Bluff it as a fashion photographer

By Chris Stevens on 21 December 2006

1.  The idiot
2.  Using flash
3.  Stay relaxed
4.  Be creative
5.  Pick and choose

6.  Tweak the image
7.  Choose the style
8.  Use Photoshop
9.  Print it
10. You're a pro!

3. Stay relaxed
You could be the best photographer in the world, but if your model is uptight, nervous or downright scared, then you'll end up with a memory card full of dud photos.

A professional model is paid for his or her ability to relax into a shoot and inhabit a character, rather like an actor. But even professional models can require coaxing, expecially if they're used to a different style of shoot.

Regardless of whether you're going for a moody, dark tone to your photos -- like a shoot for Dazed -- or a happy, carefree look -- for a mag such as Cosmo -- you need the model to be relaxed.

Paradoxically, a happy model will usually be able to pull off an angry, moody look better than a unhappy one. You'll also find that a model is more inventive when he or she is uninhibited and may come up with ideas to improve the shoot.

To lift the spirits of the model in our shoot, the photographer told amusing anecdotes and imitated a yak. You won't always have to go this far, but remember to keep things upbeat.

Now that film is effectively free, there's no excuse not to be spontaneous with your approach to fashion photography. Sometimes the best way to get a good photograph is to get the model to act as if he or she is being filmed, assuming multiple poses in rapid succession.

You can fire off a massive run of shots in the space of a few seconds and pick the best ones later. This will give your pictures a much more dynamic feel, as well as increasing the likelyhood of a 'happy accident' -- the essence of many great photographs.

< Using Flash Be creative >

E-mail this
Print this
Share this...
- del.icio.us
- digg this
- Reddit
- Slashdot
- StumbleUpon

Join CNET Australia Free newsletters, post to forums and win prizes. Join now - it's free and easy!

Related links

Master sports photography in five steps

You thought you had the perfect snap of the runner racing pass the 100m mark, until you realised you managed to catch only the heels at the edge of your screen. What happened?
Fixing four common digital photo problems

Think you have a problem with your picture? We show you how you can correct them.
Seven tips for better digital portraits

Portrait shooting can be truly challenging but we've collected seven tips to help you capture shots that will stand the test of time.
Shooting in black and white

You can make or break a black and white photograph. We have the tips to show you how to make it work for you.
How to perfect your pictures

Who said the camera never lies? With the aid of simple image editing software, you can turn average looking pictures into photographic masterpieces. Here's how.
Too sexy for your camera: portraits in motion

Fashion photography lessons - how to take compelling pictures of someone who is moving fast in front of a distracting background.
Techniques from the Photoshop pros

Photoshop gives you a plethora of tools for manipulating graphics, but you can go beyond basic techniques to advanced effects with these secrets from the pros