Originally published at addictedimage. You can comment here or there.

One problem I see in many “sets” online is the fact that people try to frame everything within the photo perfectly.  Perfect sucks.

Let me rephrase that.

Perfect sucks…because anyone can learn to take a technically “perfect” shot.  Keep it flawed, keep it interesting.

What is the same on 90% of the photos you see?  They are all taken at eye-level and everything is dead center of the frame…usually too small to give much impact.

Here’s the mission for today, see if it helps bring you out of a rut.

Get a small room. A bedroom will do fine.

Take your zoom lens and set it to 85mm (or use a prime).  Do not change your focal length (remember if your camera has a crop factor take that into account. 50mm on a camera with a x1.5 crop factor is a 75mm zoom. Look up what kind of camera you have to find the crop factor… it will say somewhere.)

Force yourself to work in a situation that is otherwise less than desirable.  This will force you to find new ways to shoot outside of your normal way.  If you have to squish in the corner, or climb on the dresser you will pay more attention to the shot and how it works in the frame.

That’s what I did for this set.  I was using an 85mm prime in a 12×12 room.  Our friends were moving out so I had space to play with, but not enough to get her full body in frame easily.  I got down on the floor and behind the bed leg to give it a slightly voyeuristic feel.  I used my surroundings to give interest and depth to the image.

Most people would have shot this in portrait format, but I went horizontal.  This let me play with keeping her eyes out of frame to further emphasize the voyeur factor.  It’s good to have the model make eye contact every once in a while, but if you want to play up the “stolen moment” situation then having the model NOT look at the camera makes it feel like she is the only one in the room. Like you are witnessing something you aren’t supposed to.

Give it a try.  See how it works.

Then come to our workshop and learn how to really nail the shots.

Ciao,

Conan

The Zivity Photography Bootcamp is an all day intensive workshop geared towards bringing your photography to the next level.  Taught by three internationally published photographers recognized as the top in their field, the Zivity Bootcamp is your chance to step up your game in the competitive world of photographing female models.    Starring three amazing (and highly sought after) models, the Zivity Bootcamp pulls no stops drawing upon the local fashion and makeup scene as well to bring you a one of a kind event.

Held at the spacious Blue Sky Studio in San Francisco, the Zivity Bootcamp is your chance to work with top talent and your chance to get one-on-one time working with all three models.

Course includes lecture and demonstration of the following topics:

Natural lighting

Studio lighting

Content photography- producing photo”sets”

Model interaction lessons including how to work with a nude model Photo retouching and workflow

Q&A:

Q:   Why should I pay twice as much for the Zivity Bootcamp as these other

workshops I see happening?

A: Most other workshops around fall into two categories; the group shoots

and the limited “art nude” workshops.   At the group shoots you have a bunch

of photographers and a bunch of models eager for portfolio shots.  With little direction and almost no chance to work with the models one-on-one you will never get the shot you are looking for.

At the art nude shoots you get direction but in a very limited scope. Art nude workshops tend to center around beautiful, but a very basic style of photography.

At the Zivity Bootcamp you will get a wide range of instruction and a chance to work one on one with every model and you will get a chance to pick the brains of all the instructors.

Q:  San Francisco is too far for me to travel, when are you going to hold a workshop in my area?

A:  Good question!  Go to bootcamp.zivity.com and submit your email to get updates for upcoming photography events.  If you have a desire to have us hold one in your area please email us a message with your request: info@zivity.com.

If we get enough interest in your area we would love to come out.

Q: What level of experience do I need to attend this class?

A: All we ask is that you own your own DSLR camera, and know how to work it in manual mode.  If you know what the difference is between ISO, Aperture, and Shutter speed you should do fine.  This class is geared towards photographers that can use their cameras and want to get better shots.

There won’t be long discussions about lighting math or things like that.  We will teach you how to get the shots using the tools on your camera.  If we teach you how to “see” the shots you want and get them,  that is a lot more valuable than any equation on paper.

Addictedimage is Conan Soranno and Mischa Romo.
Mr. Soranno is a mad Italian who chain smokes and spends his days plotting ways to corrupt the pure, dominate the world, and perfect his recipe for chicken alfredo. Every once in a while he gets off his ass and presses a button on his camera (if he's not to busy arguing with people online as to why everything they believe in is wrong.)

Miss Romo is an absolute sweetheart who drinks too much, fights too much, and is a general pain in the ass. If it wasn't for the fact that she was a kick ass artist (classical and digital) and a damn good fashion designer as well as a smoking hot model... she'd have been out on the curb a long time ago.
Visit her here...
Model Mayhem
DevArt




Professional photography and illustration based out of San Francsico, Ca
Fashion photography and design.
Fetish photography.
Commercial photography.
World class re-touching and post work.
2-d digital design and art.
Fine art...sometimes.