Photographers face myriads of challenges in their daily professional lives. One of the toughest tasks of a photographer is ensuring the subject is comfortable enough to pose correctly.
Irrespective of the experience, each model expects some guidance when meeting a photographer especially for the first time. It is the responsibility of the photographer to give the model necessary directions to avoid capturing awkward images.
Having a quiet photographer and a clueless model may result to substandard photos. Here are a few steps that a photographer should follow to deliver great images of the models.
● Discover inspirational poses and moods
We live in a world of research and discoveries. We get to know more things through doing researches on what others have done. A real time photographer should investigate inspirational poses and encourage clients to emulate such. Several ideas on poses can be sought online using tools such as Google, Pinterest and other available magazines. The photographer can gain more knowledge on poses, makeup, color and most remarkably how to optimize light for best images.
● Consider the shoulders
The shape of the shoulders is one most overlooked aspect in photography. Shoulders play a key role in framing a model’s face. To enhance the dimensional features of the image, it is advisable to raise one shoulder over the other. The photographer should thus ensure that the model’s shoulder pops up than the other. The slightly slanting impression created by the popping shoulders completes the beauty of the image and makes it desirable.
● Utilize the available space and resources
Photographers should encourage the models to utilize the resources available. If say, a model is wearing a flowing dress, she can toss it into the air or be in motion during the shooting. Models that are wearing trousers do not need to clamp their legs together!
● Implement motion of the feet
Fashion photography puts a lot of weight on shoes. Quite often, shoes are overlooked because it is tricky to pose one’s legs and feet. Many photographers opt for a three-quarter image to avoid the trouble of directing models to pose their legs. For better images, the feet should be fully captured. The photographer should implement the motion of the feet through advising the model to walk, jump or shake their feet. Capturing a photo while the model is in the air not only results to a beautiful image but also reflects great creativity.
● The height of the photographer
One mistake that most photographers commit is overlooking their own height. In some cases, a photographer may be tall which results to eye-level or above the eye shooting. It is prudent for photographers to consider their own height when taking photos. A three-quarter photograph requires the photographer to bend low to facilitate a high shooting. Such a style significantly increases the model’s height besides giving the image a heroic look. It is absolutely necessary for the photographer to bend low nearly in every instance when capturing a photo. Photos where models look tall appear classic than those shot from eye level height.
● Limit the chimping habit
In digital photography chimping refers to the act of checking each single photo after every capture. A good number of photographers possess this habit. You will see a photographer looking at the back of the camera after every capture. The habit adversely affects the energy of a shoot. Each time the photographer looks at the camera, the model gets bored and loses energy. It has also been discovered that some models may lose confidence in both the photographer and themselves. It is necessary to have a look at the images but, not after every shoot. The photographer should positively reinforce the model when he/she is looking at the photos.
● Talk to other photographers
A good photographer never ceases to learn. It is important to talk to other professional photographers often. Such discussions results to a lot of sharing that yield fruits in the process of photography. Photographers can help one another out to limit on the weaknesses that one may have.
There are several other steps whose implementation can result to great images. Photographers have their role to play while on the other hand models too have their part. Both parties should join hands for quality images.
“Jessica is part of the content team at UK Models.co.uk. When Jessica isn’t consuming and writing about everything fashion and celebrity related she can be found with her head in a book.“
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