Safety Tips for Models By Bob Hubbard

Safety Tips for Models
By Bob Hubbard

From bobhubbardphotography.com
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Safety Tips for Models

Modeling is normally a safe activity. Unfortunately, there are a number of unsavory characters out there who will prey on those who are vulnerable. Some shoots can place you in a vulnerable position. So, here are some tips I've collected from various photography and model sites to help ensure your safety.

Do your research into your Photographer.

• Check references with other models he or she has shot.
• Make sure you see examples of their work. And specific, examples of what they want to use you for.
• Check the National Sex Offender Registry.
• Use Google or another search engine to look up their name.
• Check with sites such as OneModelPlace, ModelMayhem, etc.
• Find out as much as you can about those you are considering working with. Ask around.
• Be certain to get a verifiable home and/or studio phone number, and street address, for anyone you work with. Especially if you are meeting somewhere
• If a photographer say's he shoots for a certain magazine......look in the mag and see if his name is in the mast- head.. If it isn't, call the editor to verify him. If they don't know him, drop him/her immediately.

Protect your Privacy.

• Never post personal contact information, such as address and phone number in an area where the public will view it (such as websites, message boards...etc).
• Be very careful regarding posts and e-mail from anyone with a generic (hotmail, yahoo, etc.) e-mail address.
• Be wary of unprofessional posts and emails.
• A private area should be provided for you to change outfits. Remember, you are there to do a shoot, not a striptease.

Protect Yourself on Shoots

• Be very clear about what kind of work you are looking for, and what kind of work you will not accept.
• Never travel on a shoestring and have a back-up plan if things don't work out exactly as planned.
• Especially when working with someone new, if possible, bring along a chaperone to the photo shoot. Any professional photographer should not have a problem with this. Do NOT work with anyone who refuses to allow you to.
• Arrive at remote shoots seperately.
• Let someone know where you will be at all times.
• Know what your limits are as to what you will do, and stick with them. Make certain that both you and the photographer are well aware of them. Leave if the photographer insists you go beyond them. (IE: Do nude when you don't want to.)
• Home studios are fine, just make sure that there is a separate changing area, with a lock. Always check your surroundings. Check for exits etc.

Protect your Future

• Don't ever do anything that you might be sorry for later. What you do today can affect your carreer later down the road. "If you pose for a photo that you cannot show your family and friends, and be proud of it, it wasn't worth doing". Mainly YOU should be proud of it.
• There should always be a modeling agreement"release" signed before the shoot, some might prefer after. As long as you get one it should be ok. Make sure in the agreement that you have knowledge of where and how your images are going to be displayed. Try to have full say in this.... If at all possible.

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Bob Hubbard is a professional photographer specializing in martial arts event, nature and portrait photography. He is also the CEO of SilverStar WebDesigns Inc, a web design and hosting company specializing in martial arts sites, as well as an administrator on the popular martial arts communities MartialTalk.com, Kenpotalk.com and FMATalk.com. His martial arts photography can be found there as well as at his martial arts photography web site, martialphotos.com. He may be reached through these sites.
Copyright © 2008 - Bob Hubbard - All Rights Reserved
Permission is granted to reprint this article on websites, blogs and ezines provided all text, links and authors bio is left intact.

Advice for Photographers By Bob Hubbard

Advice for Photographers
By Bob Hubbard

From http://bobhubbardphotography.com
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Advice

As I continue to study and learn about the art of photography, I am amazed at both it's simplicity, and it's complexity. What follows are a few nuggets that I've learned so far on this journey.

Lighting is key

• Having the right amount and the right type of light is crucial to taking a good photo.
• Not enough, and it can appear hazy or underdeveloped.
• Too much, and you can wash out the high spots as well as the colors.
• The wrong angle can make your photo appear too flat, or lifeless.
• Not all light sources are equal. Lightbulbs give off different colors of light, all of which effect your photo differently. Whenever possible, shoot using true natural type light.
• Understand lighting setups. A bright flash right in front of the subject is usually bad. Off set it to one side to create complimentary shadows and show depth. Use additional lighting to highlight details, or 'cut out' your subject from the background.

Backgrounds

• Avoid overly cluttered backgrounds. If the background is too busy, your subject can become lost in the confusion.
• Use wide apatures and fast shutter speeds to create a narrow depth of field/view to keep your subject in focus but throw your background out of focus. This is usually not possible with consumer grade point and shoot cameras.

Shutter Speeds

• Understanding the relationship between shutter speed and motion can help you to get the action shots. Too slow, and it appears blurry. Too fast, and you can lose important depth and tone.

Stability

• Unless you have the hands of a surgeon, using a tripod is a good idea, especially when dealing with slower shutter speeds.

Expensive does not equal better.

• You can spend $100 on a midrange consumer digicam, or $30,000 on a top of the line professional rig. If you don't understand the relationships between lighting, shutter speed, and all the other bits you can adjust on your camera, you will take bad photos. A low end camera will adjust things for you. The fancier ones require you to do it yourself. Learn on the low end, then move up as your skills progress.

Spending a fortune on gear is not needed for a hobbyist.

