Fashion Photography 101
Fashion photography is a genre of photography devoted purely to fashion. Fashion photographers capture the most recent trends and showcase them in beautifully shot images. These images are used to advertise new clothing lines and merchandise, promote brand identity, and raise fashion brand prestige.
For example, when a new Chanel or Gucci campaign drops, it is not just because their new collections are exciting, it is because they have hired the best fashion photographers in the world to shoot their new collections, and maintain a standard of creativity and originality.
The best fashion photographers are highly sought after and rake in high fees due to the level of prestige that accompanies shooting for a high-fashion brand. This makes being a high-fashion photographer a highly competitive and very lucrative career choice!
Choosing The Right Backdrop
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When shooting fashion photos, a high-quality backdrop is a must. You do not want the background of the photo to be the focus, but the clothing being worn!
A poor-quality or plain backdrop will draw attention to that instead of the fashion piece being worn. This can look strange and out of place.
Depending on the look you are going for, either a simple white or black backdrop is recommended. For instance, a black leather jacket looks more high-end if shot on a black backdrop instead of a plain one.
Using textures and layers as backdrops also adds some style to the photo. Using things like wood planks, brick walls, or clouds all add something to emphasize the piece being worn.
Using things like glitter, pearls, disco balls, or chandeliers as backdrops can add some extra flair as well.
Styling The Model
Another way to do fashion photography is to have your model dressed in full or partial clothing. The rest of the details can be added from props, and through Photoshop or other digital editing tools.
In iconic fashion photography, the entire shape and form of the clothes are emphasized, rather than the empty space. But sometimes artists do both! It depends on what effect you want your image to have.
Overall, it is up to you and your artistic talent how you use fashion photography.
Perfect Poses
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Although fashion models are known for their perfect, dynamic poses, the best ones look like they aren’t trying too hard.
They seem natural, as if they are walking or sitting down. When the model is sitting, their legs must look long and elegant, which requires the right pose.
Many photographers use very similar poses because they work! Try your hand at some of these more classic models and you will see what we mean.
Sitting poses can range from legs crossed elegantly, to reclining completely with one leg up on the other end of the sofa. The most important thing is that the pose looks natural and feels comfortable for the model.
Close-ups
Close-up shots are very popular in fashion photography. They can be used to showcase beautiful fabrics, intricate stitching, or just to show a feature of the garment.
They are very useful in e-commerce fashion photography as they can show the product’s value and appeal. How well a product photographs is a large part of how much it sells for!
Interestingly, most models are not trained in walking at all. This is something that most photographers have to teach them while shooting. It takes a while to get smooth walks on camera, so do not be afraid to ask for them!
Overall, beauty shoots are very artistic and creative environments. The photographer works closely with the model and other crew members to create beautiful images that capture the theme and spirit of the clothing and the brand's creative direction effort.
Creative Angles
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When it comes to fashion photography, usingvarious angles is a key skill. You want to try and showcase the outfit from all the bells and whistles- zippers, pockets, flairs, ruffles, etc.
You also want to showcase the fit of the clothing- how it fits the body, whether that be tight, loose, or in between.
Using different angles can also add some fun to your photos. Try shooting from below for a surprise effect or overhead for a more sophisticated look.
Aside from pulling out all the features of the outfit, other important elements are light and color. Depending on what kind of look you are going for will determine your lighting source and color palette.
Blue tones tend to be more sophisticated or formal whereas warm tones are more playful or casual.
Product Mix
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A very popular way to create a portfolio is to photograph a mix of different products. You can do this by researching different brands and visiting their stores to take photos of the products, or looking up reviews and ordering the products online.
Many fashionistas get free or low-cost clothing and accessories from friends and family so you do not have to spend too much money acquiring these items!
It is very important when photographing multiple items to organize them by color so that they match well and create a beautiful scene. Some photographers even choose a set theme for their photo shoot like black and white or pastel colors to make this easier.
Backgrounds and Textures
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When shooting fashion models, a smooth, almost blurry-looking background is always a good choice. You get your best shot when the clothing looks like it is floating on a dreamy backdrop.
If you are not an expert at removing backgrounds, then invest in a software that can do it for you. There are many free apps and browser extensions that can help you test your shots to see if you got the smooth background you wanted.
Using photography backdrops that already have smooth textures like sand, water, or skies helps make this effect easier to get. You can also use fabric as a backdrop instead of a static wall or floor.
Remember: less is more when it comes to creating this effect. Overdoing it will make it look like the model is floating in no-man’s land! Make sure there is enough texture behind the model to recognize the clothing, but not too much that it takes away from the dress or outfit being showcased.
Bright Highlights on Skin or Clothes
One way to add more flair to your photos is to have bright highlights on the models’ skin or clothes. These can be done in two main ways:
By shooting it in a way that the light reflects off of the skin or clothing, and then editing it out to look like it is shining
By editing the photo so that it looks like the item being photographed is glowing
Both of these take some advanced editing, so if you are not too savvy with your photo editor, then do not worry! Just try to shoot your models and clothing or skin nicely lit and it will look great.
Another tip is to shoot more close-up photos of the clothing or just the skin, so that it looks more defined and lit up.