The Power of Fashion Photography

In 1856 Adolphe Braun published photographs of Countess di Castiglione, an Italian courtesan known to be a mistress of Emperor Napoleon III. The Countess commissioned photographs of herself in various signature poses, often fully garbed in court attire. The photographs are widely viewed as the first examples of fashion photography with Countess di Castiglione as the first fashion model. At this point in history photography was emerging as an exciting new way to document events. More creative minds saw the artistic potential.

The Countess saw an opportunity to feed her narcissistic needs by showing, sharing and loving her apparent rare beauty. She used her feminine instinct for flattering dress and sensual movements as a tool in creating groundbreaking images for Adolphe Braun (and others) to photograph. The rush of adrenaline the Countess must have felt upon viewing the photos must have been intoxicating, as she spent her entire personal fortune on the pursuit of re-creating moments in her life.

The story of the Countess di Castiglione is very indicative of the power of photography and its effects on the subject to be photographed. Narcissistic or not, it is quite an experience to see oneself from a different point of view and in a flattering manner. Our self-esteem is heightened, our ego becomes even slightly inflated and perhaps we find ourselves walking a little taller. Let us turn to the photographer. The person behind the camera is as necessary as the subject. He or she knows how to manipulate the subject, either physically or emotionally in order to achieve that one single moment of perfection and capture it on film.

Even with technology, there is a great amount of skill involved. Beyond lighting, location and coloring, there are the rare and hidden skills of making your subjects feel at ease, bringing out the best in them and finding their inner spark. Then to be able to bring it all together in a breathtaking series of photographs is truly an art. Like any artist, there is an intensely powerful appreciation for one's work. He or she has taken a person, some clothing and a setting, and transformed it into an image that speaks a thousand words in a thousand different languages to millions of people - without making a sound. That is a powerful talent.

Fashion Photography, Some History

Magazines such as Allure, Vogue and Vanity Fair are known to display some of the best fashion photography that you will ever come across. Photography is a way of showcasing models wearing the trends in clothes, jewelry, sunglasses, hairstyles, necklaces, shoes and other items. The first known record of fashion photography was the portfolio of the Countess de Castiglione, Virginia Oldoini in 1856. The world's first fashion photographer was Adolphe Braun, as he was the one responsible for shooting the first fashion model. Spark and color were added to fashion magazines once halftone printing was introduced to the fashion photography industry. The first magazines to make use of fashion photography were the French magazines Les Mode and La Mode Practique.

At first, fashion photography consisted of staging the shoots in natural environments using natural poses. Baron Adolf de Meyer was the person who first developed and adopted this practice. In the first part of the 20the century, the magazines that were the leaders were Harper's Bazaar and Vogue. The moguls of the industry still pay tribute to the likes of Yva, Edward Steichen and Cecil Beaton, and George Hoyningen Huene. These were the individuals who help to establish fashion photography in Europe. Irving Penn, Richard Avedon and Martin Munkacsi made significant contributions after World War II.

What Is Fashion Photography?

With more and more people into photography and with more and more people wanting to have their own photo shoot experience these days, it's also likely that people have false or insufficient information about the various types of photography. Take fashion photography for instance. While it's true that many people have their own version of it, it's also possible that their idea or notion of fashion photography is insufficient or worse, entirely wrong. This, of course, is not good.

Hence, in order to clear things up about exactly what fashion photography is, let's take a look at its history, the fun and stylish details and even talk about the players involved in fashion. You might be surprised at what you will find out.

First of all, fashion photography is a genre of photography. It's not what photography is all about. It's just a sub-type of photography. From the name itself, one can deduce that fashion photo shoots has something to do with clothes, accessories, shoes and other fashion items. Because of its image of being "glamorous," "stylish," "fun" and even "lucrative," fashion photography has become an industry entirely on its own. Photographers involved in fashion are, of course, called fashion photographers. A lot of fashion photographers have already started and developed careers entirely involving fashion photo shoots. Several talented ones have already succeeded in this photography genre. Take note, however, that not all photographers can be fashion photographers. And this is for the simple reason that not all photographers have enough skill, connections, "eye" and - while this may sound rather odd for many - patience to last as a fashion photographer.

4 Very Important Fashion Photography Tips To Implement

Fashion Photography Tips #1 - Look and Learn

When it comes to fashion photography, it is great if you as a photographer can make it a habit to look at photographs and paintings often. Not just to look at them but also to learn and observe so as to sharpen your creativity so that you will be able to create photographs that capture the eyes of viewers.

Capture photographs whenever possible. If you are starting off your fashion photography attempt with a single kit lens, what you ought to do is to notice and learn the different type of effects produced on your photographs when you use wider and longer lenses.

The effects produced could be the distortion of your subject's proportions. It may also result in a cast and wider scenery.

The reason why you have to observe and learn the various effects produced with wider and longer lenses is to discover which effect works best for you. This creates a sense of style on your photographs, giving you confidence. This will also help you determine the type of lens you need most when in need to purchase one later.

Fashion Photography Tips #2 - Keep It Simple

There are a number of lucky photographers who started out their career in fashion photography with a team of talented hair stylists and makeup artists. Fashion photographers will often need their initial portfolio work to look simple, yet classy. Yes, simple and classy will do just fine.

One thing you ought to do is to ensure that the setting and look is maintained looking clean and light. This refers to the makeup, styling, etc. Make it a habit to capture photographs that are simple and good. Only then will you be free to go on experimenting and elaborating your shots.

Fashion Photography Tips #3 - About Lighting and Shadows

The recipe to capture photographs with great lighting really is 'experience'. Therefore, gain the experience of working with lights. This definitely does not mean that you have to go through a lot of difficulty and complication.

All you need to do is to play around with the settings. Try combining about 3 to 4 different settings and experiment the settings with test shots. You will see the different effects of every setting. Master just one setting for the time being and this will help you go a long way.

Also, be careful; look out for shadows when conducting fashion photography. Always be on the lookout for shadows. Whether you like it or not, unwanted shadows in your photographs have the tendency to ruin your shots.

Fashion Photography Tips #4 - Hiring Models

Famous Fashion Photographers

Fashion photography has become a very sought after profession these days. It is an upcoming industry and offers limitless possibilities to amateurs and professionals alike. It is a very rewarding career for anyone who has a naturally bent of mind in photography. Listed below are a few famous fashion photographers who have managed to carve a niche for themselves in the industry:

Nigel Barker:
He is one of the most recognizable faces in the fashion photography industry. He took up modeling as a career for a decade before pursuing photography. He founded his own studio and saw his career move upwards ever since. He has worked with top celebrities in recent years. You would see him judging in numerous reality shows and beauty contests.

High Fashion Photography - The Real Trick!

Fashion is an old tradition popular in most countries. If you dig it deeper, you'll be able to know that fashion is also an art - the art of creating styles and designs. In spite of anything fashion can be a powerful instrument in encouraging people to buy a specific product of to join in a specific group. One other side, photography is the art of capturing picture. And if blended with fashion can create magic! What's that magic? Well, it's the existence of high fashion photography.