I consider fashion to be one of the most difficult industries to break into. There is no clear pathway, and you are not really taught how to do it. Moreover, every photographer has to almost invent their own pathway. In this article, I will talk about my path as a fresh fashion photographer and give tips on how to succeed in the industry.
There are a lot of iconic locations out there, and it can be wonderful to travel to and photograph them, but there is a lot of beauty in the ordinary and what is around us, and you are missing out if you overlook the places you pass by every day. This great video tutorial discusses the power of the ordinary and why embracing it will make you both a better and more content photographer.
When you think of portraiture, you might think of large, diffused light. However, there are lots of applications of hard light in portraiture, with beauty being just one genre. In this video, watch as Lindsay Adler creates stunning portraits with harsh lighting.
Along with only a few other luminaries of his generation, Gian Paolo Barbieri helped to create the foundations of modern fashion photography. By pushing fashion photography beyond fashion commerce, the depth of Barbieri’s images forces us to consider them as art as much as commerce. I had the chance to ask Barbieri a few questions about being a pioneer in his field and what it takes to create a legacy.
While you can absolutely create compelling portrait photos using just a single light, moving into using multi-light setups opens a lot of creative and technical options that simply would not be possible otherwise. One of the most useful of these is the hair light, and this great video tutorial will show you how to place one properly to get the best results.
Here are four great tips to give you an advantage with your shoots, whether for a job or as a hobby.
Under the category of so-ridiculous-that-I'm-not-sure-it's-real-but-kind-of-a-cool idea is a video that chronicles the life of a "fanny pack photographer."
What did you do during the pandemic? With most of the industry at a standstill, sports photographer James Quantz started a new company, Pro Light Mods, and designed a prototype of his "Maxi Brute softbox". Not only are they super awesome, but any photographer can pick one up now!
There is something really eye-catching about old-fashioned Hollywood portraits, which had a healthy flare for the dramatic. And while you might not find yourself shooting that style on a regular basis for clients, it can be a fun creative exercise and one that really pushes your lighting and styling abilities to a new level. This awesome video tutorial will take you behind the scenes to learn how to shoot a modern take on the classic Hollywood portrait by using five lights, along with a look at how to complete the look in post-processing.
What comes to mind when you think about fashion photography? If you are aware of the stereotypes surrounding fashion, then it’s certainly something along the lines of young, sexy models in revealing clothes. In this article, I will try to explain why fashion is so much more than that.
Focus and sharp images are always at the top of the photographer's priority list. But you shouldn't just toss out a photo because it's not pin-sharp exactly where you want it to be. In fact, there are many reasons why you should covet that soft shot over the others.
Are your photos beautiful? Consequently, do they attract lots of likes online? If you are serious about your photography, then there are arguments to shun beauty and embrace less appealing aesthetics. But those arguments are flawed. Here's why.
One of the best parts of photography, speaking from my own experience, is all the amazing creative people I have had the opportunity to collaborate with and all the great places I’ve been able to experience. In this video, Mike Gray really pushes the envelope by creating fashion images under harsh sunlight on a helipad.
Camera technology is incredibly advanced nowadays, but it has nothing on what the universe can do. When scientists want to study objects that are too far away to be seen with human technology, they turn toward a unique phenomenon called gravitational lensing. This neat video will show you what gravitational lensing is and why it is so useful to observing the early universe.
The background is an element of a scene that's easy to overlook, but it has huge power over the final image. Here are two of the best backgrounds for accentuating skin tones in your portraits.
One of the worst experiences any photographer can go through is breaking a piece of gear beyond repair. The question is, however, at what point is "broken" too broken to use?
Have you tried using old film lenses for video creation? There's quite a charm to it.
In the past five years or so, we have seen a proliferation of very large lenses. With seemingly ever-expanding footprints and weights, it seems portability has often taken a backseat to image quality. But are these burgeoning sizes always better? This great video takes a look at that question.
The price of photography accessories can add up very quickly, but with a little creativity and just a few random objects from around the house, you can create unique and compelling photos while saving a lot of money. This fantastic video tutorial will show you how to create great beauty shots using random objects you probably have around your house.
Italian fashion house Gucci debuted their #GucciTheRitual digital campaign shot entirely by their models in quarantine. The digital campaign initially launched with a 16-second clip featuring creative director Alessandro Michele with each of the models in their homes, singing and dancing along to "Alright" by Britpop band Supergrass.
A major magazine cover shoot is normally something that takes a ton of people coordinating together, but with the current situation, that just is not possible. That did not stop supermodel Naomi Campbell, however, who shot her own cover photo by herself on her phone.
If you are interested in beauty photography, you might be used to complex lighting setup to produce the often intricate lighting you see in the final images. And while these sorts of multi-light setups certainly have their place, you might be surprised by just how much you can accomplish even using only natural light. This excellent video will show you how a photographer lit, shot, and edited this natural light beauty photo.
