1. Go Pro
Prior to 2024, I relished in working with models for free utilizing the TFP (time for print) agreement. The model receives complimentary pictures for their portfolio while I gain a free model – a ‘win-win’ arrangement!
However, following a few unsatisfactory experiences, I resolved to compensate my models for their time during my shoots in 2024 – and their professional insight proved invaluable! As ‘professionals,’ they were also eager to follow direction when I required specific poses for, say, book cover styled captures.
Nonetheless, as professional models, they didn’t require much direction from me – it became a matter of aiming the camera and documenting their artistry as they transitioned from one remarkable pose to another. The pro models I collaborated with often managed their own hair and make-up and were more inclined to bring a range of outfits or accessories (such as shawls and hats) allowing a single shoot to embody multiple looks (and introduce diversity to your portfolio), all while saving me the trouble of hiring a stylist!
You might also profit from a pro model’s extensive experience accrued over multiple shoots through the years. My last model of 2024 – @olgasolomodel (Instagram) – provided me with valuable recommendations on where to place my on-site LEDs for a more efficient lighting arrangement based on her previous work.
2. Be prepared
For instance – I organized a 1960s-themed shoot with Maddy (@runway.vougish on Instagram) and my swift Google Search mood board inspired her to find a dress styled in line with the 1960s, complete with a vintage hat. She also applied vibrant make-up to coordinate with her outfit.
In a subsequent ‘detective’ themed shoot with the same model, my mood board enabled her to dress suitably – with her hair styled up, minimal makeup, and a lengthy leather coat that looked stunning when the wind caught it. Thanks to the mood boards, Maddy appeared dramatically different in the two shoots. The detective theme was designed to gather images for sale on a book cover stock website – another potential income source.
3. Try some new locations
I’ve undertaken quite a bit of studio photography over the years, and studios are fantastic for remaining dry and cozy, particularly during colder months. Naturally, it’s also easier to manage the lighting. Much of my Digital Camera World product reviews are conducted within the comfort of a studio. However, all of my 2024 model shoots were conducted on location.
Different locations can add diversity to your sessions. Consider London’s Barbican Centre, for instance – a favored spot among photographers for good reason. It features striking skyscrapers that create beautiful urban backdrops for your posed model. The multi-level walkways and corridors of the Barbican provide depth and perspective to your portraits (and deliver amazing shapes in your background bokeh). Additionally, there are areas adorned with plants and water that offer an entirely distinct backdrop without the need for extensive travel.
Locations can motivate models to engage with street elements (such as walls, steps, and even sculptures), resulting in more dynamic and inventive poses than might be achieved in a studio. While photographing on the banks of London’s River Thames, model @layal.official began to spontaneously interact with some wall-mounted chains – a surprising and creative moment during the shoot!
4. Don’t worry about your gear
I primarily shoot with an iPhone as it allows me to travel swiftly and light. However, I always inform the model beforehand that I’m using a smartphone so they aren’t let down by the absence of a substantial DSLR/mirrorless camera (and don’t perceive me as an amateur!).
Models accustomed to posing for a DSLR tend to listen for the shutter sound, which indicates they can alter their pose. My latest model of 2024 – @olgasolomodel – queried whether I could make my iPhone ‘click’. It was clicking, just not loudly enough.
My workaround was to say ‘click!’ after I took a picture, and this approach functioned well. Over time, we adapted to working together, and I no longer had to continue mimicking a camera shutter. I also discovered that pointing at which of…the trio of iPhone camera lenses I’m utilizing to assist the model in establishing eye contact within the photograph.
5. Innovative lighting can also be effective outside
LEDs present a remarkably effective method to elevate your 2025 location photography. During my December 2024 Barbican shoot featuring model/actress Olga, I introduced a lightweight Harlowe Blade tube light kit to the scene. I utilized the tripod-mounted Blade 10 as a principal light and its smaller counterpart – the Blade 5 – as a secondary light. I employed the Harlowe app to swiftly adjust the RGB lights to a cinematic cyan and teal hue for enhanced ambiance.
The illumination from the Blades accentuated the contours of the model’s face and complemented the available lighting from the corridor at the venue. The Blades are magnetic as well, enabling me to attach the Blade 5 to a metallic ceiling pipe for a striking elevated light source.
6. Experiment with a smoke machine
In my last two shoots of 2024, I utilized smoke machines at the Barbican Centre without triggering any smoke alarms (and they use an organic oil to produce smoke which is safer for the model). I strongly endorse a smoke machine for a more atmospheric aesthetic in your shoots. Just ensure that you use it in a suitably ventilated space (which is why I would refrain from using one in an enclosed studio).
7. Be courteous
While collaborating with models, it’s all about being courteous – perhaps consider a handshake in lieu of a hug. They are aware of their stunning appearance, so I don’t feel the need to flatter them – it’s not a date, after all.
Avoid being overly protective of your photographs – even if not all of them are turning out flawlessly, I find it extremely essential to share a few images from my camera’s display with my models as we work, allowing them to see how the session is progressing, boosting their confidence in how they are being portrayed by you as the photographer, and reassuring them that I’m pleased with their contributions.
If a model requests to bring along a friend or chaperone to the shoot – agree to it. It serves as a warning sign to them if you decline. When model Bella invited a friend to our October 2024 shoot, he was incredibly helpful in holding and adjusting my LED.
I also maintain communication with models after the session via social media. By inviting a model to co-create one of your photo postings on Instagram, your work will appear on their feed in addition to yours, potentially leading to significantly more views if the model boasts a large following. For more insights on model/photographer etiquette, be sure to check out my colleague Sean McCormack’s article.