Hey Jonesy, since I shoot everything in "raw" format, it does no good for me to white balance my shots. However, I do white balance because when I look at my LCD screen on the back of my camera....I want to see some good skin tones. But ultimately, I do all my white balancing in post when I convert the raw files to jpeg files.

When I white balance my camera (or my video camera), I use this product and it does a great job!

Always great stuff Dean!

who are your favorite photographers...adult and non-adult?

What is your basic PP technique?

Do you shoot raw or JPG?

Hey Dean,

I dont know squat about photography whats a good camera to purchase for pro results?

Thanks!!!

I love Arny Freytags work (Playboy), Stephen Hicks work (Penthouse & many other mens magazines) and I love Misha's work (mishaonline.com & danni.com). These are all shooters in the Adult Entertainment Business. A few non-adult shooters that I like are Annie Leibovitz and Greg Gorman!

PP technique? Hmmm, not sure exactly what you mean. Can you clarify?

I shoot everything in raw format and convert using Adobe CS2 Camera Raw.

If you don't know squat about photography, even the best cameras won't give you pro results. It's all about what you know - not what kind of camera you have. If you are interested in learning photography, you should pick up a small kit like this and some beginner photography books and start shooting. That's the best way to learn :thumbsup

Your Photoshopping technique?

Dean,
As you already know I love your work. LOVE IT!!!

A few questions for you....

1) I see in the pics above what looks to be a Kinoflo off to the right. Is that your focus light? If so, what color temp bulbs you have for them, daylight?

2) What lens do you use the most for 3/4 and full length shots with a good depth of field to really get that nice blur background? Are you doing a fat lens like a 85mm f1.8 or are you going larger and being further away?

3) I understand white balance, but don't understand the difference between a 18% grey card and a true white card. Is it personal preference, or does the grey really produce better color?

BTW... I would love to see more Dean in action shots. :-) Those are very helpful.

after i posted i remembered you saying you shot in RAW in anotehr thread.

reason i asked about WB is Ive just been researching the technics of different photogs - some WB in raw some dont ect - take all the info and find what works best for me.

i really think its cool of you to share info like this.

the company selling that gray card is going out of business due to quality control issues - the new owners of that comapny are using a paint that peels off the board - too bad because i was going to buy one!

yup a pic is worth a thousand words :thumbsup

those pictures are amazing.. kudos to you! :)

hell yessss.....

Do you have the 70-200mm f2.8 IS yet? If not, you may want to compare size and weight with the newly released 70-200mm f4 IS. The f4 is not exactly light, and the f2.8 is about twice the weight. You'll notice it if you're hand holding.

That's assuming you don't actually *need* to go down to f2.8 :) If you do arty farty bokeh shots then disregard :)

dean, what does TTL mean? :)

Thanks DWB :thumbsup

I have daylight balanced bulbs in that box. I use it for shooting all my video and also use it as a focusing light for pics when I need one.

I'm using my Canon 70-200 F2.8 IS lens for those kinds of shots. That is my favorite lens to use :thumbsup

I actually use white when I do a white balance. Some people swear by using grey and some people like white. I've only used white and it's worked perfectly for me so that's what I use.

I'll keep that in mind :winkwink:

Thunderstorms, Tornadoes & Lightning???

tomatoes, tacos and lettuce? how's the diet?

get ready to shit yer pants!! TTL= through the lens :thumbsup

Hey, wussup Dean...good thread! :thumbsup

I'm sure you have been asked similar questions before. Since you shoot mostly for others maybe not, but when you shoot and run a site, you do get members (surfers) writing in asking about whether you bang the models and what not. So in that respect it is a legitimate question.

In glam photography, most of the pro photographers I know treat the models like Princesses. The fact is, most pro models know several other models and photographers, so the grapevine stretches out pretty far, and if they have a bad experience with you, others in the industry are certain to learn about it fast. Therefore, if you value your reputation, you act professionally during your photo/video sessions.

Also, as Dean indicated in answer to another question, for most people shooting professionally, it is fairly rare to be alone on a set with a model. I always welcome models to bring someone with them, plus invariably there will also be a make-up person, other models, or a production assistant(s), etc. onhand.