The ultra-clean, perfectly lit white background look is in high demand these days and is an important skill to have in your toolbox. In this video, learn how to create that aesthetic, no matter what budget you might be working with.
ABC is catching some criticism after a recent episode of their popular program "The Bachelor" featured a scene in which retouchers attempted to extend the bikinis worn by some of the women to cover more of their bodies, with the results being hilariously awful.
Cutting out hair has always been problematic in Adobe Photoshop. There are several methods for selecting and masking hair, but finding the right technique depends on the complexity of your photo.
It’s crazy how ideas develop over time and how far we can track our today’s understanding of the world. Find out, what an influential Italian monk from the 13th century already knew about creating good pictures.
Over the last two years, photographer Pedro Oliveira has worked on a photo essay celebrating an underappreciated demographic, and the results are timeless.
School shootings in the United States were the worst they've ever been in 2018, and the number of incidents and deaths show no signs of slowing down. Photographer Richard Johnson created this striking series that captures the new reality children must deal with.
I had the wonderful opportunity to shoot this fashion spread for Glamour South Africa back in March while I was in Barcelona. Right before the trip, I did some research and had asked some locals for some location recommendations.
A Sherriff’s Office in Monterey Bay, California has issued a warning to the public, after a cosplay photoshoot held on a public beach raised concerns due to those involved using a large rifle.
One of the best signs of a photographer who's good at posing is the ability to make the poses look natural and unforced. This great video follows a photographer on an at-home photoshoot with a couple and will show you some helpful posing ideas and tips to improve your own work.
We've both heard statements like "I just need a few shots, that's it. I don't need it retouched" and it's frustrating.
V-flats are one of those studio tools that almost every photographer should have, as their price and versatility make them almost indispensable when working with artificial light. This helpful video will show you three separate beauty lighting setups using v-flats.
Canadian Photographer Chris Nicholls (Not to be confused with Chris Niccolls of DPReview) shoots for magazines like Marie Claire, FASHION, and in this video, Dress To Kill. Thankfully he had a behind the scenes crew with him to capture just how difficult it can be to shoot in the Californian desert, even with a full team.
Fashion week: To some, it’s a time for designers to showcase their latest collections. To others, it’s pretentious and laughable. Here, one group of YouTubers decided to dress a friend up in the most ridiculous outfit possible, in an attempt to see if photographers covering London Fashion Week would take the bait.
When you're first starting with artificial lighting, it can be easy to overcomplicate things by thinking you need lots of lights performing all sorts of specific functions to achieve great shots. This excellent video will show you how to create interesting portraits using a very basic setup.
As a portrait photographer, you’ve probably considered hiring a professional makeup artist to prep your clients. In this first part of a two-part series, a professional makeup artist tells us everything we need to know about making professional makeup a part of our portrait photography offerings.
Sometimes all you want to do is shoot some beauty work with some natural light, but it doesn't mean the weather will always cooperate with you. Mother nature has a way of doing whatever she wants on any particular day. Super, right? Here's how I simulated window light in the studio.
Phaidon Press is publishing a book of never-before-seen photographs of Kate Moss from the 1990s. The book entitled “Kate” is a compilation of photographs shot by the model's ex-boyfriend and now, renowned photographer, Mario Sorrenti.
I caught up with Matt Lever, one of the top photographer’s you’d expect to see backstage at Fashion Week. He explained how he’s shooting for Elle Magazine, and the hoops you’ll need to jump through to break onto the scene.
Children are notoriously hard to shoot and most photographers generally avoid doing shoots involving them. There are ways to make it easier though!
The art of photography can mean a lot of different things but no matter what it means to you, the fact is that what we know as photography is the product of an endless journey of experimentation from artists all over the world.
Ever since I first picked up a camera, I had questions that wouldn't be easily answered by reading a book or watching an edited YouTube series. I wanted real and unedited conversations, something you might have at a bar or coffee shop.
A man has proposed to his photographer girlfriend in an unconventional manner: etching a huge thigh tattoo of a vintage film camera along with the message, “Can’t Picture Myself Without You. WYMM?”
It’s often thought that if you want to get into portraiture or fashion photography, you need to know models and get permission from their agencies to be part of your idea and shoot. In this video from Mango Street, they show how to shoot friends and how to get great shots doing so.
If you're an aspiring lifestyle, commercial, or fashion photographer who doesn't live anywhere near the large cities, can you make your business a success? Olivia Bossert, an established fashion and lifestyle photographer, gives you her insight on how she did it.
Want to know the secrets of turning any space, no matter how boring, bland, or dirty, into an awesome location for photo shoots?
Today I take a trip down memory lane to identify a few of the television commercials that, for me, have exceeded the level of infomercial pitch to touch the mantle of enveloping art. As with any "tops of all time list," these are thoughts are completely subjective, but I'll do my best to explain my thinking behind each choice and hopefully, my list will inspire you to start thinking of your own.
