Model Test Shoot - Alexandra
Earlier this year, I shot this exciting new face - Alexandra of Gold Coast based modelling agency, Saint Model Management.
Although Alexandra had been signed and on the books for almost a year, this was her very first test shoot, which we shot just under 2 hours including the travel time to location, where we finished off the shoot.
For model portfolio test shoots, I try to put my “casting director’s hat” on, in perceiving how I could see the model photographed; what sort of clients and brands would she be compatible to and would book her; is she editorial, commercial or both; and how can I showcase her that shows her budding potential to clients?
Headshots are a priority to produce during a test shoot, as in my experience, agencies prefer a variety of headshots for models, that they can easily swap out for a quick refresh of their portfolio. Here I wanted to shoot Alexandra as if she had modelled for a jewellery campaign.
Leading up to the date of any test shoot, I am marinating ideas of styling, lighting plans and concepts for how I can photograph the model, that would compliment their “look”. Often I test brand new faces, who have little or no experience sometimes, so I have to be mindful as well on the day, on how much I can push them, provided the energy they bring on the day and also whether they can follow my direction well. I’m not phased by inexperienced models, as I’ve been photographing people (and that included non-models) for just over 16 years now. I provide plenty of direction, both verbally coaching the model through the shapes and poses, as well as demonstrating it for them to mirror me and using a mood board of some inspiration images.
Getting a person to move into a pose is simple enough, but the key is for the model to connect their face (expression, emotion and energy) to their body, so it translates in camera as genuine and tangible.
On the day, I had so many ideas I wanted to execute on Alexandra that we sped through relatively quickly a few outfit looks, as well as some experimental ideas I thought Alexandra would be perfect to pull off, namely, sticking some of my chicken feathers on her eyelids for instant eyeshadow effect.
Having pretty good skin base, Alexandra attended the shoot barefaced (no makeup) and I felt her natural features were strong enough that I could still showcase her versatility without needing drastic makeup and hair changes.
I tested this idea out, first on myself, applying a tiny amount of vaseline on the eyelid and then placing a chicken’s feather I had cut, temporarily onto the lid.
Below are some more of what we shot at my home studio, following which we took a quick drive and finished off the last outfit look on location, just to add even more variety to her portfolio, making it seem like she had done multiple shoots, rather than shooting all these looks in one shoot by the same photographer.
Here I am going for my favourite type of portraiture, that feels more raw, intimate and emotive.
I’ve done these a hundred times over the years, styling layers of denim and creating a denim turban using a jacket or pants. Here I’ve piled on 3 denim pieces onto Alexandra and kept the long diamond earrings from the previous image for some extra drama.
In my opinion, models don’t have enough smiley photos in their portfolio or test shots. I try to at least include a few smiley options as I know how critical they can be sometimes when showing to clients how a model looks when they are smiling or laughing. Not having a smiley shot in your portfolio can sometimes hurt the model in not being cast for a job.
Location shoots are also my preference for anyone who is more inexperienced in front of the camera, or particularly nervous about shooting. I always say that a studio space can be more intimidating to someone less savvy in front of a camera, having big lights angled onto you, and the more sterile feel of a white on white studio space, as opposed to being outdoors, in nature or on a street, where it feels more familiar to you. I also think the environment inclusive of the elements like wind, sunlight etc create an atmosphere that helps a person relax in front of the camera, as their imagination can escape a lot easier than in the confines of a blank studio space. It takes more imagination to work a blank canvas in my opinion.
I usually provide both colour and black and white versions of each image, as sometimes one works stronger than the other, but often times, both versions lend themselves to a very different interpretation emotively.
Shot between my home studio and on location at Emerald Lakes, Gold Coast.
