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My First Ever Model Photoshoot: German Girl With Dreadlocks

July 25, 2003

The following images are scans of slides I shot during my first ever model photoshoot at the Kapiolani Park in Waikiki, Hawaii. Well, she was not really a model just an acquaintance and I was not really a photographer but the above title is the easiest way to describe our experiment.

The date was 2003 but I am writing this post in 2009 because I am going through my CDs which have been in storage during the past few years.
Any photographer who looks back at his or her early photos knows how bizarre, humbling and funny this experience can be.

A lot of seemingly forgotten memories and details get recalled while looking at old pictures so I will try to incorporate those with comments and critiques I can come up with in hindsight.
My first model was truly beautiful with symmetric face and dreadlocks which is somewhat unique for a German girl.

Beautiful portrait of German girl with dreadlocks

3/4 profile photo focusing on strong jaw and lines created by dreadlocks

This being my (and her) very first photoshoot I had no previous experiences to fall back on or already made mistakes to correct so I was taking pictures of concepts and compositions which seemed pleasing to my eyes.
Framing the face with dreads and accentuating strong features via the jawline works here nicely, the direction the model is looking at is not the best.

Quiet simple introspective portrait

This being my very first model photography session ever I tried several vantage points and compositions quite possibly without much thinking. Even if the process was not conscious the resulting photos good or bad offered the first of many valuable learning experiences.

3/4 portrait photo of beautiful German girl

A much better crop, I remember thinking she had Madonna (not the singer) like quiet beauty and this angle really complimented her features.

Close-up beauty shot with white Hawaiian plumeria flower

A nice exotic close-up portrait that works well except a little more space given to the bottom of the photo would have shown the full bottom lip.

Intimate beauty photo with peaceful confident expression

A wider version is a lot more balanced and looks less claustrophobic. Perhaps placing the model’s face a bit off center and placing something darker behind the white plumeria flower so it contrasts and stands out more could have made this photo better.

Close-up beauty shot with strong eye-contact

A bit better composition than above, I remember trying to fit in as many elements (puka shells in hair, necklace and plumeria flower) as possible without giving the portrait a boxed-in look. Her head does look boxed in and another shot with a wider crop would have worked better.

Creative use of sunshine and shadows for fashion concept

I used to be into placing shadow patterns on bodies and faces, clearly this being the first try. One must be careful as highlights and shadows look differently on pictures than in real life when the scene is too contrasty.

Beautiful composition of beautiful model and interesting accessories

Early on when I saw something in the viewfinder that I liked I would try to further explore it from different angles using different compositions. After the previous standing photo was taken I placed a white bed sheet I brought as a prop on the ground.
As the model laid down the shadow pattern nicely zigzagged over her creating an interesting visual.
The unfortunate thing was that her pinkie was cut off. I always study all my photos with very critical eyes making mental notes of mistakes so in the future I would be composing more consciously.

Beautiful German girl with long eye lashes smelling white hawaiian plumeria flower

One of the earliest examples where I used diagonal lines for a dynamic composition. There isn’t one horizontal or vertical line in the photo which gives it excitement and more life and personality.

Confident beautiful portrait in open shade for beautiful light

I always liked how power, confidence and femininity mix; this is a good profile photo example of an intimate engaging eye contact.