Features of beauty photography
Published: 28.09.2021
Beauty or fashion photography is one of the most challenging for a photographer. It is necessary to carefully consider all the details, highlight the model's strengths, and make the right accents. Beauty photography is in high demand and is needed for promoting cosmetic products, selling clothing, and jewelry. No advertisement is complete without beauty shots. The complexity of fashion photography lies in the fact that it requires the collaboration of many specialists. A beauty shoot cannot do without a hair stylist, stylist, makeup artist, photographer, model, and retoucher. Only with the proper collaboration of all these specialists can a good result be achieved. Beauty photography differs from portrait photography in that a portrait showcases the character and emotions of the model, while beauty photography should draw attention to the brand or product. Fashion-style photography is used for glossy magazines, catalogs, websites, fashion portals, so the images must be of perfect quality. Let's consider what needs to be taken into account when creating beauty photographs, how to adjust the equipment and lighting to achieve high-quality shots.
How to set up a camera for beauty photography
For beauty style photos, portrait lenses of 85-150mm are suitable. Jewelry, makeup, and hairstyle should be visible in the smallest details, so photos should be taken at the most closed aperture. Aperture settings of f/8 or f/9 are suitable. ISO should be set to a value of no less than 100. Adjust the shutter speed depending on the shooting goals.
- Octobox - used for diffused light, creates soft shadows;
- A beauty dish creates a contrasting light that can emphasize the necessary details. The closer the beauty dish is positioned to the model, the harsher the shadows will appear.
- Reflector - creates beautiful highlights on the face and soft shadows.
- softbox - with its help you can create diffused light and a glowing background;
- Contour lighting - effectively highlights the contours of the model and creates the necessary accents.
Which studio to choose for a beauty photoshoot?
Sometimes a fashionable photoshoot takes place in nature. For example, it is more appropriate to do a swimsuit photoshoot at the beach rather than in a studio. However, it is most convenient to do beauty photoshoots in a photo studio. A fashion photoshoot involves constant work of hairdressers and stylists. In a professional studio, there is a dressing room where it is convenient to do hair and makeup. In addition, models find it more convenient to change outfits in a fitting room, rather than somewhere in a field or forest.
When choosing a studio, pay attention to the height of the ceilings. The more spacious the room and the higher the ceilings, the better for setting up lighting, flashes, and softboxes without them reflecting off the walls and ceiling. Ideally, the studio should already be equipped with all the necessary equipment and lighting, leaving you only to choose the outfit and props for the shoot.
Favorite photos are a reason to create photo magnets. Round, square, with shaped edges or magnetic puzzles - the perfect souvenir. They don't need a shelf or album. Fridges, computer cases, cars, and other surfaces that are always in sight are the perfect place for magnetic photos.
How to choose a model for a fashion photo shoot
For beauty shoots, professional models are usually chosen. They know how to choose the right pose, highlight the advantages of the advertised product, and quickly get into character. However, the services of professional models are expensive. You can find a beginner model or choose a girl with a suitable appearance yourself. If the shoot is for cosmetics, pay attention to the model's skin. It should be smooth, otherwise you will have to remove all imperfections in graphic editors. If you are shooting for hair products, choose a girl with long and well-groomed hair.
The model does not necessarily have to have perfect facial features. Lately, major modeling agencies and fashion houses prefer girls with unconventional looks. The same goes for body shape. Don't strive for the ideal 90-60-90 measurements, as clothes are worn by people of different sizes and body types. Sometimes a collection with plus-size models sells better and faster than standard model sizes.
- 1. If you have a photoshoot with multiple models, schedule the time so that while you are photographing one woman, the other is getting her makeup done in the dressing room. This way, you won't be overpaying for extra studio rental time and you will shorten the shooting time.
- 2. Adjust the lighting during the shooting process, rather than relying on improving the photos later in Photoshop. Good photos are those that are originally taken successfully, not those that require extensive retouching.
- 3. Do not overdo it with the light. Too bright light causes discomfort for the model, blinds the eyes, and creates unnecessary glare. Use soft and diffused light as much as possible, so your photos will be more natural and warm.
- 4. Keep up with trends and fashion trends. A beauty photoshoot should look stylish and modern in order to attract attention and sell products.
- 5. If the photoshoot is done in the presence of the client, show them several shots right away. When a person sees the results of the work, they feel more calm and confident.
- 6. During shooting, save photos in the highest resolution possible. It's better to purchase an additional memory card to store photos than to save space by reducing the quality of the photos.
There are no universal rules on how to conduct a beauty photoshoot. Even experienced and fashionable photographers sometimes make mistakes and fail to achieve perfect shots. The key is to pay attention to details. The hairstyle, makeup, clothing, pose, and model's appearance should be attractive and harmonious. Carefully plan the looks, practice poses, take more shots, and then among the material captured, there will definitely be several masterful photographs. And the best shots can be printed by ordering a Light album or a photo book.