Criteria 3

Know how to prepare for a location photography shoot

3.1 - Describe how to select equipment for location use.

The location I have chosen is Hurstwood wooded area not too far from where I live. This means that I will need to think about the area, what I am photographing and how to determine what equipment I will need. For the location I feel that with the weather being as unpredictable as it is that an umbrella, coat and cover for my camera would be an obvious choice. The exact place I will be photographing the model is quite a way into the woods so I will need a mobile so that if anything happens, for example some falls and hurts them self, I can contact someone to help. I will also need an assistant as I am planning to use smoke bombs and throwing powder so I will need someone else to take care of these behind the model whilst I am taking the photographs, I will also need the smoke bombs and the throwing powder with all instructions. To photograph the model I will need my camera and two lenses to create the effect I want, these will be my zoom lens and my prime lens. My zoom lens to take full body shots of the model and upper body shots and my prime lens for the closer in shots of her face/shoes so that I can blur the smoke/powder in the background of the pictures. I will need a back up battery and SD card just in case something goes wrong with either of my first ones. I might also need to take my flash just in case it is really dark, although I prefer not to use my flash as it interferes with the natural lighting and the look of the photo. This could be helped with a reflector but that would mean having to bring in another person and my reflectors are not big enough for the full body shots so I feel these would not be very useful for this shoot in particular, also if it is very windy they may be more of a hindrance than a help. I will need to keep my equipment limited as I will have to carry it in my small backpack to the location of the shoot so I will need to choose my equipment carefully. I will also need wipes, gloves and a large bottle of water for using the smoke bombs and the throwing powder. This is because the smoke bombs need putting into water as soon as they have finished, the person setting them off needs to wear gloves and the wipes are to clean up after if need be. My model will be planning on changing in the woods which she is completely happy to do, so I will have to bring a large sheet for her to change behind to protect her privacy.

3.2 - Explain any problems caused by the use of location photography.

The issues that I may face with the location that I have chosen could be if it has been raining the day before the ground maybe very muddy, this could be slippy and I may have to stay on the path for the safety of everyone involved. I will also have to be aware of others around us as I am using smoke bombs and throwing powder, because Hurstwood is a public area I will need to make sure that we carry the shoot out in a secluded area where there are no passersby that could get caught in the smoke or powder. I will also have to make sure that my model is completely covered up whilst she is changing so not to offend anyone that may be in the area with it being public. I will need to obtain permission to use the smoke bombs and throwing powder because it is a public area that is privately owned. I may also have to warn the people in the houses nearby, I could send out letters to let them know that I will be setting off smoke bombs and not to worry if they see coloured smoke at the time that the shoot is arranged for. With the floor being dirty in the woods I may find it difficult to change my equipment as it will mean putting things down so I will need my assistant to help me so that nothing ends up getting muddy, swapping equipment whilst someone else is holding it also increases the risk of equipment being dropped so I will have to be very careful when carrying this out. The weather may pose a problem as there is no where really to go if it is raining so the shoot will need to be organised for a day when it isn’t going to rain, I will also need umbrellas just in case and for if it is too windy. As I am on location it will not be the same as being in the studio, if I forget anything I cannot just go home to get it, so I will have to make sure that when I pack up the car I have everything with me. I will also need spares as I will have no plugs to charge a battery if needed or to quickly empty an SD card, as I will not be able to bring my laptop either.

When carrying out a photo shoot on any location there are many issues that you may face. The first issue is safety; this could be your own personal safety, the models safety or general safety. You have to think about things like is the location safe, is there anything dangerous in or at the location, for example, the electrics at the location, any buildings at the location. For example if you were on location and you photographed a model in a building but the building didn’t have the correct safety regulation checks and part of it fell down and hurt someone you could be liable for any damage that is caused. You also have to think about safety concerning your own equipment, this includes replacing old and damaged equipment, looking after your own equipment so that it remains in good condition and also using the equipment safely. For example you would never use lighting if the wire had been damaged and was bare and you would never use electrical lighting outside in torrential rain without being under cover. Another issue that might cause problems is privacy, if you want to photograph on private property you will need permission to either enter the area and/or photograph on the land. You may also need privacy on a shoot if the model being photographed needs to change her outfit or if she is uncomfortable being photographed in a public area with passers by walking past. Security is a very important issue as when carrying a lot of heavy equipment you may need an area to put equipment down, most of this equipment will be quite expensive so you need somewhere you can leave the equipment without it being left at risk of being taken or damaged. Weather is an issue for almost all outdoor photographers as the weather can either make or break a photography shoot, if it is raining you may need to call off a shoot and even bright sun can ruin a photo shoot or it may cause you to need to move the shoot to a different location with more shelter. Equipment is always an issue when on location, whether it is carrying it around with us, or if it is large equipment if there is room for it to fit in and how portable the equipment is. If the equipment is very large you may need to hire a van to transport the equipment to the location. With being on location the set up of the shoot may be different to what you would have it as in the studio, this may mean that you need an assistant to help with holding equipment, moving equipment around and/or carrying equipment. The public may cause issues when photographing on location, this may be by getting in the way of shots that you are trying to take or coming to close to your set up which may also cause issues in regards to their safety. Equipment always causes issues when photographing on location with the biggest issue being the risk of forgetting something. This can be avoided by making checklists so that all equipment is accounted for when travelling to and from a location.  It is also difficult as you may not be able to take all your equipment with you with having limited space in the vehicle you are travelling in. This means props and other essentials that would have been in the same location as you if you needed them would not be with you. When photographing on location it is important that if you are unfamiliar with the location being used it is essential that you research it first, this will take up time to research and plan how you will carry out the shoot in the location.

