I talked with some of you at the last GTG about working with a model for our next meeting. Now that my daughters are in school and life is a bit easier to schedule, I'd like to start putting this together.
Are people interested in doing a GTG with a model? If so, what do you want to get out of it -- practicing with a real live human being, learning how to work with studio lights, or something else? I do have some Alien Bees strobes and a few backdrops, but I could probably only fit about 6-8 people in the "studio" area of my apartment. If anyone else has a larger area, please let us know so that we can figure out what our options are.
If everyone really wants to do a studio shoot, we could also pitch in for an hourly studio rental. Otherwise, we can just meet at a nice picturesque location, such as Baker Beach, GG Park's Botanical Gardens or Japanese Gardens (attention Welland!), or some other convenient location.
Is everyone okay sharing the cost of the model (about $100 total) and possibly the studio rental (about $250), if we decide to do that? For example, if 10 people attend and we rent a studio with a model, it would probably cost about $35 apiece.
All feedback and suggestions are very welcome. I'm looking forward to seeing all of you again, and hopefully some new people as well!
Hey Philip - I'd be up for it! I haven't worked with studio lights at all, so that would be a fun learning experience for me! I'm also ok with chipping in on the cost of model and studio. My time is limited in September (business travel), so an October GTG would be great. I'll also have my 40D by then!
If it means that we get to ogle Mark's 40D, then we are definitely meeting in October. Let's start talking dates once we nail down what people want to do.
And when I was talking about renting a studio, Alice, I just meant an actual working photography studio. I've seen a few for rent by the hour on Craigslist, and I know of a couple studios in downtown San Francisco (at RayKo and a photo museum) that rent by the hour as well.
I am interested but expect to be working alot in October, like everyday maybe. I will be in Bali with librodo and goodman and some other DPCers for Photography Workshop from Oct 19-29. I could possibly do the early part of the month but will have to play it by ear. I'll keep an eye on the thread.
That's going to be an amazing trip, Joe. I know you'll have a great time.
I'll probably be traveling around October 3-10, so the best possible times for me are the weekends of September 21-23 or October 19-21. Anyone have thoughts on those dates or others?
Depends on what everyone wants to get out of it. If you want to just experiment with lighting then don't bother with a model - try lighting on each other because it's cheaper. If you want to produce shots, then ask yourself what kind of shots you want to be producing, and then figure out whether or not the model is right for that type of work. I know models that'll work for free, I know models that charge $100+ an hour, and I know models that won't even bother with workshops.
As far as studio rental goes, again it depends on what everyone wants to get out of it. I know some cheap studios with cheap lighting equipment. I know some expensive studios with no lighting equipment. Some are big, some are small, some are suited for commercial work, some have great natural light, and so on.
The more specific you are, the more productive it'll be. My two cents.
You're right, Mike, that we could just practice lighting on each other and on objects. And I will be advertising for models who are willing to work TFCD, but I also want to have the option to pay a model for doing good work, if people want to do that. Once more people reply to let me know that they're interested in doing this kind of shoot and what they want to get out of it, then we can start answering more of those questions.
You do some really amazing portraits, Mike. If you ever wanted to put ona workshop, or if you ever need help on a shoot, I'd be interested in coming. Just let me know!
One more bump to see if there is any interest in this GTG. If not, is anyone interested in just meeting again at a certain place or during an event, such as Fleet Week? We had a lot of great photographers at our last meeting, so I hope we can do it again soon!
Okay, it looks like there isn't enough interest right now in the Bay Area for another GTG. If anyone wants to hook up in a smaller group for a shoot sometimes, just let me know. I'll still work on scheduling some model shoots and will let those of you who replied know about those if you'd like to come along.
I would love to do a model shoot. Unfortunately I wouldn't be able to do a gtg on the weekends unless it's close by GG Park. I work a bookend shift on the weekends in which I have to open then go back later to close up the garden.
Why don't we just do a GTG in the Japanese Gardens? Welland can sneak all of us in the back, we can take anything we want from the gift shop and we get all the udon and ramen we can eat! Ahem. Actually, it's a great place to meet and we can head over to the botanical gardens when we're done there. If people are interested in having a GTG there, maybe I should start another thread...
Ya know, it just may be that a few of us, who are interested in a sort of workshop sort of thing, could GTG with a model.
And still schedule a GTG that everyone would have fun doing. Frankly, I"m not up to another Fleet Week shoot, as I have more than enough Blue Angels and other planes in my portfolio - and it's a long day.
A GTG could be something as simple as a local park. Heck, Glen Park is near my house and we could all come on over and have a pot luck after shooting! It's a lovely long, comparatively undeveloped ravine with a nice picturesque structure on the premises.
Or just wait until some suitable celebration comes along and use that as an excuse.
Joking Speaking of celebrations (and remember, this IS San Francisco): There's the Folsom Street Fair at the end of September. (9/29-30) And if I wasn't totally booked that weekend, I'd suggest that for a GTG.
But, hey, I put it in our Club newsletter as a photo Op, so here's the link in case anyone is interested:
Link I don't have to be there for a GTG.
That sounds great, Alice. It seems like there's interest in getting together, just not necessarily for a model shoot. I know who's interested in that now and can keep a separate list going for that. For now, let's just plan a nice GTG like the kind you described.
Why don't we just do a GTG in the Japanese Gardens? Welland can sneak all of us in the back, we can take anything we want from the gift shop and we get all the udon and ramen we can eat! Ahem. Actually, it's a great place to meet and we can head over to the botanical gardens when we're done there. If people are interested in having a GTG there, maybe I should start another thread...
Slow season with nothing in really in bloom currently, but there's more at the botanical garden. We finally got some more Koi's a couple of month ago :)
Why don't we just do a GTG in the Japanese Gardens? Welland can sneak all of us in the back, we can take anything we want from the gift shop and we get all the udon and ramen we can eat! Ahem. Actually, it's a great place to meet and we can head over to the botanical gardens when we're done there. If people are interested in having a GTG there, maybe I should start another thread...
Slow season with nothing in bloom currently. We did get some Koi's a couple of month ago.
Good point. I still like the architecture, but maybe another spot would be better.
I'm up for a smaller group model shoot or hitting a park somewhere, but I'll bow out of a Fleet Week GTG (been to too many - and pictures of planes and crowds doesn't sound to enticing these days).
If anyone wants to try to get some hummingbird shots go to the botanical garden as they seem to be filled with them this time of the year.
Hey -- I was just thinking today of asking you about how the construction is going at the new Academy of Sciences? I was thinking of shooting some contruction/architecture if there's anything interesting going on.