To operate efficiently, the number of people on a set is best kept small (especially when shooting video, where sound is also important), however it is fairly rare to be one-on-one with a model, so there would also be witnesses if there was anything untoward going on.

Now, I can't speak for all other photographers, but for myself and several others I have talked to that shoot on a regular basis, we rarely ever get aroused during a shoot. My mind is so focused on technical issues (lighting, composition, story board, video transitions, etc), that odd as it might sound (especially when shooting hardcore video), but sex is the last thing on my mind.

Granted, we are often working with beautiful women, but in the end it is still work. I will be honest and tell you that when I do post-production, yeah, I am very happy if I happen to get aroused, because that means I have a set/video that should have a similar effect on the people that pay to see my content. Hey, photographers are human too...

With that said though, I'm always so busy that I rarely look at my work except when I am prepping it during post-production, since I am already getting ready for the next project...

:2 cents:

ADG Webmaster

very good input ADG . . I have similar experience, I do however work one on one with the models for the most part.

and have done an extensive amount of POV work as well. . and even then my mind was on the 'work' . . is this angle right, how much time is on tape, what move do I need here, what's the dialog now, is this shot exposed correctly, is this the right transition, will this edit smoothly and is it time for the pop and are the angles and light correct, is the model responding correctly, etc . .

shooting gals is NOT an easy job and very few can handle the circumstances and drama surrounding models to get the shoot in the can so to speak. -bmb

nice work dean :thumbsup

btw, how much is the total cost of your equipments?

thanks for the tip. no THREADJACKING!!!!. lol

:1orglaugh

I basically just import the image into Photoshop CS2, resize it, fine tune the color, contrast and exposure, do any retouching or enhancing that I feel I would like to do and the last thing I do is sharpen the picture. It's not rocket science but it does take some practice :thumbsup

Another great job there, Dean. :thumbsup

damn she's so fucking hot!

Hi gang, had fun with this yesterday - we'll do it again soon :thumbsup

Dean, in the set up pic you were so kind to show, you are standing a good distance from the model, my guess is you are shooting with a relatively long lens (my guess is 80-200), is that always the case ?

btw..i am gonna give you a run for your money one of these days...hopefully you will invite me to one of your workshops..

Awesome pics, work man!

i always love your pics man. heres a bump cuz i'm not a shooter. but people like me do rely on people like you. :thumbsup

It's not always the case but it was for this picture :winkwink:

:thumbsup

BTW, I forwarded your information to Sharon F, she is looking for photogs who could be interested in her nice upscale house in Encino..hopefully she connected with you. I think Garrett has shot there a couple times already..

Yea - I got her info. I wondered how she found out about me :winkwink:

Thanks for the connection!

on your meter, how do you have your DIP switches set

for example, from left to right: down, down, up, down ?

:)

Well, I never talk about my DIP switches with people that I've never met :winkwink:

Were you in town this past week for GlamourCon?

negative :upsidedow

Another Great Shoot. Awesome man.

I thought I had read somewhere that Kari was in town for GC - just thought you would have been there with her. Was she here?

Wow!! She is fucking HOTT!!!!!!

I am shaking this one off. I am not throwing another fastball.

Nice pic :)

When people ask me how to take bad ass photos...I say this:

1) Shallow depth; open your lens up to 1.2 and throw away your cheap slow lenses. People interpret shallow depth as "good." That's a fact that photographers love to deny for some reason :1orglaugh

2) White balance; if you shoot digital make sure you balance on something actually white (or use warm cards, etc). There is a company that sells a grey card and white balance card on one flexible fold up shade type thing...it's $30.

3) Know the difference between tungsten and daylight and read up on the subject until you understand it. Using auto white balance on your digital camera will make a set of photos look like total crap.

4) Master your zones (I don't mean ansel adams zones...but focus/exposure zones in your viewfinder). Some cameras I see have really good zone wheels...others are hard to get to. These are everything when it comes to exposure and auto focus. You should be able to change zones and pop off shots without thinking.

5) Use auto focus.

6) Always use aperture priority. If your shutter speed goes below 1/60th you need more light or a tripod.

Can you please address this advice? I've been using it for years to teach people how to take good pics. I truly believe that if people follow these rules their photos will be better than that of 95% of what's out there.

My current equipment is a Canon Powershot A520.