A shoot with Model Niki

 Hi Friends,

One of the Instagram hobbyist photographers introduced me to two models. He sent me a request to connect on seeing my shoot with Priyanka. I saw his few posted images that were very soft and flat. I suggested he use some better software to edit or to improve working with whatever software he was using. He shared a few photographs that I re-edited and sent back. After a few interactions he said he could connect me with quite a few models he had in his contact. So I suggested I could help him improve his photography skills. So he tied up two models for a shoot anout itd wanting me to shoot in some hotel room perhaps he was already doing so. After he had already shared of in job that was not paying well, I could imagine he must have been hiring rooms in very economical hotels like OYO rooms. He had taken pictures in such rooms earlier. The rooms are small with minimal interiors and lighting. My having my own studio I suggested better we shoot in my studio that far better facilities than the room he may be hiring and also saving on additional cost of room charges.

He brought two models Pratibha (who grace my blog in another blog) and Niki both are his contacts from Instagram. I could not understand how he could have such models in contact who wanted him to photograph though I had posted my past work in the hope of getting some models to work with. Still I am clueless about it. I may not be that good but surely better than him. Anyways let us leave it, heart is more emotional than logical.

I was not feeling well the day we shot. I was feeling very uncomfortable but since it was fixed I decided not to call off the shoot. First we decided to shoot one by one but then he wanted to shoot in another area of my large spacious studio. I usually do tethered shooting find it more convenient. The girls saw the results so they clamoured to be photographed by me. This started the confusion and concentration was lost and the instant creative thinking goes to a toss. I had two sets of radio triggers for my studio lighting but I could not locate my second set, so he used his built-in flash. I had asked him to reduce the output intensity just good enough to fire the strobes. But he did not know how to do it and he using a Nikon not familiar with the setup being a Canon user, I could not devote much time neither he was very keen to spend some time on it.

Here are a few images of Niki.

Many decades back when ready made soft boxes for product shoots were not available in the market, I build one using plastic pipes and the fabric was stitched in my wife's boutique. On shifting to my studio I just forgot how I had setup my foldable light tent. I reorganised again and the fabric for the tent was corrected to the frame. I had it lying and thought of using her sitting inside it. I am sure there could have been better play of light but the discomfort from my not feeling well I had not much energy playing with light setup. I usually convert some images into Black & White.

Niki called me that she wanted to shoot again alone as there was lots of confusion on that day. I said fine we could do. We did decide a date was ready to pick her on my way to studio, but she informed that her period started in the morning. She still hoped if we could do but I told we will do it another day when she is over with it. The weather has also been very good and there is besides the Corona thing there is the usual seasonal lots viral fever, cough and cold prevailing. I too was suffering from heaviness feeling though there was no fever, cough and cold. She too was going through the seasonal infection. We still need to shoot. Being over size lots of thinking process will be required to get the best frames. Of course this will all depend on her limits of posing and responses before the camera. I like posing and expressions to come out naturally than trying to force some circus kind of stuff.

Looking forward to shooting more with her.

Thanks for taking time off to go through my blogs. Do add your comments as each comment is a tonic to do better shoots.

 

Model: Priyanka Kalyana

 Hi Friends,

Through Instagram found a few models for enhancing my fine art photography work. There was an image on Instagram of Miss Priyanka where she was painted black and wore some gold ornament/s. I casually asked her that it must have taken a very long time to remove it. I remember going to photograph Holi in Braj area and I was totally multi coloured on return to the hotel in Vrindavan. My silver on my head was fully covered with multi colours. It took about a few months for the colour to fade off my hairs.

This small chit chat broke ice between us. I asked if she would agree to pose for me. Getting a positive response we did our first shoot. This shoot was kind of dry spell that ended for me. I am little cautious connecting with models online whom similar platforms. There are so many with fake identities. Many guys are masquerading as females by posting images of models or females. Some are very professional as they have stocked images of one person and keep sharing.  So avoid instant invite to shoot. I usually like to meet in person in some public place like some coffee shop to check out the genuineness of the person before agreeing for a shoot straight. I have a long time make up artist Sheetal whom I requested her to join the shoot since Priyanka for whatever reasons did not want to meet before the shoot. Anyways it was wonderful to work with Priyanka. We did another shoot later when the scare of Corona got diluted.

I used to take out my camera to charge the batteries due to over one half years of lockdown and very strict controls by the government. Besides to keep safe lots of movements I had personally curtailed lest ending up with Corona. I was rusty as during this lockdown period. I had not even used used the camera shoot randomly. One of my students had requested to shoot his collection of children's wear that was also quite many months back. My new set of my studio was used by me for very first time. Since it was a personal shoot there was no problem testing the abundance of available light. So I decided to check the lighting in various spots of my studio. I did not use any strobes or portable flash even to supplement light streaming through the large windows on both lengths of the studio. I also tested the large self fabricated reflectors. Results were decent but could have been better maybe due to the long lay off from photography.

Some of the images taken during the very first shoot with Priyanka. We played around with different kinds of fabric lengths.

The light is from the wide window with a soft reflector reflecting light back. 

The light is from the wide window with a soft reflector reflecting light back. 

The light is from the wide window with a soft reflector reflecting light back. 

The light is from the wide window with a soft reflector reflecting light back. 

The light is from the wide window with a soft reflector reflecting light back. 

The light is from the wide window with a soft reflector reflecting light back. 

Light received from the same large window to light the model.

By the way Priyanka aka sensuous.brown.girl is a very popular Instagram model and it was lovely to have worked with her and also looking forward to shooting more creatives with her. 

More images of hers to follow a a new blog. Do visit again, and also do add your feedback.