Makeup and Hair. And your photos

This is a continuation of styling but deserves its own category.  When I was shooting in Italy at the start of my photography career, I was shooting for some of the modeling agencies in Milan.  At one of the agencies, was a booker, who was also a photographer.  He gave me some great advice.  He said, “You really need to keep after you makeup and hair people.  You can’t let them getaway with doing a mediocre job.  Anything that’s in the photo is your responsibility.  If you show me a photo and I don’t like the hair and makeup in the shot.  It’s not the makeup artists fault.  It’s your fault, because you took a picture of it.”  This is something I still think about to this day.  It’s great advice for any photographer.

Don’t just turn the model over to your makeup artist and let them do what ever they want.  Have a creative discussion about what you want the makeup and hair to look like.  Also, give the makeup artist an overview how you envision the shot.  Let them come forward with their creative ideas.  It’s good to have your creative team engaged in the creative process.  They may have some great ideas that you wouldn’t have thought of.  They will also be more invested in the shot when the feel they are bringing something to the table. 

Finally, before you start shooting look over the makeup artist work and see if it’s what you where looking for.  Don’t be afraid to let them know if you’d like them to change something.  Remember it’s your shot.

Photo Styling

Styling is a larger part of a successful photo them most people realize.  You need to take the subject you have in front of you and elevate it to a highest level.  One way to do this is to get creative with your styling.  Think of the styling in your fashion photography as 40% of the image.  It can really make the difference between someone just standing against a wall and a great fashion shot.

You can add to the styling of your subject by layering clothes or adding accessories.  Both of these are very simple, but to do it in a creative way is the trick. Hair and Makeup are also a big part of the styling.

You can get a lot of styling ideas and influence from some of the more artistic fashion magazines.  Italian vogue, Paris Vogue, Donna, Collezioni Donna, Elle France to name a few.  

So, start thinking about styling as much as you think about lighting…

Fashion Photographer Jump Start

There are many paths to becoming a photographer.  The most common are attending a great photography school and assisting other photographers to learn the trade.  The path that I chose was going to Milan Italy.  Milan is one of the fashion capitals of the world and the Italians have been doing great design a lot longer than most people on the earth.  This combination creates a unique environment of creativity for the fashion photographer.   Italian Vogue is considered the premier fashion magazine. 

 

I went to Milan in 1995 and stayed for a year and a half.    Milan was a great place for me to learn and develop as a photographer.  I believe my time there was crucial to my development. When I first arrived I’d only been shooting for a very short time I really wasn’t ready to be tossed into the big world of fashion but, ignorance is bliss.  I believe that if you wait to you’re ready, you’ll never accomplish the things you need to.

 

If you’re thinking of going to Milan here’s the inside scoop.

First decide that you are going.  What you say.  I don’t know anyone in Milan, how am I going to find a place to stay?  How do I start shooting?  Who do I shoot for?  And all the other unanswered questions… Once you decide that you are going it will be a big part of your life.  You’ll meet other photographers and models who have already been there or are also planning on going.  You’ll start networking and before you know it all those questions will answer themselves.  Of course you’ll need to save a little cash as well.

 

After you get there the most common starting point is to shoot for the modeling agencies.  This is great practice.  The agencies in Milan expect your models tests shoots to look like an editorial in a magazine.  This will push you to develop as a photographer.  If you stay there long enough you can start to shoot for some of the local magazines and move up from there.  No matter how far you go, the experience will be one you can only get in Italy.  So if you’re thinking of going…just do it! Ciao