The fashion photography genre has been around for more than 150 years, and the status of photographers in this genre has only grown over time. The first wave of people interested in fashion photography is linked to the golden age of fashion magazines.
The rise of the fashion mass market and competition between factories further boosted the demand for fashion advertising in the 1950s. This photographic genre is demanded more than ever by brands, media, and influencers in today’s digital age. You need high-quality photographs to promote targeted ad campaigns, e-commerce platforms, fashion blogs, and social media blogs.
Since mastering fashion photography skills can help your brand grow exponentially, why not dig deeper? To help you get started with ease. We’ve prepared a list of key pointers you need to know to make your brand stand out in the glamorous fashion industry.
Best tips to succeed in fashion photography
Fashion photography is something that you can master by keeping some essential tips in mind. Today, the lifestyle-focused approach dominates fashion photography. Clothes, shoes, and accessories are tools for expressing oneself. Moreover, the subject-oriented process, on the other hand, is far from obsolete. Also, as eCommerce is evidently regaining popularity, it is essential to show the intricate details of your fashion items online for your sales to be successful.
In India, ample fashion photographers are looking forward to enhancing the brand value of their company. Therefore, if you want to be on the top, then follow the tips given below.
Environment for fashion photography
Location is a primary factor for fashion photography as it helps depict a particular theme or narrative. For instance, if your clothing brand has launched a tropical print collection, a beachside or tropical forests would be ideal for the fresh vibes. Whereas, for contemporary fashion, go for urban settings such as state-of-art buildings, graffiti, busy streets, rooftops, etc.
It is important to note that outdoor fashion photography sessions are generally more complex than indoor shooting. As camera adjustment can become more important and complex in this format.
Generally, a photo studio is ideal for conducting a fashion photoshoot. Photographers can easily access lighting controls and stabilize other conditions. If you’re shooting in an indoor studio, remember to arrange ambient lighting fixtures. Using additional lighting rather than the one attached to your digital camera will give you a more accurate read.
Choose your model wisely
One of the fundamental points of fashion photography is choosing your muse for the photos. It’s no use being a professional photographer and taking amazing pictures if your subject is not fully involved during the session.
It’s important to choose fashion models you can rely on and are quite flexible to work with. A friendly yet professional endeavor does not only makes your work easier but also gives fabulous results.
Put together a list before shooting and rehearse techniques and composition of each fashion photograph with your models to give them time to prepare themselves and put them at ease. Briefing the models about the location, props, and clothing ahead of the shoot is an excellent way to make it a fun and effective session.
Try to identify the suitable model for your vision. Remember that not all models can work with different types of photos and backdrops.
Fashion photography equipment
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need an extraordinary outfit to take an excellent fashion photograph. If you are a beginner on a limited budget, a good light source, a couple of reflectors, and a camera are all that it takes to bring out the creativity. Once you have the grip on lighting and other equipment, you can gradually upgrade your collection.
That’s right, you don’t always require a huge photography kit, but a good quality camera is a major take here. Unless you want to go for the raw look, which is more prevalent in American advertisements, make sure you have a good DSLR camera.
The resolution is crucial in fashion photography, as the pictures can get published in fashion magazines or catalogs. Therefore, they need to be extremely sharp with a high resolution. so get a DSLR digital camera with a high megapixel count, and you are good to go.
Fashion photography techniques
Photographers who use landscape or street photography will understand that fashion photography techniques can be similar and, therefore, it’s very simple to put them into practice.
Many fashion photographers maintain their auto lens focus when capturing images in a studio. As the distance between the camera and model remains almost the same during the whole photoshoot, autofocus actually proves to be much accurate than manual control.
Likewise, you have to set your exposure settings before you start taking fashion pictures. You can bring out variations in the portraits by adjusting ISO, shutter speed, and aperture settings throughout the session. Some fashion photographers also let the camera manage exposure while shooting.
Angles in fashion photography
You cannot take all fashion photos from the same angle; otherwise, you may lose out on creativity. Try different angles for each image and different perspectives for the same scene to find a way around this problem. This technique can give you amazing pictures and distinctive approaches.
Moving around the area and experimenting with angles that best reveal the garment could require climbing a ladder, crouching, working at a diagonal angle, or getting closer to the subject. Think about the theme or idea you want to incorporate in your pictures and create a composition to reinforce it.
Lighting in fashion photography
Last but not least, lighting can make or break your photoshoot. Without the right kind of lighting and the perfect intensity, you will not be able to capture art.
Too much lighting can wash out your model, while too little lighting may cast too many shadows on the subject of your image. Adjust the lighting according to the mood and the settings you want to express through the picture. If it’s simply too bright, try using a photo softbox to diffuse some of that light and soften it.
In addition, you can even get your hands on Adobe lightroom presets that help you bring out unique fashion portraits. However, while seeking lightroom presets, it’s best to look for those designed by expert fashion photographers who understand the subtleties.
You can improvise at home as a photographer who cannot yet invest in expensive equipment and professional studios. All you need to do is create a dedicated space by setting a white sheet/screen and ambient lighting conditions such as large windows. In this way, you will have amazing natural light on a bright sunny day, perfect for an authentic fashion shoot.
Fashion photography is a genre where there is a lot of competition. You can only get ahead if you express yourself or your essence through the fashion shoot. Fashion photography may be complex, but it is also very rewarding for photographers with talent, creativity, and a work ethic.
MMBO Studio is a leading fashion photography studio that is passionate about providing quality services to its clients. This studio holds a vast team of experts with ages of expertise, and thus, their team also takes pride in being the best jewelry photographers in Gurgaon. So, if you are looking for a reliable and authentic fashion photographer in Delhi NCR, MMBO can be your perfect partner.
