My first fashion shoot

[johnd]

Well, these are the results of my first fashion shoot. The event was a Fashion Parade at the Estia Festival in Hobart last week.

I used my 85/1.8 lens on my d70. I tested the SB800 out in TTL mode before the parade started, but I couldn't get results I was happy with.
There's something about the SB800 I don't quite get. I can use it in TTL/BL mode OK but not consistently well in TTL mode.
The shots were either blown out or under exposed.

Running out of time with the parade starting, in desparation I turned the flash off.
That was my second mistake (the first being not learning how to use the SB800 properly before hand).
I set d70 to AP, dialled in f1.8 and started shooting.
With a fair amount of light I was getting 1/50 - 1/200 sec, so I thought with a careful technique I should be OK.

My shooting techinque is: press shutter half down to get focus, take breath, squeeze shutter.
I was at the end of the catwalk. With the models walking toward me, they darn well moved while I was pausing and squeezing shutter.
Mistake number 3, not a lot of dof at 1.8.

The shots taken with the model at the end of the catwalk were pretty sharp, but not so most of the rest.
There's 12 here and about 50 keepers on my smugmug site (out of about 500).
There are mixture of no flash and TTL/BL. None taken in TTL mode.

Questions: What settings do others typically use for catwalk photography Where do you try to get in relation to the catwalk

I really enjoyed doing the shoot and am keen to get better at it, so any help, C&C will be most appreciated.








Last shot edited WB from original 3200Kelvin to 2800Kelvin

Cheers
John

[Alex]

John,

First of all, well done. I like most of the ones you posted and they are sure lots better than what I post.

I think one major problem with some of these is WB. Some, especially the last lot are a bit too yellow (skintones), i.e. the WB is a bit too warm for my taste.

I hear you, I have similar problems with flash, just see the images I posted today from a fashion show. I still haven't quite figured out what settings to use. Depends on lighting. If it's indoor and the lighting is good, I'd avoid the flash altogether and use 1/180-1/250 at f2.8-3.3, iso 400-640. With flash, it's iso 200, and similar shutter speeds, f4.8-5.6 (can't shoot at 2.8 with min iso of 200 as lost of shots are blown out - learn it the hard way). But again, a lot depends on lighting.

I'm sure others, more experienced, like Wendell will help you out more, but I think you did great to start with.

Cheers
Alex

[Matt. K]

johnd
If you are shooting at night or indoors hand holding the camera then set the camera to manual....1/125 and around f-5.6. The SB 800 should work beautifully. If it is too bright then dial in some minus compensation by pressing the small pop-up flash button and rotating the command dial...(or other dial, not sure).

[wendellt]

Cool bananas

If you have the chance get the centre spot!
if you get full length shots they sell

magazines don't buy the arty creative stuff like photographers shootign from the side with crazy panning effects or spin rear flash shots from the side
the boring straight on full length sells that's the way the world is, i learned the hard way

if you can't get the centre spot always take the right side of the press box
you get a nice quarter view where ahmmm you can see more cleavage on the model(im not shallow like that) but hey it beats the left side of pressbox models always turn slightly to the left at their final pose it's part of their training.


settings provided the light is good you can tell what is bright and what is not
standard runway lighting setup

1/250 optimal sweet spot anything under 1/200 you get blur the girls power down the runway and hair dress movement will show

f2.8 if the light is low and if the 1/250 is making dark images
although f4 is optimal if you want an ultra sharp image

ISO800 if your a nikon user, get a bit of grain in low light

ISO1200 canon users have an advantage on the runway as they can shoot comfortably with ISO1200

always use single servo mode the continuous trackign mode is useless, some models really strut it and power down the runway faster than the camera can continuously autofocus

always get the models 2 feet on the ground never thake a shot where one foot is in mid air - looks bad

if the lighting is crap then compromise on shutterspeed 1/160 minimum ISO800 f2.8 never use f1.4 depth of field too shallow

always focus point at the chest head moves back when model arches back
the chest is the mid point

dont use continuous shutter release your buffer will fill up, then you wont be able to tak ethe critical shot just use the single shutter release mode

be cool think about what your shooting

White balance if you can change white balance via kelvins 2800Kelvin to balance the yellowish tungsten lights, although this you will have to experiment with, otherwisae use the irradescent gel on the flash and match the lights.

and most importantly if the lighting is good don't use the flash

only use the flash if the lighting is bad or if you want to capture the eyes
with a high lighting setup that darkens the eyebrow ridge


good job for your first try it's great to see peope shooting fashion(runway) your first is always the most fun.

[johnd]

Let me first say thank you Alex, Matt and Wendell for your feedback. It is much appreciated. This forum never ceases to amaze me. People put in so much effort to help others. It's a great place to be.

Alex, on the skin tones, yes, the last few are quite yellow aren't they. I shot in raw, so I'll go back and redo the white balance again. Great advice re flash, iso, f stop and shutter speed.

Matt, thanks for your comments too. Manual, yes I think that's the way to go. And thanks for the hints on how to make the SB800 sing.

Wendell, what can I say. Thank you so much for taking the time to give me that advice. I printed it all out and I'll re-read it later. I'll do some testing out in my lounge room with my wife as the model.

Cheers
John

[johnd]

White balance if you can change white balance via kelvins 2800Kelvin to balance the yellowish tungsten lights

As per Wendell's suggestion, I changed the last image WB from 3200 to 2800. I think it looks more natural. Long live Raw.

Cheers
John