ben maffin asked:


What is a photo shoot?

A photo shoot can also be called an “assignment”. It is worth noting though that an assignment can be more than just a photo shoot, or not one at all. It could be a “cat walk” assignment (usually called runway) or a “promotional” assignment (where models stand about smiling a lot).

Always make sure that you know what your assignment actually is. You can do this by looking at the brief which you will have been given. North West Model Agency will always give their models a briefing sheet before the undertake a job.

One important point which a lot of models fail to consider is the number of people involved in a photo shoot. It is unlikely to be just you and a photographer. North West Model Agency suggests you expect at the very least three people.

Generally speaking the more senior the photographer the more assistants they will have. The assistant photographers will be in charge of making sure the equipment is set up correctly and will sometimes do ‘test’ shots to make sure the lighting is correct before the proper shoot. There can be more than one technical assistant on a larger shoot.

As well as the photographer there is likely to be the person who is commissioning the shoot, or a representative from the company. They are unlikely to get too involved in what is going on, but bear in mind they are the people paying the wages. What they say, goes.

Time is money in the modeling world, and it is in the interests of the commissioning party to get the best shots from the models in the smallest amount of time. This will have the effect that most of the models for the day will not be staggered i.e. they will all be milling about with stylists.

If you decide to take a chaperone, ensure they do not interfere with the shoot and they do not get in the way. If you are unhappy with something (which you should not be, having read the brief) inform whoever is in charge. It would be career ******* to allow a chaperone to get into an argument with anyone, bear this in mind if you think taking a girlfriend or boyfriend along with you. They are there to make sure you are safe and take you home, not to argue with any of the staff or get in the way.

The Photo Shoot Brief.

North West Model Agency will always produce a photo shoot brief for their models. This is not something all agencies do, and it is certainly unlikely that any work you find yourself will provide a photo shoot (or assignment) brief sheet.

The photo shoot brief will determine what the shoot is for, its outcome, the location and contact details of the person in charge or assigned liaison officer. North West Model Agency use a pro forma briefing sheet which will be filled in for you. You will also need to sign it to say you have understood the brief.  

This way all parties know what to expect and the photo shoot will go smoothly and in a professional manner. North West Model Agency’s reputation is based on three core principles: Gold Standard, Professional Conduct and On Time. We expect all our models to adhere to these principles and North West Model Agency in turn treat the models to the same standards.

Where can they be?

Photo Shoot – “The Studio”

Photographers generally need an area where they can control light. The best way to do this is to use a full service studio. Studios can range from the very small (think a small lounge in a house) to the massive (think aircraft hanger).

Generally most shoots will be in a studio somewhere in between the two. A lot of older buildings in cities have been turned into photographic studios as they are cheap and have a large amount of space.

Within a studio there is likely to be a white room. This is literally a room which is white and allows the photographer to get quick shots without any backdrops spoiling the view. Most glamour modeling shots will be taken in a studio like this as it is easier for the photographer / editor to edit the finished photograph. Think “Zoo” or “Nuts” cover. White rooms are also good for test shots for Fashion photography before going outside on an expensive shoot. They allow the photographer to see how good the fashion items look on the model.

Studio’s can contain lots of other types of room, but the white room is generally the stock and trade as it allows backdrops to be brought in.

If you are doing body part modeling this is almost always done in a studio with speicficallly controlled lighting.

Photo Shoot – “On Set”

Set modeling lies somewhere between studio modeling and outside modeling. Usually this will be in an inside location, but not actually a professional studio. The reason for this as while a studio environment is ideal to control light sources, it is not always practical to try and build a set in a small studio given the time and cost this would incur.

The photographer / director will have to make a judgement call about using a location. The lighting is not usually as predictable as a studio but you can still control much of what is needed using reflection boards and lighting rigs.

On set modeling can be used for literally anything. From a photograph for an IKEA catalougue to a **** glamour shoot in a fancy hotel. The list for set photography is endless, and will largely depend on the reason for the shoot.

A disadvantage with set photography is the locations are not designed to have large numbers of technical and model personnel in one space. The photography may also be slower and more frustrating if various shots need to be taken in various areas all the equipment will need to be moved.

