Practising Photo shoot

Today was the first time practising myself photo shoots from being behind the camera to in front.

What we needed.

Camera

Hotshoe adapter

SD Card

Reflector

Tripod

Sync Lead

Mini Boom/Boom

Beauty Dish

Beauty box 

Umberella

Kill Spill

Extension lead

What the set up looked like,

Here are a few of the outcomes 

I loved using the reflector underneath and will be using this on my final outcomes.

I really enjoyed this and had so much fun, not only learning new things but also trying them out for ourselves.

The Use of Lighting to Create a Mood

The Use of Lighting to Create a Mood

High Key Lighting

[1]

Hight key Lighting are mostly bright images, with a range of white and light tones and not very many black or mid-tones. It gives of a happy, upbeat mood.

Using a white or light pastel coloured background

Low Key Lighting

[2]

Low key is the opposite to High key lighting and depends on shadows, deep blacks and darker tones with hardly any white and middle tones. Low key lighting gives of a mysterious, dramatic mood.

 

[1] Javier Garceche & Luis de las Alas,2011, Unknown [digital image] [22/10/15] Available from: http://www.liligabbiano.com/?tag=luis-de-las-alas

[2]Anon.n.d.Unknown [digital image] [22/10/15] Available from: http://digital-photography-school.com/low-key-lighting-portrait-example/

Research
http://www.digital-photo-secrets.com/tip/3558/using-lighting-style-to-create-mood-high-key-and-low-key-lighting/

Who do you think you are David Bailey?

Our first project in digital imagery production is creating beauty shots, we need to research all about beauty shots and practice them before creating our final images. We have looked at different photographers which will inspire us when we are creating our images. Different lighting concepts, techniques and set ups.

I have started by researching about different beauty and fashion photographers.

David Bailey

[2]

[1]

David Bailey started photographing for British Vogue in 1960's, he is know for 'stark backgrounds and dramatic lighting effects', he is famous for changing British fashion and celebrity portraiture.

Michael David Adams

[3]

[3]

Micheal had a natural gift for telling a story with his images, even at a young age he was good at taking photographs. His photography can been seen in big magazines such as ELLE, GLAMOUR, MARIE CLAIRE, VOUGE, VANITY FAIR and many more.

Mario Testino

[4]

[5]

[6]

Mario Testino is known as one of the most influential fashion and portrait photographers of this time. His work can been seen am top magazines such as VOGUE, V MAGAZINE and VANITY FAIR, he has also created symbolic images for brand such as Micheal Kors, Burberry, Versace, Chanel, Estee Lauder and Lancome.



Images:

[1] David Bailey. n.d Twiggy. [digital image] [15/10/15] available from: https://uk.pinterest.com/laurawyeth/twiggy/
[2]David Bailey.n.d.Kate Moss [digital image] [15/10/15] available from: https://uk.pinterest.com/cinaya69/photographerdavid-bailey/
[3] Michael David Adams.n.d. Unknown [digital image] [15/10/15] available from: http://michaeldavidadams.com/portfolio/beauty/beauty/
[4]Mario Testino.2009.Kirsten Dunst [digital image] [15/10/15] available from: http://www.mariotestino.com/photography/portraits/hollywood/?selection=23
[5]Mario Testino.2010.Angelina Jolie [digital image] [15/10/15] available from: http://www.mariotestino.com/photography/portraits/hollywood/?selection=23
[6] Mario Testino.2002.Cameron Diaz [digital image] [15/10/15] available from: http://www.mariotestino.com/photography/portraits/hollywood/?selection=23

References:

Biography.com Editors, n.d. David Bailey Biography. In: The Biography.com website. n.d [15/10/15]. Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/david-bailey-38755
Micheal David Adams, n.d. About [15/10/15]. Available from: http://michaeldavidadams.com/about/
Mario Testino. n.d Marion Testino biography Avaliable from :http://www.mariotestino.com/biography/

The Importance of Casting a model.

The Importance of Casting a Model.

Always do a casting session it is important to see what the model looks like, even though you have seen their head shots they might have change since they had them taken. If they are too far for you to travel to see them Skype, Facetime or even ask for a recent unedited photograph of them.

