Hey, do you still remember our fashion photography back in Hoi An when we showed off our new Hoi An tailor-made clothing? Well, we still have one candy from that time. We found another amazing location for our new fashion photography. This time the location is a little bit special, to be honest. As a matter of fact, every photography location for fashion shooting should be special as this one.
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Special Locations for Fashion Photography
Usually, model photography is done in studios with tons of artificial lighting and a more predictable environment. However, I am a more free bird and outdoors are my playground. Still, remember our wedding photos from the abandoned hotel? Locations like this are more like my studio and this time we found a shipwreck!
Lighting
In addition, I also don’t use artificial lights, strobes or flash. Honestly, at fashion photography it would be more than welcome, but hey… There is a difference between photographer and artist, I guess. I am more the second one, so lights here aren’t important.
Well, not really. Light is very important, especially in fashion photography. A model must be bright and dress should shine with all the details. My most common source of light is the sun of course and I am not gonna lie – it is the best and the worst at the same time. Sun can be harsh, too weak or simply in the wrong direction. When we were shooting this fashion sets it was definitely too harsh. I could only get sun inside this empty water tank around 3 O’clock and usually at this time sun is too strong if there are no clouds around.
As shown above, this time we experimented with this golden reflector. Experimental lighting, we could say. Well, it was a much better idea on the field, though. Back at home when I started editing photos and got a mix of blue, white, yellow and shines of desperation on her face, it was a totally different story. But hey, a few tweaks and the Instagram filter does a trick 😉
I Knew It – Photoshop!
Of course, how else do you think I can add Vivi’s missing tooth? Photoshop is my tool and when it comes to fashion photography it is super important to edit your photos. Or let me say with other words – when you are shooting your wife at 3 O’clock on 35C degrees, only god and editing software can help you. In short, I rather work three days on my computer, than have a Vivi on the dark side.
Girls can be on the dark side when you take photo wrong. Luckily at professional fashion photography, there is a model out of the process. Stylist, photographers, directors are safe, he he…
Photo Styles
Filters, presets, unicorn sparkles whatever you call it… Every photo has its own style and with editing, you achieve this. In fact, this style you can see in this gallery is far cry from my style. I more like settled colors, less contrast and without unicorn semen all over the image, but… When it comes to fashion photography this style is more suitable. However, an example is here.
Seriously, Lightroom Presets?
Some people are naive enough and buy lightroom presets out there from all sorts of insta(nt) bloggers and wizards. Don’t waste your money, for something you can make by yourself. Firstly, a photograph is your product, so finish your god damn product. Why the hell you wanna achieve the same look as it is on 70 percent Instagram accounts. And for a bonus, even the same locations and same compositions…
Secondly, those presets will just tweak a few parameters and your photo will still be away from good looking. Usually, you need to tweak much more. So, why not learn and do your style after all. Youtube is full of tutorials and hints on how to edit your photo. Ou, by the way, keep it up with us. I will publish my Lightroom preset soon. It will be only 50 USD. Hint: it will also change your chair to pink.
Can I do Fashion Photography?
Of course, if you have a camera or phone and a model. By the way, if you are not lucky like me and there is no Vivi who would stay with golden cellophane in the middle of a shipwreck – find another model. When Vivi is not in the mood I bribe our pooch, for example.
Just do some great shots and be a fashion photographer. Who knows, maybe it will become your passion and you will be next Richard Avedon (R.I.P.). Same as we, jooking around and doing shoots for my artism (unserious condition) and who knows, maybe one day I will be with big fancy strobe light doing professional fashion photography with German models.
What the Hell is This All About?
Why this fashion photography in the middle of nowhere? Actually, it is quite fun, but this last picture is a real reason. I just need new material for my art playing. See you next time in our fashion photography for dummies. Ouu, here is a link to a gallery of this catwalk photoshoot.