Photo Shoot – “Outside”

As any professional photographer will tell you, natural sunlight makes for a superb shot. Natuaral sunlight however is not a variable which is easy to control; this makes out-door shoots harder than their studio or on set counterparts.

Be prepared for long waits and cancelled assignments if the weather turns bad. Also remember to wrap up warm if it is cold, having organized freezing photo shoots in Liverpool’s Albert Dock straight after an assignment in the Liverpool Echo Arena North West Model Agency suggests taking a warm coat every time.

Any photographic or promotional material coming out for summer will probably have been taken at least in the winter. Those happy looking models on a beach playing volley ball in this seasons sports gear may well have been freezing. It is not always glamorous to be a model and quite often it can be boring if you’re forced to sit around for long periods of time.

..and Beyond

It is worth remembering that you can literally get sent on an assignment anywhere. The best way to think is if someone has been there, they might want a photo shoot there. While it would be great fun to spend time in Antigua on a Glamour Shoot, or Milan on a Fashion assignment, most shoots will be studio and UK based.

Photo Shoot Preparation

The amount of preparation you will have to undertake will depend on the brief. Generally speaking photo shoot preparation takes numerous forms:

Make sure you get to the shoot early. Always take an umbrella. If you have had your hair done, the rain will quickly undo it. If female, take some make-up. You never know if the stylist will turn up. Phone the photographer / agency if you are going to be late. Do not get your hair cut before the shoot unless the shoot organizers know about it (or you are doing a body part shoot). Take bottled water with you and lunch. Keeping hydrated is important! There can be lots of sitting about doing nothing so take a book. Avoid MP3 players as you will need to be listening out to when your call comes in. Missing this will only frustrate the technical crew.

Will I get paid?

This is the age old question which we have covered in other articles. North West Model Agency will always agree a fee with you before you take an assignment. There are times when a fee is not appropriate, but you will know in advance.

It is North West Model Agency’s promise to you that you will get paid where agreed (in the same way that you promise to turn up to the shoot on time with a professional attitude).

Not all work is paid work. If you are starting out modeling many models will do free photography to build up their portfolio. This has pros and cons. Remember that a “free” photo shoot may actually end up costing YOU money depending on location. Also consider what happens if the photographer does not turn up or they decide not to give you the prints?

While it may seem like a cheap and easy solution, going into modeling without an agency such as North West Modeling Agency it may actually lead you to losing money and reputation.

What will the photos be used for?

The first question anyone going into modeling must ask themselves is “Am I comfortable with my parents / sister / gran seeing the photos I am going to have taken”? If the answer is “No” you’re in the wrong business, and this article has just saved you a whole lot of heartache.

Unless you are a top model it is very unlikely you will be able to dictate what will happen to your photographs. This is usually the contract you enter into: you get paid, the photos will be used for whatever purpose they have been intended. They may even be sold onto a 3rd party or licensed.

While it is great to think that your photo will appear on the front cover of Vogue, it is worth having a think about some of the other publications they may appear in, including online ones. Basically once it’s out there, you do not have any control what happens to it.

Is it safe?

Always make sure you know where you are going and how you are going to get back.

The brief North West Model Agency will give you will have this information on, but many private shoots do not have the same regard for their models safety. As assignments can last all day it is possible that late night travel will be in order. Even if you have your own transport, make sure you park in a well lit area as close to the assignment venue as possible and let someone know where you will be and what time you are expected back.

Photo Shoot Conclusion

You should find photo assignments for all types of modeling fun. It’s why you’re doing it right? Saying that as with any job the hours can be long, and the pay might not be much especially when you are starting out. Seeing your professional taken picture in a magazine or on a funky website however takes a lot of beating, and most models just do not get that far. Make sure you are represented properly and you know what you are going to be doing. If you are interested in becoming a model, get in touch with North West Model Agency. www.northwestmodelagency.com

Chris Jensen asked:


Do you think your little one is the cutest baby in the block? Let him or her join the Great American Photo Contest and let the different voters decide. This is one of the best and oldest baby photo contest websites that can be seen over the internet today. Many people agree that this website has a great collection of the best baby pictures around.