3.3 - Explain how to transport and set up location equipment.

When photographing a shoot I also have a list of all the equipment that I will be taking with me. The night before I charge all batteries and empty all SD cards that I will be taking with me on the shoot. I always take a spare SD card, batteries, camera body and lens just in case anything goes wrong with anything I am prepared with a second so that the shoot can go ahead. I pack all my equipment into the correct packaging to make sure none of it gets broken. In the briefs all of them will require that I travel outside so I would make sure that all my equipment is sealed so that no mud, sand or dirt can get into any of my equipment. For all of the briefs I would have travelled by car to the location so I would have to pack up the car exactly the same, by putting the equipment into the car making sure that everything is securely packed in so that it doesn’t move around or get damaged on the journey to the location. When arriving at the location for all the briefs I would be using natural lighting, so first of I would greet any other personnel involved in the shoot. Then I would set up my camera, filters, flash and lenses carefully. Once this has been carried out I would then set my settings on the camera and take a few test shots to make sure that all the settings are correct. This I would explain to any other personnel involved in the shoot what I would like them to do and how I would like them to do it. Then I would start the shoot.

3.4 - Describe the roles of the personnel involved in location photography.

When on set for a photoshoot there are many people that are involved and each person has their own roles and responsibilities to carry out.

Photographer

The main person during a photoshoot is the photographer and their role is to capture the images that are required for the client. This means it is their responsibility to have understood what the client wants, to have researched it and have a clear idea of how they want to carry out the photoshoot to meet the brief the client has provided them with. It is also their responsibility to bring the camera, lenses, filters, lighting and any props that may be used in the shoot. The safety of the shoot is the person who has organised the shoots responsibility so in my case the health and safety is my responsibility. It is also the photographer’s responsibility to bring any spares that might be needed for their own equipment, for example batteries, SD cards etc. The photographer’s role is to tell the assistant how to arrange the lighting and what and where they need to be and what they need to be doing. This is not to order the assistant around but to advice him or her on how best they can assist during the shoot to help the photographer achieve the desired results for the client. The photographer’s role is, according to (Ref Six) “communicating with photographic subjects, putting them at ease, encouraging them and directing them.” This means it is the photographer’s role to guide and direct the model to stand, pose and position themselves in the correct places for the pictures to be taken.

Assistant

The assistant’s role is to help the photographer to achieve the results that they have planned out. This means they will have to set up and arrange lighting, hold items, such as reflectors etc. and help the photographer with props, they may also have to help carry equipment around. According to (Ref Seven) “During the shoot, you are there to assist the photographer, and your duties will vary from shoot to shoot. You will almost certainly be required to carry and set up equipment.” It is the assistant’s responsibility to listen to the photographer and take their direction; they need also need to be able to use their initiative to be able to see any issues that the photographer might have and bring them to the photographer’s attention.

Stylist/Make-up Artist

The Stylist and make-up artist’s role is to make sure that the model looks exactly how the photographer needs her to. Before the shoot begins it is their responsibility to know exactly what the photographer wants the model to look like, to research any part of the style being created if need be and to make sure that they are capable of creating the style that is requested. It is also the stylist and make-up artist’s responsibility to make sure that they bring all the equipment and spares to be able to create the style that is requested with the models hair and make-up. The stylist and make-up artist must be flexible and be able to change certain aspects of the style if the photographer doesn’t like it or changes his or her mind, they must also be able to take direction from the photographer. It is also the stylist and make-up artist’s role to, according to (Ref Eight) “time management, knowing how long a subject will take to be made-up.”

Model

The role of the model is to understand what style and type of images that photographer is trying to create, what the make-up artist and stylist are trying to create and what they must turn up wearing. If they are choosing their own clothes they must find out what type or style of clothing that the photographer will need them to wear. They must also know whether they need to do anything with their own face/hair to prepare for the make-up artist and stylist or if they need to keep them completely natural. The role of the model is, according to (Ref Nine) “Pose as directed, or strike suitable interpretive poses for promoting and selling merchandise or fashions during appearances, filming, or photo sessions.” This means that the model must understand and know what type of poses and style the photographer wants them to stand in and must be able to take direction from the photographer so that they can help the photographer create the images needed.