Forget what they tell you looks good – KNOW what feels and LOOKS good.
Before I list basic tips on how to prepare yourself for a photoshoot, whether you are a model or hired a professional photographer to photograph you and/ or a prof model to represent your brand via images, let’s have a little discourse in what we perceive as looking “good”.
Let’s talk about “sample size”
apparently “standard american size”woman is size 16. I won’t even go into details. But sizes shift. Descriptions do too. Both in women’s body and in fashion industry.
Fashion seems to be a delightful whore who shifts her opinion on what is grand and with it it’s offering. On one side it wants to be elevating and trend setting on another it wants to make the most buck off of its offering and just like in any commerce he demand informs the offering.
Now.
Back to where we were which is YOU and either your production for your brand visuals or you in pictures yourself for yourself and others consumption.
Take it from someone who is trained to love skinny model’s bodies as a professional ( yes it’s far easier to shoot them ) – what matters in the final image IS your confidence. So choose models that exude it, you can tell by the selection of images in their portfolio books and especially on their Instagram pages. Choose the ones that might not be perfect but give you that sense of gut feeling that you appreciate.
As far as you as the subject of images where you are the main character, forget about standards, wear what makes you feel good. If you working with me and somehow what you wear isn’t working with final brief statement slash desired effect- I will tell you and guide you, so in the end the result will be achieved and you are going to love it.
Confidence is your best accessory and fashion style. Remember that.
So called non normative bodies ( quoting Lauren a downing Peters here ) are what we are – the majority.
As much as slim fashion models are still the standard for fashion and fashion advertising imagery, we, as consumers of visuals bombarding is daily and by the overexposure to the unrealistic ideal ( these beauties get retouched to the core for the final image you as consumer See AND trust me every single one of them have their own insecurities be it bad skin or hair or whatever perceived imperfections they all think about, just like the rest of us ) , we have arrived to an era where all of you – us – me too, are so focused on tiny “off” of the “made up” standard of what is “ideal” , we aren’t able to appreciate the visual magic of a photo as a whole, we only see tiny stuff that is in our heads that keeps telling us we aren’t good enough. And we miss the ooomph affect of the photo, which is what we are after in the first place. We aren’t perfect. Yet imperfection IS what drives interest of anyone looking at your image for more than a split second.
Think of the major advice from every stylist : “ when you dress up and look in a mirror and think “perfect” – take one item off away from your ensemble, whether it is a piece of accessory ( easier ) or something else.
Now, why is that? Because we as humans strive for perfection, if whatever is presented to the eye is PERFECT, we admire for a bit and we forget, only created images or the “look” you wear, that is slightly imperfect, ignited our attention and we get closer and become more attentive, unconsciously processing it as something to work on to make perfect. That’s the trick to creating personal style and brand imagery that stays with those “consuming” it.
It surely might feel uncomfortable first but you can discipline yourself and make it your new routine for everything connected to visuals we produce for consumption of others.
So to iterate – YOU ARE perfect in your imperfection! Drop that nonsense of thinking otherwise.
In addition trust the creative you hired help you with that. Professionals do know what they are doing.
Let the creative that is capturing your essence work their magic. Be open to it. See yourself through their eyes. Mediate before seeing proof images if you have to, we will all be happier and more commercially successful in the end if only we allow our true authentic self be seen, flaws and all.
No more suspicion if what you are is right. YOU ARE.
Little note about me – your candid partner – I have been a size minus zero and size 6 or so but I always had those ginormous size breasts sized G and always felt much larger than my size. It had taken me forever to get to terms that I will never look “waif heroin chick” no matter how much I try, and I am now embracing it. Despite being sized small on bottom I qualify to “plus size” on top. Talk about “sample size” being unrealistic ! Next step will be wearing muumuus and caftans. Which is no joke one of my favorite to wear in future glam items. Aren’t they comfortable. Anyone wants to create a revolutionary line of caftans with me ? Email me.
Look at additional pictures in the feed. I was extremely insecure about how I look and my body my entire life. As I am looking now, there really wasn’t any reason for it, but I did criticize myself anyway. So, just stop deconstructing yourself to tiny pieces, no matter what you think, love yourself and the images I take of you will come out even better.
Now to the long awaited tip list ( come back to it once in a while because I will be adding to it as I communicate with other creatives from my team – make up and hair stylists, wardrobe stylists and so forth.
To save the minutes of production you are paying for :
Hair :
Make sure you eye brows if they need grooming, groomed before the photoshoot.
Shave, armpits, legs etc. Unless that’s the look you or your brand or brand that is hiring you is going for it.
Don’t wax the day before the shoot. Skin Irritation won’t subside yet, so if you must – wax two days prior.
Unless specifically instructed don’t wash your hair on the day of the shoot. A typical day or two of natural hair oils are better for styling hair.
Don’t drink alcohol the night before shoot or come lacking sleep. It shows.
If you must apply faux tan do it Day before and at a professional salon to avoid unsightly skin discolorations.
Don’t do facials that include any type of abrasive skin treatment day or two days before the photoshoot.
Hydrate. Day before and on a day of a photoshoot.
If you wear hair extension let the creative team know beforehand so additional time can be scheduled for hair stylist to work with you.
If there was no in person casting and you were cast from images sent by your agent or by you, make sure you reveal what might be different about your look currently. Better let the team know, than dealing with unpredictable time spent on variety of issues.
When you arrive to a shoot if you are to be wearing anything but your clothes and / or if skin will be exposed, upon arrival to a photoshoot take off any constricting garments that might leave indentation marks on your skin ( typically it’s 40 minute to an hour or production time to wait for skin marks to disappear. That time can be safely spent in mua and hair chair). Perhaps bring a robe to the shoot to comfortably cover yourself prior to being dressed, while you have no contracting garments underneath or ask the team to have one for you.
A good production manager will See if you are running low on energy, but if not, annunciation to the team is a good practice, drink water and keep yourself fed with good nutrition.
Caffeine and energy drinks with lots of caffeine and/or sugar might be a go to for you, but caffeine dehydrates you from inside out and sugar creates visible energy drops in your demeanor.
If you are bringing your own clothing to a shoot make sure there is a steam iron on sight or bring your own. Wrinkles on clothing are visible on shots and create unsightly statement, unless that fits the concept of the shoot – come prepared.
Come with face having no make up, if there is a mua and hair team on staff.
In general respect the creative team and their time. Coming prepared is imperative. Something always go wrong but eliminating predictable time stalling during production is a matter of discipline and your budget will thank you.
Check back soon for more!
Stay tuned and stay healthy to be the best you can be for a photoshoot session.
