OK...the last time I even attempted to get into a "woman's world" discussion I was plummeted with what felt like half cooked cauliflower about the head and body.  I need help!  : )

A friend wants me to shoot a CD cover and inside cover pics. Never have done that but will give it my best effort...to the problem:

I have suggested clothing options for the band, mostly saying what should not be worn due to lighting and  some clothes causing confusing backgrounds. For instance, a mandolin will be lost against a wild red and blue shirt made of large squares of color.   For the lead singer, a lady, how to approach her?

I plan to ask what she usually wears for their concerts and go from there, treading gently.  I know better than to "tell" a woman what to wear.   The scars remain...     I know she should not wear white or black and for this instance a one piece waisted dress of  light brownish to blue should do fine but not white or black or highly patterened. 

This thread is actually more true than laughs...I will let you know how it goes after I give her a call tomorrow evening.   Oh my!   Memories of those peltings from the other time still remain.

TomDart.

Maybe you should do it in a more diplomatic way... for instance... Don't tell her what to wear, or anyone what to wear for that matter, what needs to happen is for you to tell them what type of background you are thinking about and let them decide the clothes, because ultimately, they NEED to be who they are or it won't seem real to anyone who knows them... you can give them a couple of choices and if they're a colorful group, you'll probably want to have solid backgrounds in mind... Remember artists need to be themselves, or they'll hate the CD cover... You've got postwork in your favor...  Another idea is to take a few shots of different clothes on them and show them what happens with each different look, I think they'll come around to what needs to be and you'll save your feelings getting getting pelted again...    just MHO... Akemi

I think that is one golden rule a man should never 'tell' what a woman should wear unless he's a fashionista himself lol. May I ask how old she is? And the theme of the photoshot? How to approach her? Causal yet professional, and since your doing a CD cover and the insides of it find out what sort of look she wants to achieve. Then ask her if she knows what she would like to wear. You also said that black and white or highley patterned is out, so does that apply to the whole outfit? or are those definately out? And doing this over the phone might be tricky, so maybe you can suggest to her bringing the outfits she had in mind and doing some test shots?

Hey, some good ideas going on here Tom... the ball's in your court....

This is good advice..thanks!   The theme is a "rural country" look with bluegrass music...not fancy but like music along a country road.  I do have a truck to use for one prop.

The lady lead singer generally dresses for concerts in a one piece dress of a suitable color for the shoot.   Simple and fitting to the music is how she generally does it.  She is not outrageous in dress for concerts.    Her choice would likely be just fine and modest...but...who knows till that day?

I suggested not black or white for one reason:  The location is iffy on lighting and my times for the shooting are not totally in agreement with the band.   I believe I should control that part but still timing is iffy and I do not want extreme tonality in the original shoot of the band members.

Agreed, they should be "themselves" or each as each is.  Yet...not outrageous for this try.  Typically, they dress like country guys in bluejeans and rather simple shirts.  That is no prob but I still do not want a bright white shirt on one and a black shirt on another.  The guys will be easier to work with overall on dress as I see it.

Am I going the right direction here?             Tom.

Sounds like you are to me... Maybe you just needed some moral support from the females here!!! LOL!!!!! I think you'll do just fine... Now you've got us all waiting to see the final results???

Actually, moral and baisc human support is truly the main issue....the band is pushing for an earlier release date than expected and I at least need to do a walk through of the area of the shoot prior to doing the work.  This is all outdoor shooting with the truck (second image in my gallery) as the main prop.

Perhaps the idea of even doing this is making me think too much about it...but there are several ideas already worked out for photos with collaberation of the band.   Just to get it done!  I do always want a plan to work from and not try hit and miss, with a chance of something better happening on the way.

Not knowing the weather conditions, postponing is possible. We hope for fine weather or something interesting besides rain.   The location provides lots of opportunity for good  group and individaul shots as well as "theme" shots for the album.

Likely,  I will be able to use all natural light with perhaps a reflector or two as needed or a diffuser  for some individual shots and instruments with all that metal reflection.

Sure, when the work is done and complete, there should be no problem letting the folks here see the results.  I can go with that revelation...either way.  For me, 'tis a new world in this photography thing I love.

Tom.

I love that truck! This sounds like such a FUN shoot, Tom. If you could find some old wagon wheels and a coupla haybales would that add to your ideas? AND... Wouldn't it be great if the guys are wearing jeans maybe the lady singer would have a skirt with a denim jacket.? I am a musician and every singer I know has some denim in their wardrobe. Especially country and bluegrass! GOOD LUCK! I hope you share some of the results! Jodie

Sounds like you have already gotten some great advice here.

I was going to suggest denim as well.

Good luck with the shoot and I look forward to your sharing your results with us.

Well, as of tonight the wait to see the results of my CD cover/insert photography is on hold.  The band is so anxious to get the albumn printed they moved up the photography date to this coming weekend, Saturday.    Then, the entire band could not be there until 4p.m., the very worse time for lighting at that location.   The also, I had a commitment about 20 miles away at the same time the last band member would be able to arrive... so, cancelled for the time being.

Still, this is not a bad thing.  I expect to do publicity shots for them and shoot photos for the "real CD".  This initial printing of the albumn is for sale at performances, a simple single sheet on the cover thing.  I think this is a mistake but that is how it is.  I have learned a lot on this entire procedure so far and will do what I can to make a real photo session possible.

One thing they did not seem to understand is that photography is no less demanding in planning than the work they do.  Haphazard is not the way they record tracks and not the way I want to do photography.  This early date would have had everything possible wrong with the location and would be off-the-cuff haphazard.   Oh my, artists of the same sort working together is one thing and artists of different sorts is also often difficult.  

We will see how it works out in the future on this CD album photo session.

Thanks for all the valuable input.  BTW, I did speak to the lead singer and only ask here what she planned to wear...that was safe enough and it went well.

Tom.

Great news Tom! Don't forget us here on Rendy, so when is done show your work here or on a gallery!PLEASE!

seeya  Tunde