Erman Y Photography » fashion

Fashion Photography Tips

admin — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:47:20 +0000

For the last six days i’ve been publishing different articles about fashion photography. To make them easier to find and easier to read for my viewers, i merged them into one article.

In the last post i tried to define fashion photography. And now i’ll give some tips to the ones who are interested in fashion photography. This is a first part of a tips series about fashion photography which will continue to be published during this week. You need a good camera, a tripod and a lighting system for taking fashion shots.

[ad#content2]

Research and Learn

Just like in every other kind of photography, you need to search a lot of magazines, view lots of pictures, to have enough knowledge about it. Examine the lighting, poses and expressions of models in these pictures. Also you have to be familiar with your equipment; first of all your camera, than lighting system. Practice until you get totally get used to them. You have to be able to adjust your lighting and camera settings for any condition to be a good fashion photographer.

Also for beginners, it is important to learn using daylight since they do not have a studio, shooing outdoors is the way for getting good results. Early morning or afternoon are really good times for taking fashion shots. To learn more about using daylight; read Colors and Using Light in Portrait Photography

Team

In fashion photography and glamour photography, you need a team that consist of a hairstylist, stylist, make-up artist and a photographer. If you are seriously interested in fashion photography, you need to have all these specialists in your team. For starters maybe you can be a one-man team, but this will only work in your learning stage, not in semi-pro or pro level. If you are just trying fashion pictures and don’t have an intention to be a pro, learn about make-up and hairstyling just a little and try to perform them before your shooting session. But as i told, this system work only when you are learning and trying to get used to the camera and lighting system not for professional works. If you need to be in the market eventually you need these specialist in your team.

After working different stylists, make-up artists etc. you’ll find some of them more successful and more reliable. Bringing all these specialists together will create a team for fashion photography.

Finding Models, Make-up Artists, Stylists and Hairstylists

Modelling agencies, can provide you not only opportunity to contact and find models, but also provide chance to find make up artists, stylists etc. For the beginners, starting with semi-pro models are better for learning and test shots. Another channel that you can find models, stylists and make-up artists is internet and all its tools; such as forums, communities, web sites, groups. Search for the groups and communities on the internet. This will increase your chance to find specialists and models at you level when you are a beginner. Because agencies generally have the contact information of professional make-up artists and stylists. But i really doubt most of them will want to work for a beginner fashion photographer with a small portfolio. I personally believe internet is a better source to find the specialists in your level.

Internet provides you the greatest source to make necessary connection for the job, fashion photography. Also design schools are good for making connection with the designers. Especially young and passionate designers will be more willing to work with you. Speaking of young designers, i also want to remember you, younger stylists, hairstylists, make-up artists, designers and models are willing to work for free in exchange of a copy of the film or digital image. In fashion sector portfolio is everything and young specialists surely want to increase the amount of work in their portfolios. Also read my article about finding models. And working with models

Equipment and Studio

I’m not going to explain all the equipment you need in detail. I guess you already have an opinion about that. Simply you need a camera, tripod and a lighting system. In addition to these equipments, some extras like batteries, memory cards or films, reflectors, flashes, diffusers can be needed in fashion photography. Again internet provides a great source for the photography and studio equipments. You can buy used or new equipments on e-bay for reasonable prices.

Having a studio is really costly and unlikely to have for younger photographers, but eventually you’ll need one. Not for professional purposes but for learning you can build your home studio for really cheap prices. Read my article about building your own studio.

Keeping you equipment simple but effective gives you a ease of mobility. Also less experienced models can feel uncomfortable while working with a huge pile of equipment. A quality digital SLR camera, a tripod and reflectors are the only things you neet to begin.

