The photo to the left is a self portrait that I took in the studio while I was waiting for a client who ran a little late. Nothing like making the most of your time. As I was taking a couple of quick shots I was inspired to share some tips for helping you look your best in photos. You don't have to be a model to photograph well, you just have to keep a couple of things in mind and even your snapshot backyard photos will look amazing. Here are 5 simple tips that will help you get the most out of your images, and help you feel confident in front of the camera. Tip 1 - darken your browsYou can balance the shape of your face by simply darkening your brows one shade darker which will really give your make-up maximum impact in your photographs. If you are doing your make-up yourself I suggest practicing prior to your session with brow darkening. There are pencils, powders and waxes available to accomplish this, and you may want to experiment with more than one medium to see what works best for you. I highly recommend one of the several youtube tutorials available from make-up artists to ensure proper technique. Kandee Johnson is my favorite make-up artist youtube blogger. Here is her eyebrow tutorial, it's under 3 minutes and totally worth it! _ <click here Tip 2 - know your anglesIf you're prepping for a photo shoot I recommend practicing in the mirror to find and get to know what you feel are your best angles. Knowing which side you prefer to be photographed on and how it feels to get a certain "look" that you'd like to achieve will help ensure that you get the final image result you're going for. It also helps the photographer know what you prefer and play up on your best side. Tip 3 - Form fitting clothesDid you just think to yourself... "wait, the camera adds 10 pounds". Well if you're wearing a loose billowy top it will most likely add 30. You don't need to show up in a spandex, but something that fits you correctly and is neat and wrinkle free will look best in your photos. I always tell my clients to bring what outfit they'd like to be photographed in and change in the studio. Sure wrinkles can be "Photoshopped" out of your picture but a quick change will ensure that your outfit looks as stunning as you do for your photo session. Also stay away from bold patterns, solid color tops and bottoms will photograph best. If you need a little splash of color, use an accessory to add it in. tip 4 - squint, just a littleTyra Banks is always telling her models to "smile with your eyes". Just a little squint helps to make you look more relaxed and connected with the camera. When you're looking deep into the lens think of someone close to you and picture them not the lens. Try to connect with a feeling or emotion, this will resonate in your final image. Tip 5 - Don't look straight into the cameraTilt your head just a little to the left or the right. Angle your shoulders to one side, and always if you're standing place all of your weight on the leg furthest from the camera. These things will elongate and slim the body while actually looking more natural and relaxed.
I hope these tips work for you. If they did please let me know by commenting on your experience or if you have a great tip yourself please share it with me. Also you can sign up for the newsletter for more tips, inspirational information and discounts from NDS. Thank you!
0 Comments
photo: tony duran "Blue" AustraliaThe photo pictured is a tear from my portfolio. I am pictured with Jon and Matt of Elite Models Chicago. I started modeling professionally at the age of 16, signed with Eleanor Moore (Now Moore creative).
Modeling wasn't what I expected. I was a student in art school, taking photography classes myself. I didn't think about ever being in front of the camera. It wasn't until I was booked for this shoot with photographer Tony Duran that I really understood what was so appealing to me about "Fashion" Photography. Tony sat me down while we had breakfast and told me that I was an actor. I was invoking a feeling to create a moment, an image that was pure fantasy. Everything fashion stood for was image creation. We get up in the morning, dress ourselves and project to the world the character we want to play. It is essential to our lives. As a woman I can put on a dress and play demure or sexy, throw on some jeans and be simple and pretty. I was in control of the image I projected. I was the player. He was just there to observe and capture the moment as I projected it. I took his words to heart and began to compose in my mind the person I wanted him to capture. I studied him as he worked. Watched him move and create an image. I asked him questions constantly wanting to know his process. Never tiring of my inquisitions he spouted terms and phrases in my direction I didn't understand completely as I drank in his passion for the medium. He checked his watch cursing the time of day, and explained how he wanted his shots "in the best light" explaining the "golden hour". We rushed from location to location racing the sun and he sang his demands while the three of us eagerly complied. The images from this shoot are timeless. Tony still inspires me today. I look to his work and strive to demonstrate the same level of fantasy in my images. The fantasy and connection. The trust the models have for him and his work, knowing that he will make the ruse a little more real in that captured moment. His work continues to be timeless and beautiful. Please check out more of his work here: http://www.tonyduran.net Preparing to take it all off can be a simple and painless process. In preparation for a boudoir photo shoot the key is proper hydration, plenty of rest, and to moisturize and exfoliate the skin. A mani and pedi the day before won't make or break the final image but it's a great excuse to pamper yourself a little more. Hydration is key for glowing skin any time of the year. The fall and winter months tend to be drier so you should increase your water intake. If you don't know how much water you should be consuming to be properly hydrated the rule according to the Mayo Clinic is this: 2.2 liters or 9 cups for women a day and 3 liters or 13 cups for men. Typically in the winter I drink at least that much water a day and I add in either coconut