Tuesday 28 June 2011

FaSHiON PhoTogRApHErS's pHotOs wAlLpApErS....!!!

●► How to be a great glamour photographer ?

Glamour photography is an ever growing industry. More and more magazines seem to be hitting the shelves and websites are being created everyday and each is filled with glamour shots of all kinds.

How does one become a “great glamour photographer?” Assuming you already have a firm grasp on composition and lighting concepts, the first thing to do is study what’s out there. There are a wide variety of styles within the field of glamour photos and not all of them will appeal to everyone. Find a style you like and dissect it. The idea isn’t to outright copy existing images but to imitate them and innovate them until you have created a style that’s all your own.

One of the best resources you can have to get you through this is a model that you are mutually comfortable with. At first you are going to be paying so much attention to technical details that it may be hard to coax a model into reflecting the mood you’re after. Someone that you already have a good report with will help relieve this burden.

The technical things you are looking at all the while are things like lighting, composition and focus. Presumably you have an idea of what kind of mood you want your photos to reflect. Choosing and positioning the right toned lights is great and making sure you don’t lose sight of the end result. Everything looks good, but did you meter properly? For most glamour shots you’d want to take your light readings off of the models flesh as opposed to their clothing. Don’t let your model get too caught up in the shoot and move away from this metered light or you’ll just be wasting time and money.

I mentioned focus which seems obvious, but a lot of glamour photographers like to shoot with a remote switch. They keep their eyes on the model, often making eye contact, in an effort to keep things more intimate. The less experienced photographer can let this situation get away from them and by not looking through the lens they won’t notice the model moving out of the focal range.

When composing the shots it’s almost always a good idea to fill the frame. A glamour shot is about the model and nothing else. Taking a glamour shot where the model only takes up half the picture is rarely worth effective; however, this doesn’t mean you should ignore the background. On the contrary. The background can make or break any glamour photo. While a plain backdrop is easy it might take away from the desired effect. If you decide to take the picture in a certain setting, make sure the surroundings work with the model and not against her.

If you keep all of this in mind you will soon be able to create an appealing portfolio. This will not only lead you towards financial success but it will encourage other models to want to work with you.


 Career in fashion photography         Careers Overview:-

Fashion Photography, recognized as an extremely glamorous profession, is a highly creative and well-paid career.Fashion photographers take pictures of models wearing the latest clothes, accessories, hairstyles and make-up, for commercial use. Images may also be of fashion accessories. The photographs are used in a variety of media, including books, reports, advertisements and catalogs. This photography is undertaken in studios, and frequently in outdoor locations.It is one area that photographers with existing careers can diversify into. The various avenues for progressing in this direction include freelancing, with or without an agent; gaining employment with a retailer, fashion publication, fashion house, advertising company, fashion manufacturer or direct mail company; or by opening one's own studio.

 Daily tasks for a career in fashion photography Typical work activities include:

* Taking photographs of models on location and in studios.

* Building up good relationships with the models, so that they can relax and work well for the camera.

* Being able to work well with studio lighting to bring out the best in skin tones and textures and colors from different fabrics.

* Working well with natural bright light (location shoots often take place in sunny places).

* Establishing good relationships with stylists, art directors, agents and fashion editors.

* Identifying and securing future assignments.

* Developing a personal, recognizable style.
 Would a career in fashion photography suit you?

The attractions of fashion photography are obvious: exotic locations, plenty of foreign travel and personal publicity in fashion journals and other magazines. There is also the chance to work within the whole world of fashion and design and to associate with the glamorous people who inhabit it.To become a fashion photographer, you need to have a keen eye for aesthetic detail, a thorough knowledge of cameras and the technicalities involved in taking pictures, of light, distance and perspective. You should be inventive with the ability to visualize and communicate your ideas. At the same time, you need strong interpersonal skills in order to work with models and be sensitive to their moods.

Although entry to this career is possible, you first need to have developed a name for yourself and to have accumulated considerable experience in mail order or editorial and advertising work.As well as artistic flair, you need to be extremely confident and have the persistence to gain the work. Stamina is needed for coping with long hours and uncomfortable conditions. Freelance photographers need technical proficiency, whether gained through a degree program, vocational training, or extensive work experience.
 Salary and prospects in fashion photography
Very few photographers get to work with the exclusive agencies that deal with the top fashion work. Those who succeed in attracting enough work to earn a living are likely to be the most creative, who are able to adapt to rapidly changing technologies, and are adept at operating a business. They are also excellent at building and retaining relationships with other professionals.Entry level positions are rare, so gaining a position as a photographer's studio assistant is desirable.

A college degree in photography and a strong portfolio is usually essential. Increasingly, photographers need to know how to use computer software programs and applications that allow them to prepare and edit images.Photographers should develop an individual style of photography to differentiate themselves from the competition. Some photographers enter the field by submitting unsolicited photographs to magazines.

