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Looking for tips

Hi, I was asked by fashion designer (I know her from many years as I am buying clothes from her and we are now in closer relationship) to shoot image campaign for new autumn collections. I am a little bit terrified as she will travel from Warsaw with model, so I would like not to disappoint her. What is good this is smart casual fashion I am very familiar with and definitely I am target group of it. Any tips or good tutorials how to shoot fashion are more than welcome. I have still 3 weeks to prepare myself.

26 comments

agnieszka bladzik outdoors or indoors? it might sounds silly, but check YT - there are plenty fashion blogers showing how they shoot 'outfit of the day' - it might be helpful for you. Also if it's outdoor I wish you nice golden autumn weather for the photo-shoot

Magda Korzewska The plan is for outdoor by the sea session. She wants to have rather bad weather, clouds, wind, grey atmosphere. I hope there will be no rain. Thanks for advice, I will search for blogger tips.

Magda Korzewska Haniu rzucę okiem w księgarni, dzięki za linka

Ian Prince Congratulations for winning the commission Magda! Yeah, I'd be terrified too! That said, I'm sure things will work out just fine for you :) Do you have any reflectors? As you know, light is the key to any photography. Getting the light "just right" shooting outdoors can be tricky and reflectors should help giving you some control...

vera Yes!

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Magda Korzewska Actualy I have one from santa claus, with different surface (gold, white, silver) but never use it. Need to practise before. I have also softboxes just in case lighting is very bad, but as we are going to shoot in remote area on the beach, I can not imagine how to use them without power supply. thanks for pointing this.

agnieszka bladzik kultura.trojmiasto.pl/3-Festiw...
Sobota, 9 września 2017

11.00 Zuza Krajewska - Narzędzia Fotografa Mody - warsztaty (obowiązują zapisy) - Sopocka Szkoła Fotografii

Magda Korzewska dzięki Aga, mogłoby być dla mnie super, to fotograf z górnej półki, ale sobotę już mam zajętą :(

Gogi Golzman first of all
good luck for your first fashion session
don't be too nervous. its not that hard as you all might think
you have a great advantage as a woman ... you know what compliments for a model and what not
if the model will be professional than you are half way there =]

check out this channel
she is a fashion photographer
she has a lot of session behind the scenes and tutorials
youtube.com/user/ira559
good luck

Magda Korzewska Gogi thank you so much for giving me confidence. I will have a look at it

Gogi Golzman Youre a great photographer. There is always a first time on anything
If your friend didnt like your photos than she wouldnt ask you. so buckle a smile and your best :)

Magda Korzewska thanks .. great ...I will do it the best I can, and it will be beautiful :)

Gogi Golzman that's the spirit !

Satoshi T Congratulations Magda! You never get nervous. Let's feel a photo session with a friend. I recommend you to talk with designer and model about the concept before shooting. When photographing, frequently feedback the results and incorporate requests from designer.
Unexpected things (especially strong winds) occur outdoors. I stand up the lighting equipments and reflective materials with stands in the studio, but unfortunately they are too weak for winds. What is tough in the outdoors is that it blows off in the wind like a ship's sail.
If possible, you will make use of natural light as much as possible -you know well the Buildings that can be used for reflectors and shadows-.
Let an assistant (Santa Claus😄 ) have a reflector and prepare for unexpected gusts. Prepare hairbrush and cosmetic tools carefully. As photo equipments, do not forget to prepare dust-cloth and spare batteries anyway. Good Luck!

Magda Korzewska Satoshi thanks for advices. What is good I already received "mood board" for sesion which is very in my asstetic. I have already ordered back-up battery and new tripod (as idea is to have some movie shots) and fast new SD card. I will take computer to have a look at bigger screen how it looks like. In terms of weather this is something I can not predict, but defiintely we need to have back-up plan for heavy rain.

Satoshi T You are all right @Magda . Good Luck!

Ian Prince Take at least two SD cards, I just had one of mine get stuck in the locked position...

When's the shoot planned for?

Magda Korzewska Yes, I just have bought 2 spare batteries (for some movie shooting on top of pictures), new tripod, and additional SD card. I think from this point of view I am prepared. Need to drive to the sea side and take some photo for my customer for final approval :) Shooting is planned for next Sunday 24th.

Magda Korzewska I am going to take all my lenses, but probably I will be using mostly 45 mm.

Daniel Zaleski I would suggest you to bring a trusty, good friend as assistant to help you with the details as you hold the camera, frame the shot etc. so that you can focus on the most important things.

Magda Korzewska Yes, there will be let say "customer" so we will check the frames on computer as well as my husband is going to assist us with reflector. I think we are all very dedicated to it, so it should help. thanks Daniel

ponzu I have not shot fashion extensively, but I always read advice and how-tos, and one thing that stuck with me on how to photograph a model is: "If it bends, bend it". Meaning, knees, elbows, wrists, etc. Here's a counterexample: flickr.com/photos/ponzu/584141... Legs = good. One arm (touching legs) = good. The other (straight) arm = not good. Here is a shot where we bent everything that bends, including fingers, and I think it works well: flickr.com/photos/ponzu/584141...

Use props. Give the model something random and unexpected to hold or pose against. Something that will contrast with her look and outfit. flickr.com/photos/ponzu/403423... We took hundreds of photos of this model in class, and everyone thought this was one of the better ones. Of course, in a photo class, that's about all you can find on a quick notice. You will have to think ahead. If you are shooting on the beach, bringing an elegant chair, lamp, clock or another piece of furniture would be an interesting touch.

The best time to shoot is often when the weather changes. If the client wants clouds, you probably want to wait for the moment when the clouds are rolling in or are about to break. And if the rain has just stopped, that's the best moment, right? If all you get is solid gray clouds, I don't think you or the client will be happy.

You will want to bring your own light, but make it subtle. Nothing worse than outdoor shots with obvious artificial lighting. But outdoor shots with well placed artificial light as the secondary (or sometimes primary) source are very good. I like to think of this flickr.com/photos/ponzu/240082... as an example of a successful shot using a flash. Off-camera, of course, through an umbrella, close to the models. The hair is backlit by the setting sun. Not saying that's the look your client wants, just an example of using a flash outdoors.

Bring a reflector -- and yes, bring a friend to hold it. Also known as "voice-activated light stand" :) When there is no sun, and if you don't get to use a flash, what you will end up is dark shadows under the eyes and nose of the model. A reflector placed on the ground will help with this problem -- unless this is the gloomy look your client wants.

If you can, practice these other ideas with a friend. You don't want to be experimenting -- or appear to be experimenting -- on the day of the shoot.

Good luck! Show us your photos.

Magda Korzewska Ponzu, thanks a lot for tips. I will have a look at links. I am very grateful you spent time for those advises.

ponzu I probably should not be giving advice, but I wanted to support you. Maybe I should just say: be brave and confident, and give it your best.

Magda Korzewska Ponzu actually I need both :)