Markets

This part is for the photographers who are living in the USA. New york market for fashion and fashion photography is really hard to get in and compete. As a foreigner (to US) i can say that European market is easy to penetrate compared to US. Especially European cities like Paris (France) and Milan (Italy) are providing rich sources in terms of fashion and fashion photography. These fashion capitals of Europe have more runway shows and fashion magazines, which makes it easier to find jobs and chances to gain experience as a photographer, for a photographer. Europe is also provides chance to find, undiscovered talents and beauties, especially in countries like Scandinavian countries and eastern European countries there are a lot of beautiful talented and willing young semi-pro models. Consider this option If you also want to be a talent hunter. In other European countries, fashion industry may not be as big as Italy and France but still they provide a nice opportunity to have a bright career. It is easier to shine in smaller fashion industries of these countries. A quality portfolio will help you to get noticed by the local and international fashion magazines.

Also remember; your portfolio only shows the technical abilities and knowledge of you. If you want to separate yourself from the sack, you need to show signs of talent and creativity. To show these your pictures should be different, aesthetic and impressive. My advice about this, is getting inspired and increasing level of knowledge about not only fashion photography but also other genres of photography. Also cinema, fine arts and all other kinds of visual arts can help you to get a different perspective. Sometimes a picture that you see on internet, that taken just for fun, can make the bulb on your head shine.

—- End of Fashion Photography Tips —-

Fashion Photography Tips; Markets

admin — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:52:50 +0000

<< Fashion Photography Tips Part 4; Equipment and Studio

Fashion Photography Tips Part 5;

Markets

[ad#content2]

Also remember; your portfolio only shows the technical abilities and knowledge of you. If you want to separate yourself from the sack, you need to show signs of talent and creativity. To show these your pictures should be different, aesthetic and impressive. My advice about this, is getting inspired and increasing level of knowledge about not only fashion photography but also other genres of photography. Also cinema, fine arts and all other kinds of visual arts can help you to get a different perspective. Sometimes a picture that you see on Internet, that taken just for fun, can make the bulb on your head shine.

—- End of Fashion Photography Tips —-

Fashion Photography

admin — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 23:05:13 +0000

Fashion photography is a kind of photography that takes clothing and other fashion items as the subject. Fashion pictures are often taken for advertisements and for publishing the item in the fashion magazines like, “Vogue”, “Allure” etc. Main porpose is to show thew beauty and quality of the fashion item. It could be a dress, neckless, t shirt, shoe, hat, actually anything that related to fashion, clothing and accessory.

[ad#content2]

In fashion photography, as a photographer do not let the model get ahead of the fashion item(s). Do not forget that, the main aim is not showing the beauty of the model which is a subject of another genre of photography; glamour photography. Use the model as a stand for the clothing in your pictures.

This is a picture that i took which can be categorized as fashion photograph.

Glamour Photography Part 2

admin — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 18:19:10 +0000

How to take glamour pictures?

As i defined in the last post, Glamour photography, is producing the most physically appealing picture of the model. So basically we can say trying the show the model more beautiful than normal in your pictures should be your main concern in Glamour photography. To take glamour pictures, you need, a camera, a model, lighting and some photography equipment. But having all of these together doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be a successful Glamour Photographer.

[ad#content2]

First you should decide whether you want to be a professional glamour photographer or you just want to try this genre of photography. If you want to be a pro, you need to work hard and spend some money. If you just want to try and see what you can do, you can work with amateur models and home-made equipment.

Being a pro in Glamour Photography is quite hard, since there are so many successful photographers in the market. As a newly graduate from an art school it could be hard to compete with the “big dogs”. In this case you should learn to use light in different conditions, to be familiar with the settings of your camera to set the exposure perfect each time, to work with models, and should practice a lot. If you don’t have a studio or you don’t have enough funds to build a new one, don’t worry, you can always take the pictures on location. But you should have the equipment, like lighting systems, flashes, reflectors etc. If you have the necessary equipment studio wont be a problem.