Click Here For Great American Photo Contest Limited Free Trial!

You can have your baby enter the Great American Photo Contest and you can be the next monthly winner. You do not need to pay a certain amount to have your baby included in their monthly contests. All you will need to do is to log on to their website and simply follow the instructions.

It is important that you choose your baby’s cutest picture when entering this contest. Winners are determined through the most number of votes which are summarized every month. To date, more than a million baby pictures have already been featured in this contest.

The baby pictures in this website are organized into different categories so that voters can view the different entries in an easy and orderly manner. The different categories include Editor’s Picks, Twins, Me and My Pet, Funny Costumes, Cool Shades, and Bath Time.

If you think you are better at telling which baby is the cutest than taking the cutest baby picture, you can always log on to the Great American Photo Contest as a voter. But if you have that competitive spirit and you really think your baby has the cutest pictures in the entire country, then now is the time to prove it. Fame and fortune is just a press of a button away. Keep on capturing the cutest looks of your baby on camera and you might just be the next monthly winner. Have fun!

Derek Renald asked:


Photo blankets have been available for personalization and customization for many years now. With changes in technologies and photo clarity, these personal renditions of life have grown and changed as well. Photo blankets are available in a variety of style, but how can we know what each style offers. Comparing photo blankets is a great way to decide which is best for your needs.

Woven photo blankets are most often created from cotton or acrylic yarns. The images chosen for the blanket by the consumer appear as woven patterns. Taking an up close look at woven photo blankets, the consumer will notice individually colored yarns combined to make one large image. Similar to a woven rug, the end result is a clear image from afar, with a grainy result up close.

Woven photo blankets are finished in one of two ways. The edges will either be left in a fringe edging, where the yarn pieces are hanging freely, or in a bound edging. The fringe edging may have a tendency to fray after numerous washings or heavy usage. The bound edging, on the other hand, leaves the woven blanket with a border of color, similar to a photo frame.

Knitted photo blankets are produced in a similar manner to woven photo blankets. While these blankets tend to use both cotton and acrylic yarns as well, the photo image remains woven, in this case, knitted directly into the fabric of the blanket. The knitting result feels just like a knitted sweater. Again, the far away look of the blanket produces an overall total photo, but when an up close look is taken, separate yarn pieces, knots and colors render the picture unrecognizable.

Photo blankets that are knitted also have a stretchy quality unlike their woven alternatives. The photo knitted into the blankets tend to blur and disfigure when stretched. After a period of time, the fabric will lose the ability to retract and the image with remain stretched and deformed.

The yarns used in the manufacturing process of both woven and knitted photo blankets tends to vary, as does the selection process. Some companies use a machine and computer program to select the proper yarns colors through an automated process. This automation does make for a faster turn around time, but if the program is off on a shade or two, the resulting blanket may not look like the photo at all.

The second yarn selection process is completed through hand selection. Individuals choose each color by comparing different yarn shades to the original photo. While this process may seem more intimate, each human eye sees colors in a different way. A teal to one eye may look like a blue-green to another. The human selection process tends to yield a photo blanket resembling the original photo exacting as seen by the person choosing the yarns.

While hand selection and machine selection are both used for full color woven and knitted photo blankets, monochrome or black and white images are generally produced from two colors of yarn, black and white. Unfortunately, using only these two colors removes the residual rainbow of grays present throughout a black and white photo.

A photo blanket creation that is not produced from a knitting or weaving process is picture blankets. These photo blankets take the photo image and reproduce the same image onto a blanket surface. The production process is similar to the printing process of a digital photo and the resulting blanket is just as clear. When the photo is dyed onto or into the fabric, there are not separations of color as with the knitted product. Only sharp photo lines and images both up close and far away.

Unlike the woven and knitted photo blankets, picture photo blankets reproduce the image directly into the fabric. The colors are identically matched just as they would be with a digital photo print. Due to this difference in the manufacturing side of the blanket, there are no mistakes or color variances. The photo from which the blanket is created, is the same photo the blanket displays.

