Utilizing successfully striking

Utilizing successfully striking

locations is a great way to

make your fashion sparkle

photography more interesting.

Chapter 2 ■ Shoot on Location 12

When clients are just standing in front of the environment, it draws a great deal

of awareness of their clothing and pose, whereas if they are getting together with the

environment, there is great emphasis placed on the story and surroundings.

Also, when subjects are able to interact with the surroundings, it is a bit like

assuming the mindset of a character in a play. Realize transform into the

character they are playing. They are better able to enter the role they envision

and pose when they feel they have entered another realm.

In Figure 2. 2, the subject climbed on top of a train at noon. The light was

not perfect, but the contrast of the sky and train created this video image.

The subject could interact with the venue by sitting or standing on

some other part of the train. If the subject had simply endured in the foreground

with the train in the background, it will be a less interesting image.

Figure 2. 2

Your images will become more

interesting if you discover ways for

your clients to interact with

interesting environments.

For more information about posing and getting together with the surroundings, see

Chapter 4 “Strike a Pose. ”

For the concept of the proposal shoot in the customer

For the concept of the proposal shoot in the customer, you can work a tale into

images of the two flirting, having a milkshake, and riding home in his oldfashioned

convertible. You can improve the experience for the person and client

alike. From a business understanding, telling a tale with images gives you the

chance to sell more images, sell client books, and make the shoot more of

an experience.

You have probably seen fashion editorials in the back of fashion periodicals.

They are frequently 6-15 pages long and based around a cohesive theme.

While maintaining this theme, the shooter often tells a tale through his

images.

■ The story may be based on fantasy, with the model in a world filled

with fantastic props and surreal fairytale environments like the work of

fashion shooter Bob Jogger.

■ The story may be about consumerism and sex in society, like the

work of David LaChapelle.

■ The story may be about beautiful doe-eyed subjects-quiet, almost grieving,

appearing to be plucked from the Victorian era, like the work of Paolo

Roversi.

Sparkle for Symbol and Wedding Photography

Sparkle for Symbol and Wedding Photography

Client or Model

Sometimes your client or model will invigorate a shoot as a result of particular

look. An interest with big, soft eyes might invigorate a gentle beauty shoot with a

wreath of wildflowers on her head. An interest with a strong mouth line and short

spiky hair would invigorate an entirely different shoot.

If you discover litigant who is a muse for you, consider shooting her free of charge

(after the first session) to help you build your fashion collection. Taking photos

someone like this is a great way to push your creativity and try new fashion sparkle

techniques.

Figure 1. 3

Sometimes people on your

creative team (whether hair,

makeup, or wardrobe) provide

the inspiration needed for a

shoot.

Sometimes litigant will invigorate a shoot because he approaches you with a particular

idea. Maybe he is an equestrian and lets you know he’s always wanted an image

of himself riding into the sun regarding his horse. He provided you with the inspiration;

now it’s your job to perfect the details for an amazing image.

What are you trying to communicate about your subject

What are you trying to communicate about your subject? Is there a particular

concept or visual aesthetic you’d like to convey?

There are several essential elements to consider when preparing for a shoot with

a strong fashion influence. Wearing down a shoot into these elements allows

you to see the various areas of the shoot you can affect and the myriad results

you can achieve. Here are elements to consider:

■ Concepts

■ Location

■ Design: hair, makeup, wardrobe, props

■ Posing

■ Lighting

■ Post-processing (Photoshop, retouching, and more)

These elements allow you to take a symbol beyond just a pretty picture of an

individual. You won't be taking a person’s symbol; you will be making

a person’s symbol. You cannot expect you'll just show up and create an image that

looks like it was extracted from the pages of a fashion journal. You should begin

to consider your portraits as mini-productions. You subject is your model,

and as the producer of the shoot you must consider all elements within your

control.

6 Fashion Sparkle for Symbol and Wedding Photography

Figure 1. 1

We used a fashion pose,

choice makeup, and Photoshop

effects to manufacture a high-fashion

look that was classy and

striking for this boudoir shot.

In fashion photography, you allow your subjects

In fashion photography, you allow your subjects to become part of a piece of

art. There are no constraints and no right answers. I love fashion photography

because of the freedom it allows. I can envision anything I need and make it

come to fruition through photography. If I want to create an image of a girl

wearing a huge wig with rain and haze surrounding her, there is nothing stopping me.

In fact, I have done that very shoot, as welcomed in Figure I. 1. I had a vision, and

I desired to bring the vision of this beauty alive. That type of creativity and

freedom is issuing. Fashion photography has no constraints.

Introduction

xiv Fashion Sparkle for Symbol and Wedding Photography

If you can imagine it, you can create it. You are not restricted to what exists, because

you can modify your subject or environment in Photoshop. You can put subjects

on an entirely different background, change the color of the clothes they are wearing,

make them skinnier, and do pretty much anything you can imagine.

Why This Book

Tens of thousands of people want to become fashion professional photographers. There are

even Television shows about them. But the field is just not practical for most people.

It is rather competitive, with unrealistic career demands for most individuals.

You need to be happy to travel a lot, live in a big city, work odd hours, and

often put up with a lot of stress.