This isn't meant to be controversial or start an argument - it's simply an observation I made earlier today which I thought I'd share here.

I found this little nugget over on Scott Kelby's "Photoshop Insider" blog and it made me smile. In a Q&A on "Shooting Food in Italy", someone asked the question "What's the secret to getting great food shots?"

Scott's answer was:

"Shoot great looking food. Seriously, it’s like anything; if you shoot great looking people, your chances of getting a great shot goes way up. It’s the same with food; if it’s great looking food, nicely presented on the plate, it makes your job much easier.

I didn’t shoot the big Calzone they served us at a sidewalk cafe, or the Chicken McNuggets my son had at a local McDonalds. I waited until we were served a wonderful looking dish with a beautiful presentation—-then I grabbed my camera. Sometimes I had to move the food so the natural light lit it nicely, and occasionally I would hold a white napkin up to bounce some light onto the front of the food (I usually like to have the strongest light coming from behind the food), but other than that—it’s just waiting for a dish that looks beautiful when it’s served. Also, plates with small portions look best—it’s much harder to make a big heaping portion look good."

Food for thought there indeed (pun intended!)

Apply this to shooting models and one can quickly see that the secret to great looking model photographs is to shoot great looking models that are appropriately styled and made up and lit correctly.

OK, maybe it's not as simple as that - but it certainly isn't going to hurt! And I'm sure that most people will agree that the very best images here are ones where time and effort has been put in to the makeup, styling, lighting and compositional elements of the image.

- Thorsten.

I agree completely.

Personally, I feel that my images this year have been a big improvement on the work I produced last year. I put this down to:

• More practice. I've shot a lot more this year than ever before and like any other discipline, the more you do it, the better you get.
• Better models! In the past I've been happy to shoot (and pay) for anyone at all that was willing to work with me. To my shame, I also gave photos away for free! But this year, I drew up a list of 12 models I REALLY wanted to shoot.. each of them I believe to be a seriously good model. This in itself was motivation for getting better images.
  
• I involved a MUA in a shoot for the first time this year and one is now involved on most of my shoots - it makes a huge difference
• Planning!! No longer do I just turn up and shoot. I already have images in mind before I walk into the studio or turn up at the location. Of course there is some spontenaeity in terms of movement, pose, expression.. but the styling, lighting, makeup and mood are all in my mind before I look through the lens.

Next year.. well next year, I'm going to look to shoot models who at the moment I feel are WAY out of my league. That is meant as no disrespect to the models I've shot this year, but like everything else, I want to progress. So in line with the step up in models, I'm also planning to be far more adventurous with locations and probably involve a professional stylist.

Or then again, I may also go back to my street work

I think all the things mentioned plus a model who is in tune and feels the part or poise.

Ciaran.....what do you mean when you refer to a model being out of your league?.....Do you me top earning models?  The only difference I can see is in the provision of needs..Stylist, MUA, Lighting, Set Director, etc., 5 star hotel and private jet provision

Art

a good place to start is with a great canvas (ie model with good features, skin etc - but there has to be more to it as you say Thorsten ...

I tend to agree on the subject of good preparation .. for me its best to try to have clear ideas for the images / sets I want to work though .. makes it easier for styling and for communication with MUA's and Models in preparation...  Inspriration and creativity as you go is more likey to kick in if you are heading somewhere with your vision in the first place

Its an old cliche

Fail to prepare, prepare to fail !

L

As all things in life Thorsten its all about presentation... presentation... presentation... or am i having an estate agent moment.

I guess what I mean is that I would like to have a certain body of work behind me that I feel would give me a foundation for contacting some of the larger model agencies and be able to access the models on their books. At the moment, I wouldn't feel comfortable/confident contacting them looking for models (not sure why). This would be instead of sourcing models via the net.

In one way, they would be more expensive, but my plan would be more so quality than quantity next year. So less shoots, but more selective on model choice etc. Overall I would guess my expenditure would be the same, but with a higher quality output. Thats the plan at the moment anyway.

I dont think you have anything to worry about Ciaran, your work speaks for itself. It stands up equally to and exceeds many of the 'named' exponents in the fashion/model  industry here and in the uk.

When you combine your abilities with an MUA and Stylist plus a good model....well, I rest my case.

A

Just from a models perspective, it can be rather frustrating turning up for a shoot when there has been little input from the photographer on what they actually want to achieve.

Planning a shoot really does help, you get an idea of what type of style the shoot will take and often trawling the web for ideas is a great way of coming up with things that you may not have previously thought of or had even considered.  (i don't mean replication of shots out there but getting ideas)

Its also gives the model assistance on what clothes etc. she should bring to a shoot, I really hate running blind into a shoot with a photographer, neither the model or the photographer comes out with anything decent.

Why would you cook a meal without a recipe? So why should you go to a shoot without ideas or some sort of plan?

There's definately logic in this Thorsten,

 Its the same with weddings, get a beautiful bride, groom, church, location and weather and they are up for getting photos taken then you can't go wrong, then take a not so pretty bride, who can't be bothered with photgraphs or is worried about her dress getting alittle soiled, rubbish venue etc, then photographers have their work cut out, 

Professional and semi pro models will usually give the photographer many more images, as they know how to pose and change emotion, 

Many of the great togs on Folio have a hunger to learn and develop, to raise the bar, we minor photographers should aspire to this and see what we can do to raise our standards, the same goes for models, a spire to be the best, but this takes alot of work, learning posing techniques and always being well prepared with make up, clothing etc.

Tim