Fashion Passion Photography
How to make Fashion Movements
I recently had the opportunity to travel to the Gulf Coast for a fashion shoot and Beach Volleyball events. One of the goals of this fashion shoot was to create a series of photos that captures movement.
The Gulf Coast is a great place to do this type of fashion shoot project. The wind with morning light mixed with the textures in the background created movement in the photos. Movement in fashion photography is a simple idea. But it can be a difficult thing to get right.
You need movement in the clothing at the right angles to complement the model and designer. The model needs to look composed in a way that draws the viewer into the photograph. A fashion model can not look like a basketball player, making facial expressions that are out of line; with the mood of the fashion photo.
So how do you get the proper amount movement in the fashion photo?
There are a couple of ways to introduce movement to a fashion photo. Use wind is one way. Have the model move or create the appearance of movement by holding the fabric in place just out of frame.
Wind for Fashion Photography
With my fashion photography shoot on the Gulf Coast, I was able to use the wind for most of the shots to create movement in the wardrobe. At the beginning of the photo shoot, the wind was almost too much to even begin the shoot. We were able to work in an area that wind could be blocked by a large mound of seagrass. By working the edges of the seagrass as it approached the water I was able to control the amount of wind by adjusting the model's place. The closer to the water the more wind we got. By moving away from the water and next to the mound of seagrass, the wind would decrease.
Now the next challenge in this type of environmental fashion photography shoot is to control the models posing in a way that it complements the fashion. If the wind comes totally from the back of the model this will make everything move straight towards the camera.
That type of ankle in a fashion photo is not a photograph that you will need a lot of. So by turning the model halfway into the wind that allows for the wardrobe to move across the camera frame.
Things to be considered when doing environmental portraits outside.
Angle of the sun - Know how you will be using the sun to complement the fashion.
Do you want to use the use as a backdrop?
Will the sun be used as a rim light on the model's hair?
Will the sun be used as a key light with the model for facing the light?
Direction of the wind - Know how you want the direction of the wind to flow across the camera. Be sure to consider how the wind will have an effect on the hair flowing across the eyes. Sometimes you want hair in the eyes and other times you will want no hair on the face.
Photographers lighting - With environmental portraits you have the photographers lighting and also the natural lighting that is being created by the sun or streetlights. You also have reflected light that is working its way into the photos. All these can be used to your advantage to create a fashion photo.
Background - When doing fashion photography outside a background is not just a simple backdrop like a brick wall. It needs to do several things. A background needs to create a color that complements the wardrobe. The backdrop also needs to help tell a story that plays into the overall the idea for the fashion project.
Edges of the frame - The edges of a fashion photography frame can help draw the viewer's eye towards the main point of the photograph. Dark green seagrass on the edge of the frame creates a natural framing that draws the eye back to fashion. Dark pine trees on both sides of the frame with a brick road running through the middle of the frame and the background with golden sunlight draws your eye back to the middle of the frame.
Movement is key to creating interesting fashion photos. Some ways to make sure you get the movement you need for your fashion photos.
Outline idea - Before the shoot walk the location so you will have ideas to use with clothing you will be shooting.
Feel the emotion - location and setting, generate a feeling. Gold warm sunlight at the beach is positive. Dark, almost black dirty walls create a mood of sadness and moody feelings.
Energy - Both photographer and model need to pour energy into the shoot.
Follow - Have the Fashion model follow the photographer's movements.
Dance - Let the model move to the music.
Jump - Do you a series of photos with the fashion model jumping.
Yell - Yelling can create movement and the motion. Flex the arms and hands. Move into the yell.
Walk - Walking is always a good way to create simple movement. A fashion walk will should be over exaggerated in fashion photos to capture the movement the camera.
Ways to create movement at a fashion shoot.
Start - At the beginning of the fashion shoot talk about ideas with the fashion model. Get the model, thinking about the project and how their ideas can contribute to the fashion shoot.
Rest - Be sure to take breaks throughout the photo shoot regroup your ideas and restore the energy.
Tyra Banks 70 wardrobe changes - Change things up throughout the photo shoot. Tyra Banks has been known to do 70 wardrobe changes and hair changes for one photo shoot.
Keep the model best interest in mind - Make sure you are complementing the models and working in their strengths. Find the type of movements and activities that complement their style and body type.
Talk to the model - Be sure to let the model know how they are doing and ask for their ideas. Review the photos with them to help them feel positive about the photo shoot. "Money is not the they are feelings are."
Let the model know the idea for the shoot - If an idea comes up while you are doing a photo shoot share the idea the team and get the fashion model involved in the idea.
The photographer needs to move - While you are shooting as the photographer be willing to move and have the model follow your movements.
Be willing to act out the emotion you are going for - Photographers must be willing to be actors. It is OK to be a bad actor to make a good point to get the shot. To help the model understand the mood you are going for act out the emotions and motions the model needs to be displaying. Be sure to have fun with this.
Reminder - You can not add or fix fiscal emotion in post production in Lightroom and Photoshop.
Have a mirror for the model to act out the emotion - Having a mirror on a fashion photo shoot is a must. You will need a large mirror that can be used when practicing different moves or even better yet, while shooting the model.
Has music to set the tone of the shoot - The music needs to set the tone of the overall mood you are going for.
Fan - Having an electric fan on a fashion photo shoot can be a great way to add movement to the photo. If you are working outside you will need a generator to run power to the fan.
Drag the shutter - Dragging the shutter on your camera is an effect the that can add drama to your photography.
Fog - Using a fog machine on a photo shoot is a simple way to add mood and appearance of movement in the photo.
Kenneth Purdom Photography Columbia, TN
wedding photography, portrait photography, senior photography, fine art photography, fashion photography
