Fasion Shoots

Not much experience, mostly just for fun.

I learned about studio lighting from friends that know more than I do. I would also watch youtube videos of shoots that show shoots and results, and pay attention to where the light is coming from. I like watching the ones from Annie Leibovitz. She's pretty incredible - knows so much about light and how to work it that often she only uses strobe.

I look at www.dripbook.com for ideas, generally you can look at those photos, then try to re-create that image. Pay attention to where the light may be coming from, and if it's hard or diffused, you learn a lot from doing!

A couple tips -

light sources closer to a subject will be softer, further away will have harder edges.

you can use bedsheets held up by light stands or tacked into the ceiling as simple diffusers before you buy softboxes or umbrellas. You can also use sheets of cardboard painted a dull silver or a glossy white as reflectors.

for the sake of fashion, I've been told (and seen) a lot of people position lights above the subject to highlight cheekbones and create contrast under them, and then use reflectors to cut into the shadows under eyebrows and the chin. Seems like it would also knock out the shadow the light above is trying to create, so maybe there's something I don't quite get with that one, but it's worth trying, haha.

All girls look good in low light, but seriously, i have no clue

Sweet, thanks for the reply man. Will definitely look into some of that.

*only uses one strobe.

Also - Some of the stuff in dripbook is just gimmicky photo editing. Try to stay away from that, because people that know what to look for see right through it!

I think it opposite, the further away the light, the softer the light is? (depends if you have diffusers etc.. of course)

i read and thought the same thing... but not a direct correlation in my opinion, scrims, diffusers, bounces, and softboxes have a greater effect on light intensity imo

they do for sure, but the further away the more light can "fill" rather than cast. Depends on shutter of course.

The further away the light is, the smaller the size of the light source becomes. That's why a big soft box right next to a model gives softer light than a bare speedlight from further away. A greater distance decreases the amount of light that reaches the subject, but it also gives harsher light.

Closer the light, the softer it will be. Soft flat fill! Hahaha

Anyways, use light that will ENHANCE the models face. If you're doing a shoot in a studio, create some direction. High key has it's place (obviously a lot in fashion), but cmon, anyone can do high key. If you can get out of the studio, do it. Nothing beats natural light! In my mind at least.

Also, look a lot at posing. Be ready to pose them even down to the finger tips. If you have someone who isn't experienced you're going to get a lot of "so what do I do now?" "what do you want me to do" "how do you want me to look?".

If you can, bring an assistant to be able to hold reflectors/check for wardrobe malfunctions/etc. It's easy to get all wrapped up in the shoot and miss that stray hair or crooked collar. Some things you can't fix in photoshop.

Yea, it has to do with the apparent size of the light. diffusers are obviously the better option for making diffused light, but if you've only got a 2 foot softbox, it's better to put it right next to your model than even a foot further away if you want that light softer.

Super good advice. I was told that behind the shutter, people will respond well to you holding out your hand, and "moving them" by holding your hand like your are holding their chin and moving it around. Haha. It seems to work.

And the second thing, I would like to re-iterate. Step back from your camera and look at your model, it's easier to catch things like this!

threads. I find myself doing them from time to time and really have no clue what I'm doing with studio light

Great Tips, Thanks for the help

Sample from last nights shoot:

did you hdr that or does your model have extremely blotchy skin

HDR'd

Yea, another piece of advice for fashion shoots is don't HDR your shots. Her skin looks really bad.

Don't HDR shots at all, for that matter, ever. That's personal opinion though, haha.

If you want higher range for your photos, shoot a bracket on a tripod, layer in photoshop, and erase out parts of the image on top to reveal spots underneath at a different exposure. You can even just do different layers of exposure by pushing and pulling the exposure of RAW files. You won't end up with all the shitty halos and blotching that HDR gives you.