Black and white photo blankets are also available from the picture photo blanket process. Unlike the woven and knitted varieties, again, the picture is printed or dyed into the fabric using all of the colors present in the photo. If there are ten grays, ten grays are used in addition to the blacks and whites. The end product, when grays are used, tend to be clearer and display an increased depth of image.

Another difference between the woven and knitted varieties and the picture photo blanket is the ability to render an almost dual use blanket. The picture photo blanket is backed with a solid color fabric of the customers choice.

All three types of photo blanket creations are offered in various sizes. Ranging from a lap blanket size of 30” X 40” to a queen bed size of 60” X 80”. With every photo blanket the rule seems to stand that the larger the blanket, the larger the original photo image should be in order to produce the best end result.

The processing times for the photo blankets tend to differ as well. While woven and knitted photo blankets tend to take anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks to process (shipping time will be added onto the end of the processing time), the picture photo blanket processes in 3 to 7 days.

While the photo blanket is not a newcomer to the gift giving industry, never before have their been so many different photo blanket creation processes to choose from. Photo blankets can either be woven or knitted from yarns or dyed in to the fabrics. All three processes offer a different look, feel and end photo result. Whether you decide on a weaving process, knitting process, or photo reproduction process, your memory will appear on your photo blanket. The only way to choose which photo blanket is right for your needs is to learn about them all.

Joseph Sicurella asked:


An art work is considered as a perpetual source of joy. Posters are somewhat like an advertising tool used for a promotional & visual communication purpose. It is the most effective & successful means of putting the information across regarding the any event, election, health programs, movies, protests and products etc.

Posters embellish the walls of the room, malls and many other avenue places of entertainment. The most common types of posters taken in use are: movies posters, celebrity posters, motivational posters, sports posters, ****** posters, cars posters, fantasy posters, door posters, cartoons posters and music posters.

Art posters craft the particular mood, define the atmosphere of the room environment and reflect the possessor’s personality. For example: Posters observed in the rooms of teenagers or adolescents illustrate their particular lifestyle.

Gradually posters have gained their importance in the field of motivation as by some means, they are cultivating the ingredient of enthusiasm in the minds of the people. Such types of posters in the office premises helps people to remain focus as they are constantly reminded of their goals & ambitions.

In order to elevate the morale of the working staff, nearly every organization is utilizing a spiritual & inspirational poster. Hence, posters are the silent teacher imbibing the good values in the human beings.

Art posters have become so famous that they are used for auctioning purpose. In art poster auctions, people purchase the reprints of an art on the posters. Its popularity has increased so much that people have no qualms shelling out the embarrassing amount of money for buying such posters.

WallPlace is the best source for all of your art needs from wall décor to vivid images to celebrity photos, posters, art prints. You can find the multitude of choices with the rock-bottom prices over here.

Here at WallPlace, with an immense aesthetic appeal, our Artist captures the conceptions, expressions and renderings on the surface of a canvas, plak, paper etc. to get your posters done the way you want them to.

Sarah Williams asked:


High Quality Materials

The hardback cover of a professional wedding photo book can be personalised to include one of the most compelling images and can include text as well. Corner protectors can be added to ensure that the book retains its good looks wherever it’s stored while a hand bound finish, a silk ribbon, and various other personalised features can be added once the photo book printing stage is complete.

Presentation Is Everything

By using the Bags of Love photo book printing service to create your wedding photo book you can collect the best photographs from everybody that attended your wedding or use professionally taken photographs. A presentation box or presentation tin can also be provided so that your wedding photo book will look almost as good when it’s not being used as when it is.

Let Bags Of Love Create Your Photo Book

Immortalising your special day can be done in many ways and the use of photo memory books like a wedding photo book is an ideal way. Guests and those that were unable to attend will undoubtedly want to see pictures taken throughout the day and by offering a wedding photo book you can relive the big event yourself as well. Photo book printing from Bags of Love is both affordable and very high quality ensuring that you get the best results from your pictures. We individually work with each picture in order to optimise it for photo book printing guaranteeing an attention to detail that isn’t generally offered with other wedding photo book printing services.

