How To Take Stylish Photos?

fashion photographer shooting a photo session with a model in a studio

Even the most impressive clothing can look lifeless when printed in a catalogue or showcased online if the photographer isn't skilled in exposure, lighting, composition, and posing.

Combining the usual elements of photography (exposure, composition, and lighting) with the vitality and energy of a model and their clothing, fashion photography is an intricate and demanding art form. By following the advice in this manual, you'll be able to take stunning fashion photographs that do justice to both your model and their attire. Learn how to take amazing photographs of fashion, whether in a studio or on location.

Here are some fashion photography tips to help you get started in this exciting field, whether you're shooting your latest outfit for Instagram, trying to make a buck by selling clothes, or trying to impress editors with your work.

Table of Contents

The Basics Of Fashion Photography

commercial photographer (3)

You won't have any trouble picking up the fundamentals of fashion photography if you know how to use your digital camera in manual mode. Fashion photography is often seen as a breath of fresh air by photographers because your subject rarely moves.

Both indoors (in a studio or other interesting setting) and outdoors are used for fashion photography. As a rule, outdoor shoots are more difficult than their indoor counterparts due to the increased difficulty in adjusting the camera to suit changing weather conditions.

Great fashion photographs can be taken with a modest lighting setup, despite common belief to the contrary. If you're just starting out and don't have a lot of money, you can get decent results by using just one light source and two reflectors.

The ability to conjure up striking visuals that grab the attention of the audience requires a robust imagination. However, without knowing the fundamentals of photography, you won't be able to make your visions a reality. Learn the fundamentals of photography by experimenting with different camera settings, lighting setups, and compositions. Don't stop working at it until you've mastered these ideas.

It's true what they say: less is more. If you throw too many visuals at the viewer, they may become confused. Layers of meaning can be packed into a single image while still conveying a unified message. Create simple photos based on sound principles before introducing complexity into your work.

One of a fashion photographer's responsibilities is to monitor the industry for emerging styles. Ask yourself how you would photograph new pieces when they are released. Think about the logistics of each shot you could take and play with your imagination to come up with interesting angles and compositions.

Plan Your Shoot And Prepare For The Unexpected

Create a guiding principle for your shoot, and keep it in mind at all times. In spite of the fact that clients typically provide detailed instructions, you will have considerable leeway in carrying them out. Prior to starting, make a plan of the poses, camera angles, and props you'll need to achieve your desired effect. Allow yourself the freedom to be creative on the fly; while planning is important, inspiration often strikes in the moment.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and that's why planning goes beyond the shoot. Plan for potential obstacles, and either sidestep them or prepare for them. Plan for delays in your shoot schedule so that you can continue on schedule despite interruptions. Get hard copies of any important documents and make sure you have everyone's contact information in case of last-minute cancellations. Be prepared for any potential breakdowns by bringing along backup tools and maintaining access to technical support.

Collaborate For Best Results

Collaboration is key in the field of fashion photography. It takes a designer to dream up the clothes, but it takes a model to make them real. The finished product of a fashion shoot is your image, which is the result of the efforts of many people, including the photographer, stylist, makeup artist, hairstylist, and technicians.

It takes more than just taking pictures to be a fashion photographer; you also have to lead your team towards a cohesive vision. Share your goals with the team and work together to accomplish them. Insist that they meet all deadlines and stick to your vision. Use a pleasant tone while remaining firm. Take charge and make decisions; it's ultimately your shoot and you'll be held accountable for the results.

At the same time, inspire your team members to share their ideas and put their own stamp on the undertaking. If you give them an understanding of your creative goals, they will be able to give you the help you need. Keep things lighthearted; everyone's productivity will increase if they're having a good time. See what happens if you give kids some free time. The images are born from our collaborative efforts.

Maximize Image Quality

When you take photos, use both RAW and small JPEG formats. RAW lets you enlarge the photos to billboard proportions if you need to, while JPEG-small is ideal for use on the web. RAW offers superior image quality and more leeway and versatility in post-production. It allows for a wider variety of colour palette choices, exposure adjustments that can evoke specific feelings, and a significant increase in image size for larger format viewing and printing.

Because RAW images are so large, the memory card you choose should be large enough to hold all of your shots for the day. By using only one card, you won't have to worry about juggling multiple sets of pictures or breaking up your shooting rhythm. We can tolerate an 8-16GB card that is reliable.

The vitality that comes from being in motion appeals to me. When posing your shots, often instruct the models to move in order to make them appear more natural and to produce visually intriguing effects with the garments. In order to capture even the slightest of changes, such as a rip in the fabric or a shift in the model's expression, take multiple shots in rapid succession, usually around six at a time.