water or aloe water for extra hydration for the skin. You can tell if you are dehydrated by pinching the skin on the back of your hand. If it snaps back into place, you're hydrated. If it doesn't, you need to grab a glass of water. Dehydration is bad for beauty because when you are not consuming enough water, the body pulls water out of your largest organ.... the skin. Once your skin drys out it can begin to wrinkle. Your skin is like paper, once you crumple a sheet of paper its nearly impossible to smooth it out and have it appear how it originally did. Every company that sells miracle creams will work hard to convince you that if you slather something on top of your skin you will save yourself from the inevitable aging process when in reality the only way to truly hydrate your skin is from the inside out. Learn to love water, and put down the diet soda. Add a little lemon, cucumber, and mint to your water for flavor and detoxification. You will look amazing and feel great too! Sleep makes all the difference in how refreshed you feel and look. The average American woman sleeps between 5.9 to 6.1 hours a night. The recommended amount we all know is a solid 8. To look refreshed you should be getting that 8 hours a night. (If you're me its more like 10) So how do you get more sleep? Well, if you have a night time routine start it a little earlier. Try 15 minutes of quiet meditation to calm the mind from the days activities before bed and to help you drift off to dream land. Don't sleep with the TV on or any glowing blue lights in the room. Mobile phone chargers can be a culprit of this indigo glow - which will actually make it harder for you to sleep. There are non-addictive sleep aids to help you too, and I don't mean anything you would buy from a pharmacy. Melatonin is a great sleep aid, is found in the vitamin isle and is drug free. But I find that the best sleep aid is exercise. Go for a walk or do other night time activities to tire you out. It can be fun, and you'll be refreshed in the morning. Moisturizing. I know I just told you that no amount of creams will hydrate your skin, which is true but adding a little topical cream will keep you from looking ashy the day of your boudoir session especially if you've been slamming those diet sodas again. I try not to apply any conventional creams or lotions to my skin which can carry and contain numerous toxins and parabins and can actually cause cancer, dry your skin out more, and cause premature aging. So what's a girl to do? I make my own exfoliant and I use natural, organic, cold-pressed oils to clean and moisturize my skin. Yes, I said oil to clean the skin. (I'll create another post just about that) My favorite oil for moisturizing is Organic Avocado Oil. I use this on my face, neck and entire body. Avocado Oil has anti-aging and restorative properties and my skin never feels greasy or dry. Plus my make-up doesn't slide off when I apply it over the Avocado oil. Exfoliation is self explanatory, but don't run out and buy a $20 jar of scrub when you can quickly and easily make your own right at home! This way you save money, and can control what you're applying to your skin - which will also be absorbed into your body. My general rule is "if you can't eat it, don't put it on your skin". Follow these simple tips and not only will you look great, but the recipe and directions for sugar scrub I've posted below makes great hostess or Holiday gifts. Enjoy! Sources: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/water/NU00283 http://www.livescience.com/888-americans-sleep.html Buy: Dr Adorable: http://yhst-128882917116537.stores.yahoo.net/info.html *I have no affiliation with Dr Adorable nor am I sponsored by them. I just really like their products! I work with a lot of new models and just regular people who always ask me, "how do I pose?". As the photographer, I'm trying to move around and get an angle that is flattering for you. I'm thinking about the light, the background and about 900 other things. The magic happens while you are moving around. Yes, keep moving.
If you are a model you should be practicing at home before a shoot. Know what your best angles are, and be aware of how your face feels when you "look" your best. There will not be a mirror on set, so if you can remember how your face feels when you are in the right position it will show in the final composition. Keep your chin up to elongate your neck, and relax your jaw. I just really want to say this again, if you are a fashion model keep moving. Dance around move the clothing, get uncomfortable. Let me take 300 pictures in 3 minutes and I'll worry about making you look your best. If you look bad I look bad so we are on the same team. Smile with your eyes and work it! Modeling is pretty fun, so look like you are enjoying it! Nothing can be harder to watch than an emerging model struggling to strut her stuff down a cat walk. It's not unlike waiting for something terrible to happen - a car crash in slow motion. The whole time you are secretly wishing that she makes it off the runway without incident, hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. I really root for this girl. I want her to succeed. But, like all things in life - we don't always get what we wish for. Let me tell you from experience, a tumble on the runway is hard to recover from. With the advent of the internet there really isn't a good excuse anymore for a bad runway walk. When I first signed with an agency I thought modeling was so easy. I showed up to a job, was pampered and the photographer made me look amazing. But when I was booked for my first Congress runway show I was in for a rude awakening. I spent hours perfecting my walk with a sadistic coach who refused to allow me to be runway road kill. And I was grateful for his diligence. After hours of practice, I was able to slip out of my Doc Martins (this was the 90's) and sashay with the best instead of teetering in 6" heels on the fast track to a broken ankle. If you're just starting out, I highly recommend practicing in varying height heels so that you can be ready for whatever a designer or stylist throws at you. Remember, posture, posture, posture and confidence is key! |
Elle HallsDESIGN TALK Archives
July 2023
Categories
All
Mailing list: |