The Genre: Many other genres of photography come under the umbrella of ‘Fashion Photography’  Editorial Photography  Advertising Photography  Beauty Photography

 Lighting: A lot of fashion shoots are done in studios, but why not use the light around you…? Torches and desk lamps can be used to highlight specific areas or objects that you might be advertising.  Colour: Bold colours are very popular in fashion and advertising photography. You can control the viewers’ eyes by drawing them to specific areas of the photograph by the use of colour.  Location: Studios are used, but a lot of photographers are moving outside into the worlds where people wear the items they are selling. Some photographers also contrast the garments with the location; for example, they will shoot a model in a glamorous ball gown underneath a motor way bridge. Something beautiful and expensive in a grotty dark area.  Narrative: Adverts are often shot with a fairy tale quality, or as if there is a story to be told. Can u make your fashion shots look like they are part of a story…?  Poses: Models are often holding very awkward poses that best show the garment or accessory in one photograph. Capturing models suspended in the air is a common pose to show the fabrics qualities.

Back lighting adds a beautiful, flattering and fairytale quality to you photographs…As we can see here it can be done to emphasise the qualities of the fabric. The two images on the right are taken using natural light so you do not need a studio…just some sun!

Down lighting really accentuates the mood of the photograph. They become very dramatic with obvious shadows and highlights. It works beautifully with sheer fabrics.

Using natural light can give you some of the best results. It shows true colours and true form. If you use natural light, make sure it is noticeable, cloudy days are useless!

Colour is one of many strategies fashion photographers use to catch the eye of the consumer. Think bold over stated colours. David LaChapelle and Nick Knight are great examples of photographers that play with colour.

Muted colours can create a different vibe, it depends what atmosphere you want for your images but also what suites the garments…?

Black and White photography is not lost in Fashion. In a magazine full of colour-sometimes the only way to stand out is to be different. Black and White photography is also seen as traditional and more ‘classy’, so depending on the theme, it can make and image sophisticated.

The Studio. When we think of fashion photography we think of big flash lights, plain walls and expensive equipment. There is nothing to stop you setting up your own studio at home with a plain bed sheet, a desk lamp or torch and your camera!

Why not take your fashion and beauty into the world around you. From the bazaar to the everyday situations. The above image is a perfect example of contradictory locations. Vibrant elegant clothing in a dingy location. This image also has a story to tell…

Narrative: By this we mean a story. Could your collection tell a tale? A modern Fairy tale, a love story, a religious story or just something completely imaginary?

Think about an interesting quirky way to show the garment or model. You have to sell the product so make it as exciting as possible.

The poses seen here look very uncomfortable, but they need to show of the garment as best they can in one photo for one page of a magazine…how much information can u give the consumer in one image?

Look at fashion and how its changed. Look at the way models are photographed and how that has changed as well as style.  Look at the covers of Vogue  1920’s  1940’s  ’s  1980’s  1990’s  Up to today's trends.