Chris Jensen asked:


It can be difficult not to notice baby pictures. Pictures of infants and toddlers always appear to be cute and they never fail at grabbing our attention. If you are planning to enter your child to a cutest baby photo contest, there are certain things that you might want to think about. What kinds of poses would give you more chances at bagging the prizes? How can you take really cute pictures of your beautiful baby?



Click Here For Great American Photo Contest Limited Free Trial!

You will need to think about certain criteria that a cutest baby photo contest might have if you really want to win a prize. You will also need to remember that there lots of other cute baby photographs that the judges will be able to see so you must come up with ways that will make your cute baby stand out.

If you are stuck thinking of what kinds of photographs to take, you might want to think about the eyes of your baby. The eyes of babies tend to be disproportionately large compared with the other features of their face so they can really tell so much when a baby is happy or sad. Emotions can easily be seen through the eyes of a baby so you might want to take a picture of your baby while he or she is laughing, giggling, sighing or crying.

You can also opt to dress up your baby and take a picture that tells something about his or her personality. There are other times that you might want to dress your baby like a grownup and he or she will still look cute.

A cutest baby photo contest indeed makes you think and challenges you to take pictures while your baby is playing or eating. They tend to be really cute when they are engaged in everyday activities.

Chris Jensen asked:


Running out of ways on how you can have fun with your baby? You can enter your little bundle of joy to a free baby photo contest and discover ways on how you can best show off your little one. These free baby photo contests do not only have the potential of making you a celebrity in your community, you can also have the chance to win some extra cash.

Click Here For Great American Photo Contest Limited Free Trial!

The question is: what kinds of photographs can give you good chances at bagging the rewards? Making your baby pose for a perfect shot is not as difficult as it seems. It can even be easier than what you expect. You can take hints from pictures taken by winners in the past. You can also read more about photography in books and on the internet.

With all the photo contests that different clubs and organizations have come up with over the years, there appears to be certain poses that enable contestants to bag prizes in a free baby photo contest. One is a pose that tells about what your baby can do now. Babies and toddlers tend to grow fast and it is always great to take pictures of their different milestones. You can enter photographs that show your baby’s first smile, their first step, their first attempt at crawling, and many other things that they can do that show signs of their development.

Pictures taken while babies are eating are also popular winners in photo contests. No matter how messy babies may seem to be, pictures of them eating always seem to turn out really cute.

You can also take a picture that tells much about your baby’s personality and have this as an entry in a free baby photo contest. These pictures can be taken while your baby is taking a bath or when he or she is laughing his or her heart out.

Sarah Williams asked:


Greater Uses For Digital Photo Prints

Other advances in the field of photography include a greater range of uses for digital photo prints and digital images. While paper photo prints were comparatively rigid in their application, digital photographs can be applied to many items offering not only large photo prints and photo collage prints but many different customised photo items. This is also due to the simultaneous march forward in the world of printing so that large photo prints can be printed onto large canvases and items crafted from many other materials.

Large Photo Prints On A Variety Of Materials

Less than two decades on photo prints are no longer confined to paper or even to canvas although these options have also improved for the average home user. Digital photo prints can be printed from many home computers using inexpensive photo or all in one printers making digital photo prints the cheaper alternative to standard photography. However, one of the greatest benefits in digital photo prints remains their versatility.

Customised Photo Items





With some good design and image selection, large photo prints can even be added to customised photo wallpaper. Like any other rolls of wallpaper this can be applied to any room of the house but the big difference is that you can choose the design. Want a mural on your wall but don’t have the artistic ability or the patience to draw it yourself? Large photo prints on customised wallpaper offer you a viable and impressive alternative. What’s more, you don’t have to stick to a single large photo print either with photo collage prints offering a unique alternative.

Making The Most Of Your Digital Photo Prints

Digital photo prints have changed the way we take and store photographs. Items from handbags to wallpaper and even cushions and blankets can now sport your favourite digital photo prints and because of the quality of the latest printing processes the images are printed directly onto the material in question making the finished items longer lasting and much better quality.