Look for a model with a wide rage of poses, you need to look after your model (pay for travel expenses, food and drink). Experienced professional models will strike poses continuously, inexperienced models you will have to direct. You should keep in mind in the genre of the shoot , whilst some models can adapt they are hard to book. You should never do a shoot in the dark when working with beauty image, this can make the models eyes wide when the flash goes off and this is unnatural, especially if the model has nice eyes you want them to look natural.

KEEP EVERYONE HAPPY: keep your model happy, cool and watered, if the models happy then the photos will be natural and happy photos, don,t stress yourself or anyone out be prepared you should stay relaxed, don't overload yourself and give help if you have spare time to help anyone out.

No matter how desperate anyone is wanting the images if they are not finished do not send them, this could damage your reputation as they could no be up to standards.

Give yourself enough time, take into consideration when to set up lighting, when to do make-up etc. 

Tips.

• Direct your model using hands, be descriptive, get involved.
• Take tear sheets of poses you want.
• Always keep your model moving, don't let the model get cold ans stiff.
• RELAX- put some music on
• Communicate with your model
• Be Honest but don't be rude
• Body Language- look positive
• Good mood- Your mood effects everyone, be happy
• Fine tune your shot. Once your happy with Composition start looking on details
• Let your model know your happy with the images
• Don't rely on Photoshop
• Encourage the model
• Chose poses that suit your model, pick their best attributes& focus on something natural in the model.
• Have back-up models
• Catch quiet moments when the models relaxed.

Youtube Video- Making of Vogue Japan: Mario testino

Modelling Poses. How Women are portrayed.

Modelling poses& How Women are portrayed in them.

Men are portrayed in modelling images with poses as if they are thinking, they look strong, healthy and more importantly sane.

Women are portrayed as if they are day dreaming, they have mad awkward poses, un-natural poses and childish.

Even women of success and power are portrayed in fragile, childish poses. Which aren't natural poses in everyday life, with fingers in mouth and awkward poses.

Women are always thinking of what men see in us, we are watching us being watched and caring too much about are appearances and using things like images from magazines and Photoshop images as what we think we should look like. But all of these are not natural.

I had to do a task today and re-created a Beauty image with a class mate, one being the model and one being the photographer and switching.

In the task I first looked at the pose and the positioning. I looked at the backdrop and lighting and tried to recreate it as close as I could. I directed the model (Sian) to these poses by verbally telling her where to position her head ans where to look, but you need to physically get stuck in and move them to the position you want an help them understand maybe even show them how they need to look.

I have learned how it is to be behind the camera directing and in front of the camera. Directing is difficult trying the tell the model how to tilt and position themselves.

Also I have now realised how hard it is to be a model getting asked to move into different poses it is constant. It felt un- natural the poses we where asked to get into, it was uncomfortable for me and Sian and the poses like 'fingers in mouth and fragile poses' were childish poses. I felt stupid doing these poses that I recreated from the beauty image, the models looked beautiful in them but I didn't feel beautiful posing like that. I would consider the lighting and backdrop more and should have ventured out the room I was in to see the different lightings and been more adventurous. I would look at the image and see how the model looks and how she is supposed to be portrayed to make my images better.

Books to look at:

Ways of seeing- John Berger
The Male Gaze- Laura Mulvey
Paul Messaris review essay
Gender Advertisments- Eving Goffman

Beauty photography key points

Digital Production

Key points on how to take beauty photographs and important things you need.

The lighting behind = low key lighting

Spill kill is the thing that covers and kills the spill of light so you can then direct the light to the direction you want.

Umbrella is added to soften the light and always use a reflector in beauty shots to help direct the lighting 

Mini boom is good to use so you can navigate properly around the model to grab images

Take most pictures portrait

Camera settings

100 ISO- lowest ISO the better quality picture but need a lot of light

Use 'M' which means manual (on twisty switch)
1/60 shutter speed (wheel on top)

What you need:
-camera
-hot shoe adapter
- tripod
- mini boom
-kill spill
-umbrella
-reflector
-camera memory card
- extension lead
-sync lead