Need some pointers regarding model portraits

<p>I've been asked to help out with an amateur model shoot tomorrow. Most of my photography has been all over the place (candids, landscapes, assisted one wedding, sports, fashion shows, etc.). I'll be using a D200 and bringing my 18-55/3.5-5.6 VR, 55-200/4-5.6 VR, 50/1.8, and SB-600 + tripod. I'm not sure if what the lighting situation but from the sounds of it we'll be shooting in a white, windowless room with fluorescent lighting.</p>

<p>Current plans are to use the 50/1.8 and shoot with the SB-600 mounted on the tripod.</p>

<p>I'll be shooting RAW + JPG, but due to time constraints I will have to hand off JPGs almost immediately. I normally shoot +2 sharp (D200 default is a bit soft), sRGB, and heavy saturation. Should I dial back the saturation and contrast just a bit?</p>

<p>My biggest question is regarding posing the model. In my short history I've always shot candids and let the lead photographer pose groups for formals. My biggest dilemma is I'm not exactly sure what poses I should be aiming for and how to instruct the model. Any help?</p>

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<p>Besides flipping through some of the fashion magazines like Cosmos, GQ etc,<br /> I would also visit some of the model websites where models present their portfolios.</p>

<p>Model Mayhem http://modelmayhem.com<br /> <br /> One Model Place http://www.onemodelplace.com/<br /> <br /> For an immediate reference download these posing guides:<br /> <br /> Female model poses<br /> http://www.digital-savant.com/PosingGuide.pdf<br /> <br /> Male and Female Model Poses<br /> http://polisphotography.com/Documents/Imagesforweb/posing.pdf<br /> <br /> Sexy female model poses<br /> http://www.fotosearch.com/pdfs/UNZ378.pdf<br /> <br /> Guide to photo pose books<br /> http://www.katavila.com/articles/stpages/photoposebooks.pdf<br>

<br /> When I was first starting out working with models often all I would do is point to the pose I wanted. Now I am able to verbally guide my models which is better.<br>

<br /> For working with Flash photography run don't walk to David Hobby's The Strobist Web Site<br /> http://www.strobist.blogspot.com/<br /> <br /> Study tutorials 101 and 201<br /> <br /> Good luck!</p>

<p>Ted</p>

<p>i presume you are bouncing the sb-600; if it is going to be the main light source, you should give serious consideration to setting it off camera with the wireless mode, using your inbuilt flash at a low level to set it off. Maybe manually set the flash to a high level then fire it off a wall to get a soft directional light.. front only lighting may look very flat.</p>

<p>Thanks for all the help! I just finished the shoot 2 hours ago and I learned quite a bit. I wasn't able to check the posting in time, but I was able to verbally direct the models for certain looks. I ended up acting out poses as examples to help loosen the tension a bit, as the models were amateurs as well.</p>

<p>The photogs were divided into two groups and one group did inside shots in a white room vs. outside shots at pool side. Even though it was extremely challenging in terms of sunlight (we shot from noon - 4pm) and incredibly windy, I felt I was able to learn a lot more shooting outside than inside. I did use my main flash to trigger the SB-600 wirelessly, but now I'm craving for an SB-600 and 2nd light stand (and shoot through umbrellas). There was no way I could've fill flashed with my built-in flash given the bright sunlight.</p>

<p>Congratulations on surviving the gig! Pantomiming the models poses as an icebreaker is a wonderful solution. I am happy that the Nikon CLS Wireless flash worked outside in the bright sunlight. Adding another SB-600 as a fill light is definitely a good idea. <br>

I've found that although one might have enough external lights one can still also take advantage of the Nikon Body's on board flash at low power to put some sparkle in a model's eyes.<br>

Don't forget the vast assortment of light modifiers out there like scrims, gobos, cookies etc.<br>

good luck!</p>