Whether you want to be a pro or not, to take satisfying pictures you should learn how to use the light in portraits. In glamour photography, sharp shadows and too bright areas on model are not desired. You need to diffuse the light. It is not possible to take good glamour pictures without getting familiar with the use of lighting equipment and light itself. Read my posts about the use of light;

Using Light in Portrait Photography

Of course this writing alone is not enough to teach somebody about lighting in photography but at least you’ll get an idea about it. to learn more, you should read about it and practice.

Finding models and working with models are another issues of glamour photography. In order to have good results, you should know how to communicate with models and how to guide them for good poses. But first you have to find a model. If you are an amateur and looking for an amateur models, you can just ask a good looking friend of yours or try local art classes. For the ones who have an intention to be a pro i strongly advice working with professional models. Of course it is costly compared to buying a drink to your friend for the modeling but success is not a cheap thing… Success will consume your money and a lot of time until you get it. You can find pro or semi-pro models from modeling agencies. If you are asking “How will i find modeling agencies?”, just write the name of your city + “modelling agency” to the search bar of google and bingo. Actually Internet provides huge opportunities to find models as it provides huge opportunities for everything else. There are some websites that amateur or semi-pro models can be find especially in USA. To learn more about finding models and working with models read the articles below

Finding Models

Working with Models

Photography; Finding Models

admin — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 01:50:23 +0000

If you are planning to take model, fashion or glamour photographs, you’ll need models. But how will you find models or if you want to work with an professional model how will you reach her? The answer depends on what kind of model do you want to work with. It could be somebody who have no modelling experience, a semi-professional model, a professional model or an elite world-star model.

[ad#content2]

Amateur Models;

Amateurs do not earn money from the job, or the job is not primary earning source for their living so you don’t have to spend money for working with amateur models (maybe a little). And you can easily reach them, asking friends, searching at deviantart.com or simply asking people from your neighbourhood. People won’t say NO if you ask gently and tell them the reason why you are taking these pictures. If you convince the models that you are a talented photographer and your job worth for the effort, they’ll accept your offer.

Semi-Pro and Professional Models

Reaching semi-pro models are relatively easy, because generally they do not take job offers as often as professional models so they probably will be more willing to accept offers. However to work with semi-pro models you may have to spend money (but not so much). Pro models can be more demanding, you need to pay them a considerable amount of money, for some models you have to be an experienced photographer etc. Pro Models are generally local celebrities (not famous in the whole world but famous in your country), so it may require quite much effort to reach and persuade them to work with you (but money has a big persuasion power). In this case you may be not able to reach them in person but you can call their agencies and ask for an appointment. Before talking to model talk about the price and all other conditions. To find out which agency he/she is working with type her or his name and type “agency”, (ex; “model’s name” agency) to the google.com you can find the necessary information to contact.

Elite (World-Star) Models

Money is not enough to work with this class of models it also requires prestige. Money is not enough but you need a lot of money to work with them, mean huge amount of money. As far as i know you need 60.000 – 80.000 € approximately 90.000 – 120.000 $ to work one day with Alessandra Ambrossio. If you are interested; this is her web page: http://www.alessandraambrosio.com.br/ and this is her agency’s web page : http://www.elitemodel.com/. As contacting with pro-models, you may reach the elite models by their agencies but your chance is quite low unless you are a experienced and known-photographer.

Links;

Amateur and Semi-Pro Models

There are lots of model communities on the web so go and search for a model in your region or city. In the links below you can find amateur, semi-pro and pro models;

Net Model.com

Jurgita ; You can find lots of models in jurgita from amateurs to top models like Adriana Lima

DeviantArt ; DA is an art site that artists (painters, designer, photographers) share their work. Photographers often write name of their models and place a link below the picture that directs you to the model’s DA profile (if he/she has one)

You can search the google for more sites.

Pro Models and Elite Models

For these classes it is better going to agency’s webpage rather than model’s personal page. Again you can search for agency directories and modelling agencies in your city or country by using google.com.

Fashion Gates

Fashion Model Directory

Fashion Model Directory – Top Models

Storm

Marilyn Agency