Fashion photography Tips •►►►

1. Fashion photography should convey an essence of authority, so your direction of the model(s) needs to be confident and self-assured. Showing signs of anxiety, stress or lack of direction will invariably be reflected in the performance of your model so make the subject feel comfortable and involved. Organise a shot list before the shoot and rehearse technique and composition for each shot in your mind. Prepare the location, props and clothes ahead of time and for a truly effective shoot be sure to communicate your agenda, objective and posing directions coherently and calmly.

2. Fashion photography is all about clothes and beauty, so pull all the elements of the scene and the model together to reflect this. For example if the shoot focuses on the clothes– use make-up and hair styling to compliment the garment – and vice versa. If you desire a provocative or seductive look opt for dark, heavy make-up and over styled hair; alternatively for an innocent or natural feel choose subdued pastel tones, gentle make up and soft flowing hair styles. Unusual looking folk bring interest and personality to the piece, whereas female models with large almond eyes, big lips, small chins and symmetrical faces are deemed “more commercial”.

3. Posing can be a tricky point to master but browse through the latest men’s and women’s magazines to target a few inspired suggestions as well as getting a grip on what is currently fashionable. Using ‘broken down’ poses or poses that require angular body shapes can add interest and edginess to the piece – as well as help to elongate body length.

4. A studio is an ideal place to perform a fashion shoot because photographers can easily control lighting and stabilise conditions. If you are shooting in a studio environment remember to meter all areas of the scene to avoid unwanted shadows and the use of a separate light meter rather than the one in your camera, will offer a more accurate reading.

5. If you can’t afford to hire a professional studio and all the pricey equipment there is a way you can cheat at home. Clear a space in a room that benefits from large windows and peg a white sheet, net or fabric across the window. On a bright sunny day you’ll have yourself a homemade soft box – ideal for flattering even light.

6. When shooting in low light or into the sun, you may require an extra light source. If all you have is flash then rather than shoot straight on, set it to bounce of a nearby reflector, wall or ceiling. Experiment with angles to create an array of effects and discover what works best for you and the scene you are shooting. Be careful to pay attention to unwanted shadows that may fall across the face and body.

7. Props are fantastic for telling a narrative within a fashion shot, but one of the best props to use is a mirror. A mirror can be a used to tell a story and act as an effective tool that allows the photographer to display the front and back of your model. Take a spate reading for the mirror and you may need to bracket your exposures here. Be careful to position yourself, lighting equipment and anything not to do with the shoot out of the reflection.

8. Location, location, location! Getting the right location is important if you want to convey a narrative within your shot. For example if the clothing and beauty styling are edgy, hard or provocative you may want to consider an urban setting , alternatively for spring/summer and natural fashions find a rural environment like; a field, meadow, beach, woodland or river bank.

9. Influence the image by moving around the scene and exploring which angles work best to full expose the garment. This could mean climbing a ladder, crouching low, working a slanted angle or moving closer to the subject. Think about what the message is here and create a composition to reinforce it.

10. Fashion photography is achievable alone, but to step it up a gear rope in a friend, family member or photography student as an assistant. Often photographers need an extra pair of hands to position reflectors, angle and reset lighting equipment, tweak the positioning of garments and clear the scene

●► Revelation of A Good Fashion Photographer

“PHOTOGRAPHY HAS THE MAGIC TO MAKE TIME STAND STILL. A PICTURE HAS THE MAGIC TO MAKE A MOMENT LAST FOREVER”

Photography is like a portal that stops time that restores memories and beauty to an object. A photograph is a symbolism of reality that recalls events that happened in the past. As the saying goes, “Photography has the magic to make time stand still.”

In the context of fashion photography, it captures the simple gestures of beauty so that it will not fade and can be seen by viewers. That is why; fashion photography is not an easy thing to do because every gesture of a model is important to depict beauty. Here are some of the tips and tricks for high fashion photography:

3 point light system:

The photographer must know the three point lighting system which is the key light, fill light and backlights. These three lights are very important to create balance and proportion to the model as well as bring out the best of the subject. If you would look at the pictures made by high fashion photographers it is as if the subjects are alive and has been preserved in a piece of paper. Moreover the trick is just to harmonize the lights used before taking a shot to the object.

Make ups:

Make-ups like foundation, concealer, lipsticks and more are important to make the subject more beautiful. Without make-ups, the subject will be dull and ugly. This can also be an alternative if the lights accidentally won’t work out. The trick in make-ups are simple, you just have to balance the skin tone of the subject with the make-up. Also, in order to remove the pimples and acne of the subject you must use concealer to remove it.

Background:

Know the background for the shooting and make sure that you have the right setting. The background is like the spirit of the picture, if the background is boring, the whole picture will be ugly. You have to make sure that the outfit of the model is appropriate to the background to make a harmonious picture. Harmony is what makes a picture look more realistic and alive because it gives life to the subject.


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