So I'm thinking about doing a photography workshop

Polymathic

Polymathic

Honorary Master
Joined
Mar 22, 2010
Messages
33,670
Reaction score
14,746
Despite being a noob with comes to photography I am relivitley well connected in terms of finding models. So I am seriously thinking about doing a workshop with models for ameteur photographers and charge the photographers. I am very new to the entire workshop concept but do you think it's worth a shot? I'm in Durban BTW
 
If you're a noob (your words) don't you think you should be taking workshops, not leading them.
 
The way I see it was there are a lot of photographers who want to shoot models in these "workshops" they'll get a chance to shoot the models and all I do is make sure nothing gets out of hand, so I wouldn't actually be teaching anything
 
mmmig said:
The way I see it was there are a lot of photographers who want to shoot models in these "workshops" they'll get a chance to shoot the models and all I do is make sure nothing gets out of hand, so I wouldn't actually be teaching anything
Click to expand...

Workshops, particularly photography workshops, require a highly trained photographer to lead them. It's what makes them workshops ;)
 
Everybody is doing workshops these days. So many gullible noobs out there, handing money over to other noobs. Guess it's easy money...

I agree with bwana.
 
bwana said:
Workshops, particularly photography workshops, require a highly trained photographer to lead them. It's what makes them workshops ;)
Click to expand...
So what I want to do should marketed (If I do it) as a photography meet rather than a workshop?
 
offtopic ..... Bwana has a profile pic? shocking :wtf:
 
mmmig said:
So what I want to do should marketed (If I do it) as a photography meet rather than a workshop?
Click to expand...

By the sounds of it, as a photography meat-up. ;)
Yeah, you shouldn't be running anything labelled as a workshop unless your objective is to teach. If you were teaching and had a model at hand for people to take photos of, that would be a 'hands-on' or 'practical' workshop.
If all you do is stand about, let people take photos of a person and charge them for the 'privilege', you're not doing anything more than acting as agent to a model to get a bunch of big black and white *cough* lenses shoved in her face for an hour or two, subsidizing her fee and making profit for yourself via markup.
 
You want to charge people to play with the various models of cameras so that they can have tried the different cameras out for themselves?

People can do that for free in any Dion Wired store, or at ODP or at Orms or at just about any shop that sells a large range of cameras. They all have demo stock for people to pick up, feel, test and play with.
 
AnibugZA said:
You want to charge people to play with the various models of cameras so that they can have tried the different cameras out for themselves?

People can do that for free in any Dion Wired store, or at ODP or at Orms or at just about any shop that sells a large range of cameras. They all have demo stock for people to pick up, feel, test and play with.
Click to expand...
No - I believe he means photographic models - guys and gals who pose for photos. ;)
 
nanonyous said:
By the sounds of it, as a photography meat-up. ;)
Yeah, you shouldn't be running anything labelled as a workshop unless your objective is to teach. If you were teaching and had a model at hand for people to take photos of, that would be a 'hands-on' or 'practical' workshop.
If all you do is stand about, let people take photos of a person and charge them for the 'privilege', you're not doing anything more than acting as agent to a model to get a bunch of big black and white *cough* lenses shoved in her face for an hour or two, subsidizing her fee and making profit for yourself via markup.
Click to expand...
Also setting up lighting
getting models professionally styled and make-up
I'm looking at 5 or 6 models
I want to price it in such a way it would be vastly cheaper for him/her to come to my "event" than for them to do all the stuff themselves
 
mmmig said:
Also setting up lighting
getting models professionally styled and make-up
I'm looking at 5 or 6 models
I want to price it in such a way it would be vastly cheaper for him/her to come to my "event" than for them to do all the stuff themselves
Click to expand...

If you're proficient enough at lighting to instruct others then that's marketable. I assume you've got monolights, softboxes, umbrellas, scrims, reflectors, etc.
 
bwana said:
If you're proficient enough at lighting to instruct others then that's marketable. I assume you've got monolights, softboxes, umbrellas, scrims, reflectors, etc.
Click to expand...
Uhm was thinking of renting them
 
mmmig said:
Uhm was thinking of renting them
Click to expand...
Good idea, I used to rent all the time. As long as you know how to use them then it doesnt matter where you get them from. :)

Dont forget the flash meter.
 
So ultimately, you're doing what amounts to subsidizing of model and studio (and lighting equipment) rental/hire.

'events' of the nature aren't unheard of, but generally the one running them is already a professional that specializes in the kind of photography that will be intended at the event, that will run things according to a structured schedule and have a structured rotation of who gets to shoot who and for how long. After all, if you're using strobes/flashes, you're going to need to move a remote trigger or sync cable between cameras if people are bringing their own units. You have to accommodate for those with cameras that don't have PC sync ports. Some of the people may be coming expecting to learn from you how to use the lighting equipment you've rented, so whatever you're renting ought to be something you're very familiar with using.

They may also expect to learn how to best use the light modifiers available - again from you as the organizer.

Otherwise, if they have to ask whoever looks like he has the best clue at the 'event', you're almost pressuring what may be a professional into hosting a mini-workshop at your event, only he's not being paid to do so.
 
Getting models on board should not be an issue for a photographer. Just as there are plenty of inexperienced photographers there are plenty of inexperienced models that are willing to work for time (aka time for download/CD) - in a scenario like this the photographer and the models gain valuable experience and - hopefully - a few decent portfolio shots so everyone wins.

FWIW there are also plenty of aspiring makeup artists who would also benefit from a similar relationship. ;)

Natural lighting (as opposed to available lighting ;)) means you don't have to worry about the added cost of monolights but TBH renting a set for a weekend will probably be worth it. After renting for perhaps a dozen times over the past year and a half I recently bit the bullet and got a 3x300w set a few weeks ago and I've been having a blast.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X