If you have chosen to shoot with your digital SLR camera on location, I hope that the following tips and advice will give you a heads up start to shoot a fashion set up.
I have selected a beach location as an example, which we will call a 'Bikini Beach Photo-Shoot', using a Young Teen Model with limited part time experience only. Or putting it another way, you'll have to work quite hard to achieve the results you want, as your not shooting a more experienced full time Professional Model
Here are some guidelines to help you get it right on the first shoot. Photographers, did you know that the best time of the day to shoot on Location is 2 to 3 hours after sunrise, or 2 to 3 hours before sunset.Why, because the light is soft and warm and the shadows are long and flash-fill works best in these conditions. Even the use of reflectors is best at this time of day. You can try working with a combination of reflector and flash-fill, but you will need the assistance of someone to hold the reflector for you.
Avoid shooting at midday when the sun is above, casting harsh shadows across your model's face and body.
Don't shoot with the sun directly on the front or back of your Model, it's far better that the sun clips the side of the Model, to give a debth to the Images.
Use a separate flash unit, not the one built into the camera, the cameras built in flash is simply just not powerful enough to obtain the correct results. Always use flash-fill with a ratio of 2-1, or use a dedicated speed flash, compatible to the Cameras manufacture.
A ratio of 2 to 1, simply means that if you camera meter reading for example, is telling you that the exposure needed is 125/second at aperture f.8, you need to set your separate flash unit to the 'Auto' setting at aperture f.5.6
This will instruct the flash to reduce the power of the flash output, so as not to burn out the foreground. If you set the flash Auto setting to the same aperture as the camera exposure, this will have the effect of making the background appear darker and if your using a Digital SLR Camera, your images will look washed out because they are over exposed.
You can now understand that investing in a 'Dedicated Speedlite' Flash unit, compatible to the camera being used, is a worthwhile investment. It will save you a lot of headaches in trying to get the balance correct and with some experimentation you can achieve 'excellent' results, as apposed to 'good' results if you set the aperture f. number manually. I often use a 'Metz' hammer head flash unit and set the apature f. number manually, but always using a 'Ratio' of 2 to 1.
Once you've got your technique sorted and after running some tests, your all set to go.
Now someposing ideas for your Model; When shooting a Model or young teen model, it's a sound idea to shoot from a low angle, unless there's a good reason not to, for example at the beach when you choose to use the sand as a background.
So when your at the beach get your Model to pose on the ground for some shots.
Try a few shots from the back with the Model looking over her shoulder, also try some close up shots and depending on whether your working for a client and showing his garments you can include all or part of the swimwear, for example.
About the second Image: Purple Haze Beach Scene - Polarize Image with a color shift - edit done in Adobe PhotoShop
If your Young Teen Model has long hair, it can often look better loose and not tied back, but a change of hair style from garment to garment can also help. From my experience, I've found that each days shoot will look better if in some way if you can change the hair style a little for example, by tying it back or to one side of the face. Sometimes the hair can really look nice by the ocean when it's wet.
Did you know that for shooting Fashion Photography, where the model is standing, the rule is that the camera height should be the same height as your knee.
Of course this rule is broken almost every other shot, as today the effect of the image is often more important than the rule. However, It's a good point and worth remembering.
I personally like to shoot from ground level, especially if your Teen Model is posed on the ground, as this will bring the viewers interest directly to the subject and if your shooting beachwear for example, more importantly to the garments your client is trying to promote.
So be prepared to get down to the ground and if you just happen to be watching over my shoulder when I'm working, you will often find that I'm kneeling or lying on the ground or even in the water while shooting on the beach.
Remember, low camera angels work well, especially on a Beach shoot.
Another important thing to remember also when working with a young Teen Model, especially if she has limited experience in Modeling, is to keep talking to her to help her relax and feel at ease in the Photo Shoot in front of the camera.
Actually, if your not so experienced yourself, believe it or not, the conversation will not only help your Model, but will in fact help you reduce your first time nerves and therefore be beneficial to you both.
You must also understand that a young Teen Model, because of her age, is in fact only a part time Model with limited experience. Therefore conversation with her will most certainly help, but don't expect much in the way of return conversation from her, after all she is still very young.
The Mom or appointed guardian of the under age Model must be present at all times, as this is a requirement by law for minor Models.
On completion of the photo-shoot, a Minor Model Release form has to be signed on behalf of the minor Model by the parent or gardian. This is a standard form in industry, giving the right to the photographer to use the photographs and that the parent or gardian has agreed for him to do so.