• You can spend $200 on a pro-style light rig, or under $25 on a good quality natural light bulb, a shop reflector, and a cheap tripod to clamp it onto. The later is comparable in effect, but a lot cheaper to learn with.

Know your Legal Rights

• Your Rights When You Are Stopped or Confronted for Photography by Bert Krages, Attorney at Law

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Bob Hubbard is a professional photographer specializing in martial arts event, nature and portrait photography. He is also the CEO of SilverStar WebDesigns Inc, a web design and hosting company specializing in martial arts sites, as well as an administrator on the popular martial arts communities MartialTalk.com, Kenpotalk.com and FMATalk.com. His martial arts photography can be found there as well as at his martial arts photography web site, martialphotos.com. He may be reached through these sites.
Copyright © 2008 - Bob Hubbard - All Rights Reserved
Permission is granted to reprint this article on websites, blogs and ezines provided all text, links and authors bio is left intact.

Buffalo Martial Arts and Fitness Expo October 17 & 18, 2009

Buffalo Martial Arts and Fitness Expo
October 17 & 18, 2009

We are proud to announce that on October 17 & 18 Buffalo, NY will host the first annual Buffalo Martial Arts and Fitness Expo.

Whether you are relatively new to martial arts or a seasoned martial artist, the Buffalo Martial Arts and Fitness Expo has something for everyone. Special features of the event will include two international tournaments and seminars taught by industry leaders, along with a premier trade show.

On October 17, the Expo will feature the Queen City Laban Laro VII. The Queen City Laban Laro is one of the area’s longest running tournaments. This year’s event has more divisions that any other regional tournament offers. To date, there are 170 divisions. In addition to the standard events of forms, weapons and fighting that most competitions offer, there will also be divisions in grappling, stick fighting, self defense, breaking and musical forms. For more information on the Queen City Laban Laro, go to www.queencitylabanlaro.com

On October 18, the Expo will host the second Can-Am Border Battle. This will be an international team competition featuring weapons, kata, point fighting and stick fighting as its events. In addition to individual awards to competitors, there are also team medals for the countries participating in this event. Last year’s results had the gold medal and Can-Am Cup going to Team Canada, Team USA took silver and NAFMA International took bronze. For more information go to www.canamborderbattle.com

The trade show will have a variety of vendors from supply companies to consulting firms. There will also be demonstrations, seminars and workshops from industry leaders to world renowned Grandmasters. Check the Expo’s website www.buffalomartialartsexpo.com regularly for added classes and instructors

Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this unique martial arts experience!

For more information contact:
Datu Tim Hartman
Phone: 716-675-0899
E-mail: admin@horizonma.com
Web www.buffalomartialartsexpo.com

Taking Better Action Photos By Bob Hubbard

Taking Better Action Photos
By Bob Hubbard

Ever been at a martial arts or other sporting event and taken pictures and not been happy with what you got? Were the eyes red and demonic looking, or did the subjects look like blurs or whispery ghosts? Here's a couple of suggestions to help you improve your shots.

1 - Know your camera settings.

Most people simply put their camera on "automatic" and hope for the best. This works in most cases, but action shots require a bit more knowledge to get right. Check and see if your camera has an "Action" or "Sports" mode. These settings use preset settings from the manufacturer to try and optimize your camera to capture fast moving action. While not perfect, it will usually improve what you do get.

2 - Use your Flash.

Yes, even in what to you looks like a nice and bright room, using your flash can help to "freeze" the action for your camera to catch it, and will add some pop to your shot.

3 - Enable Red Eye protection.

Many current pocket cameras today include a mode that ties to minimize those evil glowing demon eyes you get when using flash. Red eye is caused by the flash being too close to the lense, and the flash being "seen" in the eye. This is part of why professional photographers use those special grips and have the flash way up over the camera. If your flash is too harsh, try taping a little tissue paper over the light to soften it. Be aware that doing so will shorten the range and brightness of the light.

4 - Know what ISO your camera is set at.

Simply put, properly setting your camera's ISO will improve your pictures. A low ISO like 100-200 tends to be sharp, clear. High ISO's like 800-1600= ten to be on the fuzzy side, and grainy. So, why use a high ISO? The higher the number the more light sensitive your digital film is. Use a high ISO in low light situations.

5 - Take some test shots.

Digital cameras are great in that you can take as many shots as you want and not have to worry about bad ones. Before the event, take some test shots and preview them on the screen. Delete the ones that are really off, tweak your settings and try a few more.


Sports photography is a fun activity, but getting the best quality shots takes a little work. I hope that these tips help you enjoy your photography more.


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Bob Hubbard is a professional photographer specializing in martial arts event, nature and portrait photography. He is also the CEO of SilverStar WebDesigns Inc, a web design and hosting company specializing in martial arts sites, as well as an administrator on the popular martial arts communities MartialTalk.com, Kenpotalk.com and FMATalk.com. His martial arts photography can be found there as well as at his martial arts photography web site, martialphotos.com. He may be reached through these sites.
Copyright © 2008 - Bob Hubbard - All Rights Reserved
Permission is granted to reprint this article on websites, blogs and ezines provided all text, links and authors bio is left intact.