nothing and let your brain relax.

I shoot a wide variety of models. And I found my approach works :)

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
 

At the end of the day, I will sound like a broken record.

However, all boils down to, someone has to be in control during the shoot. And in general, it's a good thing that the one in control is the photographer.

If you found it mentally challenging instructing the model, I believe this has to do with the fact that you are running out of ideas.

The best way is to plan out the shoot ahead of time. This will give you a road map of the shoot, where to shoot, what to shoot and how to shoot.

It is also important to have breaks.

Multiple short breaks are best. And breaks are not just for the model, it's also for the photographer. And changing is not a break, rearranging light is not a break. A break is when you do nothing and let your brain relax.

I shoot a wide variety of models. And I found my approach works :)

Yes I don't deny I do run out of ideas, but as much as I would like to have breaks, it is impossible because the models are booked on hourly basis. Studios are booked on hourly basis. For a 2 hour shoot if I have too many breaks, I will end up shooting nothing at all. This is a problem when one goes for paid shoots and needs to rent the facilities. Of course, if I have my own studio and a model who I can shoot for a full day it would be a different story. Given the circumstances, I'm usually not proud of the shots I did.
 

Yes I don't deny I do run out of ideas, but as much as I would like to have breaks, it is impossible because the models are booked on hourly basis. Studios are booked on hourly basis. For a 2 hour shoot if I have too many breaks, I will end up shooting nothing at all. This is a problem when one goes for paid shoots and needs to rent the facilities. Of course, if I have my own studio and a model who I can shoot for a full day it would be a different story. Given the circumstances, I'm usually not proud of the shots I did.

Read my post first.

I said short breaks.

If you plan out the shoot, know what you will be shooting, 2 hours is plenty of time to go through 6-8 sets.

Now, after re-reading your post, are you suggesting, since, the model is paid on an hourly basis, studio is rented on an hourly basis, you need to shoot non stop?

I do not own a studio. I shoot in studio. I rent them. Planning is key.
 

anyway, i'm just wondering what's this doing in photo biz sub.
i watched a few videos and i think they are great. i think what's more important is what you have in mind. going prepared and knowing what u want is important. Agreeing with some, i think it's really stock-ish. :)
 

Read my post first.

I said short breaks.

If you plan out the shoot, know what you will be shooting, 2 hours is plenty of time to go through 6-8 sets.

Now, after re-reading your post, are you suggesting, since, the model is paid on an hourly basis, studio is rented on an hourly basis, you need to shoot non stop?

I do not own a studio. I shoot in studio. I rent them. Planning is key.

I shall leave you to your own comments and stop right here
 

anyway, i'm just wondering what's this doing in photo biz sub.
i watched a few videos and i think they are great. i think what's more important is what you have in mind. going prepared and knowing what u want is important. Agreeing with some, i think it's really stock-ish. :)


We should ignore the "stock photo" bias of the video. It was meant for stock inventory, and therfore everything said, will have that bias. But that is beside the point.

What we need to get from the video is, the photographer needs to be in control of the shoot. The photogrpaher not only set the light, compose and fire the shutter, but must also direct the model how to pose, how to express and how to get the image that is sought.

As I had said earlier, all too often, it's model cannot do this or do that, I dont have enough time, I dont have access to the lights and equipment, I dont have this and model does not have that. Maybe they are true, but the don't have and not in control of ... will get you nowhere.

I am absolutely guilty of this dont have syndrome. However, to create images you want, "don't" will not get you there, "can" will.
 

Status
Not open for further replies.