Styling a photo session is one of the services of a stylist. But creating banal cliché images in the studio is not interesting, a stylist is needed when a client requests a fashion shoot. And the goal of fashion shooting is to create a concept with a story even for an ordinary person, to immerse the client in a picture that is well thought out and professionally directed.

I want to tell in this article that everyone can find a professional who can see him with the sensual look of an artist. You don't need to limit yourself to a New Year's photo shoot under the Christmas tree in the studio. See how complicated filming can be.

It is fashion photography that allows you to reveal the creative potential of the stylist and the person who turns to him. The result of the shooting is a whole picture, but in order to get it, you need to work out all the details.

Components of good photography

Clothes and accessories

Clothing itself carries an emotional message. The stylist does not make a flat picture, but is intended to convey emotions. In shooting, they do not always start from clothes, you can start from the emotions that you want to convey, from the location.

Clothing selection criteria:

• Clothing should be relevant, trendy, reflect modern fashion. Even when shooting retro, you need to combine retro with modern things.
  
• Compliance with the concept. Clothing must match the concept of the photo shoot.
  
• Lack of templates. There are a bunch of stop things that look bad on set. You can fit simple things into your wardrobe, but they won't work on set. You need to go beyond, not be afraid to overdo it, combine the incongruous. The stylist on the set should not think about how wearable and comfortable the image he invented, it is important how it looks in the frame.
  

In shooting everything is hypertrophied, everything should be bold.

First, a concept is selected, and then the texture of the clothes, which will have to convey this concept. So, for example, the skin is responsible in the frame for sexuality, audacity, toughness. Sequins will help create the impression of a holiday, solemnity. Fur is a story in the frame about luxury, tulle about lightness, tenderness, mystery. Lace about femininity, mystery, sexuality, lace in the frame must be of high quality. Knitted items give a feeling of warmth, comfort, softness in the frame, and silk about chic and airiness. Sharp lines speak of tension, strength, determination, seriousness. Soft lines about relaxation, vulnerability, romance.

Beauty image

The main task is to make the image look modern. In the frame, naturalness looks better, you do not need to make deliberately elegant images.

Location

Finding a location is an interesting filming stage. It can be just a background, or it can be an interesting photo studio. The location must match the concept. The location can draw out the inaccuracies of the image and makeup. The more interesting the location, the better it will support the image. If shooting on a solid background, then all image errors will be visible. The colored background looks interesting, but if there are no other elements in the frame, it also attracts attention to the image.



The texture of the location can also convey emotion, for example, the field conveys warmth, relaxation, the forest - mystery and dynamics. Floral textures convey lightness and softness. Geometry imparts linearity and sharpness. Factories and metal about coldness and brutality.

Model

Even a beginner professional model will work better in photography than an unprepared person. If you need to stylize photography by a stylist, then it is better to choose not a girlfriend, but a model from an agency, which will correspond to the concept in terms of parameters.If an ordinary person ordered a photo session, then it takes some time for him to relax and become comfortable in the frame. Models are easier to convey emotion.

Views and processing

Before taking a photo, you need to determine the angles, poses and processing style. If the goal is to show clothes, you need to choose poses that will showcase the details of the clothes. The poses should also be consistent with the concept. During the shooting, the stylist can walk in parallel with the photographer with the phone and look at the angles, he can also catch an interesting angle. The stylist gives the technical task for the processing to the photographer. The photographer needs to communicate how to process the footage in accordance with the concept. Processing can be contrasting, warm about contact or cold about distance.

Reinforcement parts

A flower, vase, carpet, sheet of paper, pencil can enhance the frame, make it three-dimensional. The details for the shot also need to be thought out in advance.

Where to begin?

1. Idea and emotion. You can take the idea from the request. You can often start from the location. It doesn't matter what the starting point is, what matters is the harmony in the end. The client can suggest an idea. The concept will emanate an emotion that the viewer should see.
   
2. Relationship with opportunities. You don't need to get hung up on a complex concept if you decide to photograph in the pool, always consider if the photographer can implement this idea. You need to understand whether you can implement the shooting technically.
   
3. Moodboard Is a mood board. Well-developed concept - 80% success.
   
4. Team selection: photographer, make-up artist, hair stylist, model. Easily find models and other professionals for your TFP team. Many are ready to change their time to work for their portfolio. At the same time, it can be very difficult to organize a team for productive work.
   

Preparation

• Location approval;
  
• Arrangement with the team;
  
• Purchase search for clothes and accessories.
  

So that clothes do not cost money, you can collect clothes from friends or work on the principle of "money back" - "money back", do not be afraid to take things from stores for a photo shoot with subsequent return. But you need to keep a close eye on things while shooting. Be careful with your shoes. Shoes need to be glued, thin pads work best. Scotch tape is not a safe way, the sole, sealed with tape, slips. And the window tape is peeled off from the sole. Thin pads can also be glued to the armpits of the item. There is a category of goods that cannot be returned.

Shooting

During the shoot, the stylist is in the process. Looks how clothes look in the frame. He tries angles, looks through the phone camera, whether he likes this shot.

Moodboard and shooting history

A mood board is needed so that all participants in the shooting understand what will happen on the shooting, and what result you need to get. The set of pictures should reflect the concept. The mood board reflects clothes, accessories, location, processing, model, hairstyle, makeup, impression, emotions, sources of inspiration, details, color scheme.

In my practice, I managed to participate in fashion shooting with a story and a mood board. It was very exciting and interesting, I wanted to convey the story of a talented man with low vitality, who cannot realize his potential, but does not despair, but finds joy in everyday life. It is very difficult to be a director of a shot that conveys emotion to the viewer. I want every photo session to have a story, and not just half-naked beauties on a rococo sofa.