Hi all!
I guess I generally consider myself pretty lousy at photographing people.You can pretty much tell by my album haha.. I prefer mostly the inanimate that i don't really have to "pose" or "please". And by "please" I mean, I can take tons of photos and don't have to care what anyone else thinks of them, but as soon as I start taking photos of people, I feel like I have to make them happy with the product too and I think that makes my confidence go down for some reason.
So, in short, I need some technique! I have done a few portrait sessions with people and there were a few good things that came from that. It's much easier to work with people who kind of are natural behind a camera and love to move around and be photographed. But anyway, my friend wants me to photograph him and I told him I would love to because I really want to work on this!
But, I don't have any ideas when it comes to where to go, how to get him to pose, etc. We're thinking more "fashion" /modeling type stuff, he has some cool outfits so that's good. We'll try to do some indoor stuff and some outdoor stuff, and just have fun with it. But of course I am already feeling a bit nervous about it and want to have some general ideas going into this without showing up and just being like "durrr i don't know!"
Okay... So IMO, fashion photography goes generally in two direction... editorial (artsy) and commercial (advertisement).
When you open a fashion magazine and look at the fashion editorials, there is generally an art component to those images. The clothes/hair/makeup are just the medium to express the message. The point here is to make the images as non-mundane as possible. Limits are pushed and the audience can not normally connect with the image, which makes it extraordinary. This is why I call it more art photography than everything. If you look at magazines, you'll notice the poses aren't as naturally or not common. Often the models aren't smiling. The communication happens more with the body language and the eyes.
Everything else is generally commercial fashion. This is more about selling the product. It could be as boring as catalog to more interesting as lifestyle images. Often, the purpose of the images is to connect with the audience and make the audience believe they can obtain this "lifestyle" by buying the product. For example, you will see commercial "lifestyle" fashion in the windows of fashion stores. These people are generally smiling and enjoying whatever moment that the image portrays. The images feel real and obtainable. In this category, I think the model is also part actor, playing a believable character.
So my suggestion is to first determine what you want to do: Editorial Fashion or Commercial Fashion. I suggest commercial fashion cause it takes a special model to pull off editorial. Then unless you want to do boring catalog images, develop a concept of the lifestyle you want to sell. Of course, it should work with the clothes (i.e. Hip-Hop clothes may not work together with a corporate lifestyle).
Then look at magazine ads that contain that lifestyle that you are trying to recreate and study what the model is doing to sell that lifestyle.
That's my 2 cents that I've learned about shooting fashion.
I don't know if looking at these old images of mine helps you... Shooting people like anything else takes practice. If your out in public looking for interesting and moving images... well you have to go to where the people gather and then blend in and keep your eye open to the life that unfolds before you.
As far as setting up "model" shots... it's best to find someone that catches your eye and inspires images in your mind. Once you've done that enough you have the practice built into your memory then you can work with more and more different kinds of people. hope that helps.
I guess from my point of view a fashion shoot is somewhat different to a portrait shoot.
Typicality you can get away with poor lighting in a portrait as it can add to the image, where with a fashion shoot you need to craft your light some more.
Now having said that is a rule of thumb.
I guess the best bit of advice I can give is to have fun....
Take a stereo and pump out some tunes. Relax and go with the flow. Don't take it too serious and just work with the moment and the area you have.
You will be surprise how they turn out if you just let go of any issues you may have.
Here are a couple of money shots:
Leaning against a wall/tree/what ever wearing jeans with the thumbs in the pockets at a 45 degree angle. Head can be up or down and I would take both.
Arms crossed on angle and straight on (don't do this with girls unless they are really really tough girls).
Leaning over a rail.
You can also try this:
Ask the model to stand there and every second you are going to take a photo, when you take that photo they have another second to move into another position before you take the next. Continue this for about 60 seconds. i.e. 60 photos.
Reassure the model and tell then that they are doing a great job and looking good. When they dont look good also tell them but suggest they move into another position and why.
Communication is the key. When I am shooting I am talking to the models most of the time, and you will be surprised how much more comfortable they feel.
I have taken really shy subjects into the centre of town with people everywhere and taken photos and these subject have felt right at home.
I get strangers asking to join in, wolf whistles (I am sure they are directed at me), talking and pointing, but I find that if I keep the model/team engaged they don't notice the people and they tend to lose some of those nerves. It also works for the photographer. :)
Where to go. Select a place that either matches the subject or is the complete other end. For example: business suit in the jungle, sports in board room.
I always have a rough plan and use that as a guide then adjust as the environment and mood changes through the shoot.
Go on flickr and troll through the portrait groups and get some ideas. Send these to your model asking for feedback and suggestions. Get them to troll through flickr and do the same. If everyone has buy in then and everyone is on the same page then it makes it easier.
If I have a story that I want to see, i will tell the model the story and get them to be the actor. For example: Lean over this rail and think that you have just lost the love of your life, think of how that would make you feel, etc etc.
Sorry I could go on and on and on, so I hope that helps.
