When Photographing A Model, On Location Versus In A Studio, You Should Be Looking To Tell A Story, With The Two Main Objects Of The Shoot: The Model And Product To Be Sold, If Only One…Such As, A Designer Gown The Model Is Wearing. How Do You Tell That Story? Well, That’s Where The Fun Comes In!
Though I Believe You Can Rack Your Brains Over Ideas, I Feel Photography Is A Form Of (Not Literal) Magic In Itself, In That There Are Things That Happen No One Expects, Often Better Than Imagined, When On Location And All Aspects Of The Shoot Come Together…Hair, Makeup, The Model, The Clothing, The Accessories, The Location And/Or The People At That Location, The Weather, And, Of Course, The Photographer And Whatever Equipment They May Be Using.
So, Having A Loose, Inspired Idea Of Where You May Want To Shoot Is Often How You Should Start And Should Be Dependent Upon How The Garment And The Model, Or Models, To Be Featured Inspire You. So, If You Are Photographing A Model With A Feline Face And Slinky Body, In A Gown That Shifts Effortlessly In The Wind, This May Inspire An Ethereal Quality. And That Inspiration Should Be Your Vision For Your Photo Shoot And For What You Want To Convey…For The Model’s Purpose, If A Test Photoshoot For Their Portfolio, Or, For A Client If The Garment Is Their Design, Etc.
And, Recognizing IF This Lends Itself To The Established Brand, Or Reputation, Of The Client Or Model, And/Or Could Take Their Brand Or Look In A Welcomed Fresh Direction, Could Lead You To Choose A Misty Day On The Beach Or An Older, Quite Historic, Part Of Town For Your Location, For Example. Once There, Try To Scan The Area And Find The Focus; Meaning, Not Every Angle, Doorway, Sidewalk, Building, Etc. Is Going To Complement The Vision For The Photoshoot.
The Focus Has To Be The “Scene” For The “Story” And Not Unlike Acting, The Model Has To Be Able To Visually Exude The Mood For The Scene…And Understand The Mood You Wish Them To Convey To Fill Out The Story, Then Successfully Demonstrate That Mood While Engaging In Activity Consistent With The Story You Have In Mind.
So, To Keep It Simple For This Example, You May Wish To Capture The Model In That Designer Garment, On A Cloudy, Misty Day, Almost Lost In Thought Or Even Pensive, When Seeming To Explore An Enigmatic Street…As If A Beautiful Tourist In A Dreamy Town, Unaware Of Her Own Beauty, As The Storyline. This Is A Wonderful Way To “Capture” The Model, And Those Amazing Moments That “Make The Shot” As You Work Within The Changing, Interacting Environment Of Most Locations…It Is Those Moments Where The Garment Looks The Most Beautiful Upon The Model, While Her Face Reveals The Message You Want To See And Her Body Motion Is Consistent With This Theme Or Action That Fulfill The Visual Story.
And, By Virtue Of Such, The Resulting Images Should Move, Or Inspire, In The Audience, A Desire To Inhabit This Possibility Of What Life Could Be Like, Like Going On A Literary Journey, Except Offered As Visual Prose For Others…Thus, Their Interest In Purchasing The Designer Garment You Featured Is Peaked Per Seeing How It Has Been Incorporated Into A Beautiful Life Scene; Hence, The Point Of An Editorial Ad For A Designer.
And, This Works For The Model’s Portfolio, Or “Book”/‘‘Digibook”, With Images Showing They Can Effectively “Sell” A Product For A Client By “Working An Outfit”….And With That, I Will Post Next Time And How To Coach A Model On “Working An Outfit” For A Test Photoshoot, Or If Booked, By A Designer, For An Ad!
Warmly,
Evita E.
Aka Fashion Fotog Evita, @Fashionfotoge, Etc.
A Former Model Turned Photographer And Creator, Creating And Writing About It All…As I Like To Say “Life Is Music [Or Fashion] In My Eyes!”
Related Links:
Instagram.Com/Fashionfotoge
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