Chris Adval Learning Model Photography

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

The Posing Project...

This is my very first, long term project (maybe even life time) photography project.

What is the Posing Project?

This is a project of photographing artistic models, dancers, or other performers. Anyone who can show art within a pose.

Why do this Project?

I'll admit, posing models isn't my strongest skill in photography. Personally I believe I photograph model's who can pose themselves very well already, and tweak their pose to my own liking. But those who bring that foundation in posing. This is for any type of photos except headshots of course.

This time around, through this project, I want to learn by showing unique and interesting poses that models, dancers, and other performers can bring to the table. I don't believe in the "barbie" like posing where I put the model/subject's hand, chin, leg, etc., here and there. To me, it does not look natural and generally would create stiff looking models when that type of modeling is done.

My project goal would eventually be to print a book.

How to Become a Participant?
Simple, as this entire project would be solely a TRADE project. If you're unsure what is TRADE please click here for details on what that is.

What you'll get are all of the photos I feel are technically perfect, but only release them to you. Which ones you choose to show off to your fans is entirely up to you. The images released to you would have minimal editing, please keep this in mind. The ones I choose to show for my project will be edited fully, but would only be 1-2 photos from each shoot, depending on your artistic poses, to show in the project. Images that are given to you will be high resolution and unwatermarked, but keep in mind I retain ALL copyrights. Please do not sell the images. You may use them for promotional/advertising purposes the same way I do. If I were to sell an image with your face/body in it I will give you 10% of that sale.

Please note I do not normally provide high resolution images in trade photoshoots and unwatermarked images. If I do choose to provide you with the full intense editing, they will be low resolution watermarked images. If you'd like to have some of the images I did not choose for the project edited further, I do offer $80/per hour for full in-depth editing (based on my editing style).

I'm willing to travel up to 1-2 hours (drive time) depending on your look and reputation. This may be a location nearby to you or myself, depending if you can make the trip to my area (Hazleton, PA/North East PA region). If you're way outside of my 1-2 hour drive radius simply ask if I'm ever stopping by your area, I do travel time to time. I got plans for Pittsburgh, PA (5-6 hour drive) and Florida.

If interested simply contact me on facebook.

Here's an index of posts of my previous shoots regarding this project
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01 - Heather G.

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Update!

For those whom are wondering and don't follow my facebook or twitter feeds... I have a few new websites primarily for clientele interactions and transactions. But as always if you want to follow my work its best to follow me on Twitter @ChrisAdval or/and like me on facebook.

1. www.ChrisAdvalsArt.com - > Primary transactions for print sales

2. www.ChrisAdvalPhotography.com - > Non-commercial photography website

3. www.ChrisAdvalProductions.com - > Commercial Services website

4. www.AdvalSeniorPortraits.com - > Non-commercial Senior Portrait photography website

5. www.TheGreatWeddingStory.com - > Non-commercial Wedding Portrait photography website

and as you should already know, my flickr - www.flickr.com/chrisadval

As for that I haven't been updating the blog as I used to simply because you can see the models I've photographed already on many other areas like flickr/facebook. I gave all the tips I already knew on working with models and working with photographers as a model. I didn't see any new tips/tricks to share either. I've been explored in 2012 and 2013 a ton more environmental portraits and have yet to learn half of what environmentals can provide. I did recent purchase Vaga Bond battery pack (with extra battery) to shoot a lot more environmental outdoor shoots without worrying about much on power and allowing me to use my studio strobes instead of speedlights... Right now I am debating to use the vaga bond or invest into more speedlights to get equal amount of power as my studio strobes on-location... but I am testing this with actual shoots in the field to see which I prefer... right now I prefer taking (1) 100w/s studio strob than taking 2-3 speedlights to get the same amount as the 100w/s strob, of course it depends on the speedlights, expensive latest most powerful (1) speedlight or 2-3 cheaper speedlights. I've also invested into a speedlight medium softbox, which I had for 2 months, and didnt use it yet. I wish I could take it with me on the transportation bus to NYC to shoot local models outside with it but the carrying bag/case is too awkwardly sized.

Also I've cut down by 30-40% of trade shooting this year due to being in business officially since December 2012 (1 full year this month). So I cut it down to work on the business and possibly increase sales from that trade market. But I've learned something from many of my fellow photographer peers locally told and saw it with my own eyes... there is no market with working with models. Models, in most cases will never pay a photographer. That includes, wannabe models, professional models, etc... The only useful thing with working with models are simply building a portfolio for using those photos to advertise yourself to potential clients outside of models. Such as, senior portraits, bridal/wedding photos, headshots, and boudoir (sexy type photos for non-models)... I'm sure there is a ton more but thats what I do mostly for my business. Other than that yea, submitting photos to contests or magazines are useful to use actual models instead of people (non-models).

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Fake vs. Real Tear Sheets

It’s been awhile since I posted anything but I need a real decent rant posted here about this topic…

Let’s talk about the big dog in the room… Mag Cloud. As soon as it started to become noticeable to photographers and/or models that didn’t have any tear sheets they thought… “Why not make our own tear sheets!” Ethically, they didn’t/don’t care if it was unethical as the value to “make your own tear sheets” for credit purposes. I’ve seen many photographer websites where it’s a list of 10, 15, 30+ tearsheet credits from these worthless publications. And its not just a zero value to putting on a tear sheet, its completely pointless. Here’s the only tiny point it has, its form of a photo sharing with other colleagues in the profession, such as for photography/model mag cloud magazines, it’s a form of a way to show off with other colleagues. No different than other resources such as flickr, 500px, forums, facebook, etc… Here’s the big difference…. The person who “created” the magazine can make money from the magazine. And here’s the KICKER… they generally won’t give a penny to those who contributed! Won’t offer royalty, won’t pay licensing fees, won’t even pay for a printed copy of the magazine which are generally priced $15-$20 each!

These so called “publications” have ZERO value to anyone. If you contribute to it you value yourself so low that you are telling the entire planet your work is completely worthless. A tearsheet is where serious and REAL credits reside and shown, not ones you made up yourself or was featured on some magazine that can’t afford to send you a printed copy at least!

What’s more disgusting is some of Mag Cloud magazines that are ran by photographers, use these so called “publications” as a form of payment… since they think their magazines have monetary value of some kind to some people and some people think it has value that its good enough as actual cash so they’ll model just to get featured into their magazine and charge other photographers whom don’t have these fake magazines.

Here’s when its okay to use Mag Cloud… anything but trying to run a publication. If you want to run a publication do it right… charge for advertising, if not advertising, then give at least some royalties to the contributors as minimal compensation and showing that their work has a value at all especially when its featured in your publication.