When you are trying to make your way as a model photographer, you need to build an amazing portfolio. It is hard to get the right jobs before you have made a name for yourself. This is where test shoots can really come in handy. Learning about test shoots is the first step in really building your career as a model photographer.
Test shoots are the type of shoots where you aren’t going to get paid for your services. You can think of them as an unpaid internship. This is just something that comes with the career of being a model photographer. Test shoots are where you book a model and work on your skills and your style. The more test shoots that you do with models, the bigger your portfolio you will have. You can also make great connections with influencers in the fashion industry by working with numerous models.
Test shoots will also be a great way for you to hone in your skills in a much less high stressful environment. When you are just shooting test shots, you can work on different poses, get used to different lenses, and learn how to better work with models on set. This low-stress situation can also be used to take notes on how your actual shoots should go.
You will be able to experiment with much more artistic styles too. For example, you can try long exposure shots that would just take too much time to deal with during a paid shoot. Finding the right models for these shoots is very easy with social media. There are plenty of Instagram models that you can ask to be a part of your shoot. There is also a social media site for models called Model Mayhem. This site connects photographers with models all over the world.
Test shoots are a great way to learn more about fashion, makeup, and hair for your more serious shoots. You can ask your friends who are into makeup and fashion to help you on your shoots or you can take this opportunity to become skilled in the art of fashion and beauty. Many of the models that you work with will also be able to help you learn about their personal makeup styles or fashion selections.