Top Model TV Shows

I've been watching Australia's Next Top Model this series, and while the series is focused on the models, there is a lot that is educational for photographers.

When shooting with beginning models or non-models, it falls to the photographer to coach those in front of the camera into producing a great photo. The feedback from the judges and the model coaches in the series provides insight into different ways of getting the best out of a model.

It helps me to hear the concerns of the models. In my first shoots my attention was on gear; the least important bit of a shoot. Model confidence and styling matters much more in getting great images.

The photo shoots sometimes show some interesting techniques. I love the pictures from last week's night shoot in Japan. They were shot in low light with a 1 second exposure. The difficulty came in having the model stay still without appearing tense. This is where a talented model can shine.

Be warned that not all of the variants of the show are useful. The British version seems to be aimed at soft porn, New Zealand is a bit low on production values, and the US version tends to be all about Tara, although rumour has it that this series is an improvement.

I find the Australian version the most useful. The focus is more on producing a professional top model than on reality television.