Inspirations 101

"I have absolutely no original thoughts or ideas. What I am now is the result of the efforts of everyone I've ever met." one of the common concerns of photographers. Let's disprove the idea that originality has died out in today's world. How true is that? However, the truth is that the initial thought may not be the best.

Imagination has no bounds, and neither do the creative possibilities it can yield. The development of an idea can always begin with the collection of inspirations. The simple act of paying attention to your surroundings can do wonders for your creativity. This is crucial as it serves as the foundation for each and every shoot. The next step in making the perfect frame for a fashion shoot is coming up with a compelling and genuine concept.

Teamwork Is Everything

Get your dream team together. Stay on good terms with a coworker you find agreeable once you've found them. After all, it takes more than just skill on the part of the photographer to capture the ideal shot. All members of the cast and crew must contribute equally, and the stronger the chemistry, the better the final product will be.

Get everyone on set to agree on everything from the shoot's goals to workplace norms. In the end, success depends on having a cohesive team of creative individuals who can work well together.

The Look

Finding the right model is essential for any successful fashion shoot. Finding a model who fits the concept visually, in terms of height, hair colour, skin tone, eye shape, etc., is helpful. A head start is given to those who take the time to get to know the model. To ensure a pleasant photo shoot for both the model and the photographer, it helps if they get along well.

The only other people present during a shoot are the photographer and the model. The model can better enter character if relaxing music is playing in the background.

Scouting Locations

It is equally important to plan ahead whether you're having an event indoors or out. On the big day, you don't want to be worried, right? Physical conditions in studios should promote productive work. Evaluate your prerequisites for physical location, tools, infrastructure, etc. It's more challenging to stage a fashion shoot outside. Before venturing into a private area, make sure you have the appropriate permissions, and check the weather forecast to make sure you'll be comfortable. In this situation, the sun can be both your ally and your adversary.

Hair, Makeup And Wardrobe

Here is where all of your hard work as a team really shines. It's crucial, in my opinion, that everyone involved in the shoot shares the same vision and sense of tone. When you see a way something can be improved, don't be shy about saying so. I don't like how the hair is too big, the model needs more mascara, the button is loose, etc. Don't be shy about voicing your opinion; this is a group effort.

Fashion Photography Gear

The fashion photographer doesn't need a ton of equipment, but a good digital camera is essential. Use a quality DSLR camera unless you're going for a more raw style typical of clothing ad photography.

High quality is essential for fashion photography, making the megapixel number of your digital camera—which is usually irrelevant—much more important for fashion photography than for creative photography or street photography.

If you're a budding fashion photographer but only have the usual digital camera, don't let that stop you! Almost any modern DSLR can replace your film camera for fashion photography; all you need are the right and good lenses.

Camera

While a high-quality DSLR is not required, it does help when shooting fashion photography. The megapixel count of your digital camera is much more important for fashion photography than it is for street photography or artistic photography.

Lenses

The right lens is essential for any fashion photographer. To get the most out of your sports and landscape photography, ditch the zoom lens and pick up a wide-to-medium telephoto lens with a focal length range of 20–55 millimetres and a fast and wide aperture. For low-light situations, you should also have a 50mm fixed-focal-length lens with a fast and wide aperture of between 1.2 and 1.8.

There isn't much to the photography method used to capture fashion. In a controlled environment like a photography studio, it's ideal to shoot with the lens set to autofocus. When shooting a stationary subject, such as a model, automated focus is preferable to manual focus since it ensures sharper images. You can usually keep your shutter speed, ISO, and aperture settings the same during a photo shoot.

The Art of Fashion Photography

studio lighting (3)

Photographing fashion is surprisingly easy if you have experience with street or landscape photography. The technique of taking a photograph is simple; the complexity lies in the lighting and planning that go into a fashion shoot.

Many photographers use autofocus when shooting fashion inside a studio. Since the range between your camera and the subject will be the same throughout the shot, automatic focus will work better than manual focus.

When you're ready to take a picture, it's the same as when you've adjusted the exposure settings. A constant shutter speed, aperture, and ISO can be maintained for the majority of a photo shoot. There are even fashion photographers who let the camera decide how much light to let in.

Focus and aperture are less crucial than lighting. Not even the most skilled photographer can take great photos if the lighting isn't just right.

Lighting

Having adequate lighting is crucial when photographing fashion. Sunlight, however, can be used to great effect for fashion photography. Window light is a common and beautiful source of illumination for portrait and fashion photography. To diffuse and soften the light, hang a white sheet over the window at a 45- to 90-degree angle to the model. A single light source and two reflectors will produce usable images once you expand your lighting setup.

