I am looking for a simply and fairly inexpensive mannequin head and/or upper torso to use to practice different lighting arrangements.

1. What materials most accurately reflect like human skin?

2. What manufacturers are recommended?

I went to the local beauty supply and got some wig heads. You might want to contact a special effects shop, or a magic shop and see if they have anything you can use.

Try Ebay, about $120 a few years ago. Unfortunately I had to pay for the whole thing, the bottom half is still in the box.

I often use a mannequin before a real person enters the set. It really helps with adjusting backlights and kickers especially. I found ours on the local craigslist. She was from the 60's. I wound up dropping about $200 for the mannequin and $100 for the fancy wig. I can't count how much she has saved us in time as I can pre-light the set by myself before anyone else even arrives. I can't say that the flesh tone and reflectivity is anything like a human, but it gets me 90% there.

Thanks for the responses. Does anybody have a suggestion as to the material, and whether that matters for imitating human skin tones and the way light reflects off of them?

theres a place in NYC that sells manniquins for 75 bucks

theres a place in NYC that sells manniquins for 75 bucks

Any chance you can narrow our search down a bit more than just NYC? Might take me awhile to ask every store in town :-)

Seriously though . .. that is a great price and I would love to know where it is.

Thanks!

Bill

You guys need to get yourselves some more crew...!!

http://www.aafiber.com/mannequins/Female-Mannequin.php


Here you go!!! So glad i can finally contribute!

http://www.aafiber.com/mannequins/Female-Mannequin.php


Here you go!!! So glad i can finally contribute!

Thanks for the link. I am ordering two of them for use in the studio!

Bill

What will thier names be? Mine is named Molly. Im thinking that maybe someday we can have a reunion. Im sure Molly would love to see her relatives!

I have had lots of fun with Molly, when she is not busy helping me in the studio with lighting, she often participates in my hijinx around the home... Put one in a closet fully assembled for an unsuspecting colleauge, or spouse! Have your video camera going because the reaction as they say is well....PRICELESS!

Sometimes Molly will sit in my car seat all night long while parked on the street....


Okay u see where im going with this!

On a serious note i have found the color of the maniquin to be pretty close to flesh tone for lighting practice

Nino: if I read your file name right on the attached mannequin photo, that's single point lighting? VERY nice. I WAS going to suggest more "rim" backlight but for traveling ultra light with one light, that's pretty nice. Great "subject" too.