Portrait Group
Are you interested in people photography and would love an opportunity to try your hand at studio portraits? This group is for you!
The information below, including the Information for Photographers download (see link at the end), will likely answer most of your questions – please do take the time to read.
Should you be left with any unresolved questions after reading this information, please reach out to the Portrait Group coordinators – David Purdue, David Gilliver and Sam Alessi.
About the Portrait Group
The Portrait Group meets at the Melbourne Camera Club (MCC) Studio on the first Monday of each month at 8:00 pm, February to November inclusive.
Note: Studio and lighting setup starts at 7:00 pm, so if your would like to help set-up and learn in the process, arrive at this earlier time. For members anticipating hiring the Studio, helping out with the set-up process provides a wonderful opportunity to familiarise yourself with the equipment in our Studio.
All MCC members, especially new and provisional members who wish to gain an insight into the wonderful and challenging world of studio portraiture, are invited to participate in our monthly Portrait nights. Visitors are welcome to attend the Portrait Group twice before they will be asked to join the Melbourne Camera Club.
For photographers
Both film and digital photographers are welcome.
We try to run at least two light/backdrop setups simultaneously with a volunteer model for each, swapping models mid-way through the evening.
The lighting used is either studio flash or tungsten, with 100 ISO and 400 ISO film respectively being the best choice for those shooting film. Tripods or mono-pods are useful, but not essential.
Advice or assistance is always readily available, and we try to give everyone the opportunity of obtaining some excellent results. Of course, real success depends largely upon the photographer’s communication with his or her subject!
After each month’s shoot, the only other requirement for photographers is that they need to return images for the models, either as prints or as a CD or DVD of images.
If you are interested in participating in this group as a photographer, please send an email to the Portrait Group coordinators.
For models
We are always looking for keen models (male or female). In the past the MCC has had circus acrobats, athletes and actors in addition to our regular ‘fashion’ models.
Models are promised images from each photographer in return for donating their time. Images are usually returned to models after the following meeting.
If you are interested in participating in this group as a model, please email the Portrait Group’s Model Liaison Coordinator, Sam Alessi.
“Modelling for the Camera club was a wonderful experience and a great opportunity to work with a wide variety of photographers in a friendly, fun, and professional environment. The lighting set up was fantastic and I was so excited by the high quality of the pictures that were being taken on the night.” – St Clare, singer, March 2012
“I just wanted to thank all the members of the camera club for the wonderful pictures you sent me. When I visited in February the guys and girls were all lovely and I just was so amazed with the amount of pictures I was sent. Thankyou.” – Rouge Noir, model, February 2012
The Portrait Group consists of both professional and amateur photographers who have a common interest in portrait photography. These nights are a great way to further our skills, learn from each other and provide an opportunity to shoot different faces each month.
For new MCC members it is a great opportunity to learn about portraiture, observing and practicing new skills in a relaxed environment.
Our models also enjoy a great learning experience during a fun night, with the additional benefit of putting together an inexpensive yet quality portfolio of images. Each photographer delivers different results given their diverse perspectives, so models typically receive a variety of images from which they may diversify or refresh their portfolio.
Models who are keen for further work – mostly trade for prints – often make contacts on the night and follow-up for individual shoots with some MCC photographers, however this is totally at your discretion.
View a selection of photos taken at the Portrait Group on our Flickr group.
Read More ….
Meeting time
First Monday of the month
7.00pm Studio and lighting setup
8.00pm Shoot begins
Information & Contact