Pictures of Fashion in Nature

Not all fashion photography has to be done in a studio. Many fashion photos, whether for magazines or calendars, are taken on location, often in exotic or surreal settings like beaches or cityscapes.

Photographers who have worked in landscapes will have no issue meeting the challenges of capturing fashion editorials in the wild. Taking fashion shots outside might be more challenging than working in a studio due to the lack of control over the lighting.

Retouching Fashion Images

Images depicting current fashion trends almost never appear in print without it being edited digitally. Skill with Adobe Photoshop is a must-have for photographers, as they utilise it to fix anything from wrinkles and flaws to the lighting in their shots to make them look more organic, natural, and welcoming.

If you want your images to stand out, whether or not you approve of airbrushing and photo editing, learning Photoshop is a must.

Digital enhancements are almost often used when publishing fashion photographs in print. Editing software is a vital tool for fashion photographers because it enables photographers to do everything from remove wrinkles and even out skin tones to tone down an overly bright image to make it feel more genuine and welcoming. Understanding how to utilize Photoshop is a terrific way to make your photographs stand out from the rest without resorting to extreme measures like airbrushing or editing.

Conclusion

The creation of a fashion story is a major milestone on the path to becoming a fashion photographer. Set the tone for the story, establish the models' backstories, and decide in advance whether or not they will make direct eye contact with the camera. Spend some time outlining your procedure and goals, and have the model prepare a character for the shoot. At first, you and the model will be working together, but once you're on the same page, you'll need to take charge of the rest of the shoot.

Everything, from the hair and makeup to the lighting and elaborate set, must work together to create the desired atmosphere. Adding some feeling to the story is a great way to hook and keep the attention of the audience. The model's eyes and hands should be able to convey the story's mood and tone.

Finally, maintain a light and upbeat attitude while working together to accomplish your goal. The photographer's responsibility is to ensure that everyone has a good time and doesn't feel threatened at any point. Providing refreshments is a simple way to show appreciation for your team's efforts and ensure that they are well taken care of. Because of the trust that is built in this way, the final result is guaranteed to be excellent.

The photographer, the model, and the rest of the crew all have a hand in creating a successful fashion photo shoot. Feedback that everyone is on the same page and encouragement to keep pushing forwards towards the goal can only be achieved through clear and consistent communication and reinforcement throughout the process.

FAQs About Photography

Even vice-versa, an average person looks like a 10 in pictures just because they were good at posing and finding the right angles. Having a natural non-forced smile, finding the right angle, and taking the right poses are the essential things that make a person photogenic.

Many elements in photography come together to make an image be considered “good”. Elements like lighting, the rule of thirds, lines, shapes, texture, patterns, and colour all work well together to add interest and a great deal of composition in photographs.

When asked if someone can be beautiful in person but not very photogenic, most people would give the “YES” answer. Some people around us look beautiful but not photogenic. What makes things even more shocking is the opposite that some photogenic people do not surprise you in real life

Typically, this means a dress shirt for men, a dress, blazer, nice blouse for women, or a suit for either gender. Choose solid dark colours like blue or black, and don't pick anything with a too busy pattern. Avoid wearing a strapless dress, top, or anything else too revealing that will make you appear naked.

Create angles.

The general rule for finding the most flattering picture is to remember that it's all about ANGLES. Never stand facing the camera, but position your body to one side and even cross one of your legs. If you don't want to cross your legs, then at least bend one of them to break up the shape."

CONTENT SUMMARY

  • Learn how to take amazing photographs of fashion, whether in a studio or on location.
  • You won't have any trouble picking up the fundamentals of fashion photography if you know how to use your digital camera in manual mode.
  • However, without knowing the fundamentals of photography, you won't be able to make your visions a reality.
  • Learn the fundamentals of photography by experimenting with different camera settings, lighting setups, and compositions.
  • Plan for delays in your shoot schedule so that you can continue on schedule despite interruptions.
  • Share your goals with the team and work together to accomplish them.
  • At the same time, inspire your team members to share their ideas and put their own stamp on the undertaking.
  • If you give them an understanding of your creative goals, they will be able to give you the help you need.
  • Because RAW images are so large, the memory card you choose should be large enough to hold all of your shots for the day.
  • The fashion photographer doesn't need a ton of equipment, but a good digital camera is essential.
  • The right lens is essential for any fashion photographer.
  • Many photographers use autofocus when shooting fashion inside a studio.
  • Since the range between your camera and the subject will be the same throughout the shot, automatic focus will work better than manual focus.
  • Having adequate lighting is crucial when photographing fashion.
  • The creation of a fashion story is a major milestone on the path to becoming a fashion photographer.
  • The photographer, the model, and the rest of the crew all have a hand in creating a successful fashion photo shoot.

About The Author

Scroll to Top