Did you check out my last four shots, they're with a male model. Its easier for a male photographer to pose a male model, so I wonder if you'd be best starting with a girl? Anyway what to do, where and how are the big questions, you should do a couple of shoots in a strong location, like the the business district of a city or in the woods, to get the feel for shooting someone, then worry more about themes and concepts as you get used to it. But the advice above is super. Good luck, but it will spoil you, afterwards shooting a photo of a cup/landscape/building seems a bit futile.
@davetom thank you some good things to think about and consider before i begin!
@agima great ideas, i love the 60 poses in 60 seconds thing. will try that!
I will take a look at flickr too, always good inspiration there.
@chewyteeth i love those shots! unfortunately, i will be starting with a male because the opportunity has just come up. I am generally more comfortable around men (sometimes), so maybe that will help anyway. thanks for the tips! oh i think i will always still love shooting rotten decaying buildings no matter what happens haha ;)
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When you open a fashion magazine and look at the fashion editorials, there is generally an art component to those images. The clothes/hair/makeup are just the medium to express the message. The point here is to make the images as non-mundane as possible. Limits are pushed and the audience can not normally connect with the image, which makes it extraordinary. This is why I call it more art photography than everything. If you look at magazines, you'll notice the poses aren't as naturally or not common. Often the models aren't smiling. The communication happens more with the body language and the eyes.
Everything else is generally commercial fashion. This is more about selling the product. It could be as boring as catalog to more interesting as lifestyle images. Often, the purpose of the images is to connect with the audience and make the audience believe they can obtain this "lifestyle" by buying the product. For example, you will see commercial "lifestyle" fashion in the windows of fashion stores. These people are generally smiling and enjoying whatever moment that the image portrays. The images feel real and obtainable. In this category, I think the model is also part actor, playing a believable character.
So my suggestion is to first determine what you want to do: Editorial Fashion or Commercial Fashion. I suggest commercial fashion cause it takes a special model to pull off editorial. Then unless you want to do boring catalog images, develop a concept of the lifestyle you want to sell. Of course, it should work with the clothes (i.e. Hip-Hop clothes may not work together with a corporate lifestyle).
Then look at magazine ads that contain that lifestyle that you are trying to recreate and study what the model is doing to sell that lifestyle.
That's my 2 cents that I've learned about shooting fashion.
I don't know if looking at these old images of mine helps you... Shooting people like anything else takes practice. If your out in public looking for interesting and moving images... well you have to go to where the people gather and then blend in and keep your eye open to the life that unfolds before you.
As far as setting up "model" shots... it's best to find someone that catches your eye and inspires images in your mind. Once you've done that enough you have the practice built into your memory then you can work with more and more different kinds of people. hope that helps.
Typicality you can get away with poor lighting in a portrait as it can add to the image, where with a fashion shoot you need to craft your light some more.
Now having said that is a rule of thumb.
I guess the best bit of advice I can give is to have fun....
Take a stereo and pump out some tunes. Relax and go with the flow. Don't take it too serious and just work with the moment and the area you have.
You will be surprise how they turn out if you just let go of any issues you may have.
Here are a couple of money shots:
Leaning against a wall/tree/what ever wearing jeans with the thumbs in the pockets at a 45 degree angle. Head can be up or down and I would take both.
Arms crossed on angle and straight on (don't do this with girls unless they are really really tough girls).
Leaning over a rail.
You can also try this:
Ask the model to stand there and every second you are going to take a photo, when you take that photo they have another second to move into another position before you take the next. Continue this for about 60 seconds. i.e. 60 photos.
Reassure the model and tell then that they are doing a great job and looking good. When they dont look good also tell them but suggest they move into another position and why.
Communication is the key. When I am shooting I am talking to the models most of the time, and you will be surprised how much more comfortable they feel.
I have taken really shy subjects into the centre of town with people everywhere and taken photos and these subject have felt right at home.
I get strangers asking to join in, wolf whistles (I am sure they are directed at me), talking and pointing, but I find that if I keep the model/team engaged they don't notice the people and they tend to lose some of those nerves. It also works for the photographer. :)
Where to go. Select a place that either matches the subject or is the complete other end. For example: business suit in the jungle, sports in board room.
I always have a rough plan and use that as a guide then adjust as the environment and mood changes through the shoot.
Go on flickr and troll through the portrait groups and get some ideas. Send these to your model asking for feedback and suggestions. Get them to troll through flickr and do the same. If everyone has buy in then and everyone is on the same page then it makes it easier.
If I have a story that I want to see, i will tell the model the story and get them to be the actor. For example: Lean over this rail and think that you have just lost the love of your life, think of how that would make you feel, etc etc.
Sorry I could go on and on and on, so I hope that helps.
@agima great ideas, i love the 60 poses in 60 seconds thing. will try that!
I will take a look at flickr too, always good inspiration there.
@chewyteeth i love those shots! unfortunately, i will be starting with a male because the opportunity has just come up. I am generally more comfortable around men (sometimes), so maybe that will help anyway. thanks for the tips! oh i think i will always still love shooting rotten decaying buildings no matter what happens haha ;)