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Beauty Photography - How do you shoot it?
I'm surprised the search didn't turn up a lot of threads on this topic. I want to know what are the best ways of shooting beauty shots. I'm talking about high-end magazine and advertising level in-studio beauty shots like the examples below. The kind of work that photographers like Michael Thompson, Gavin O'Neill, Stephen Eastwood, Richard Burbridge, Ellen von Unwerth, etc. do.              Gregory www.gregorystorm.com Dec 01 07 01:54 pm Link softlight softlight softlight... oh, and maybe a touch of natural light coming in from a window... and, LOTS of photoshop!!  Dec 01 07 01:56 pm Link Taking a look at your port, I really don't think you're doing too bad. The main difference I see is the edgy one-sided lighting in the photos you posted. Dec 01 07 01:58 pm Link Dec 01 07 02:05 pm Link Just study the photograph, there are a lot of different things you can do, just be creative with it and keep in mind the style you want. Plus, if you're interested in beauty photos then why not surf through a few of the makeup artists' ports on here? you'll see many and you can pick off ones to study and try to do. I'm sure if you simply asked the photographer who did it to let you know how they did it then they'd be more than happy to tell you. Dec 01 07 02:09 pm Link the makeup artist/stylist is the most important element of good beauty photography Dec 01 07 02:11 pm Link Beach wrote: i completely agree Dec 01 07 02:12 pm Link shooting it is only maybe halfway into it. retouching plays the most important part. Dec 01 07 03:44 pm Link I'm looking to shoot more beauty shots myself. From what I can see, there are lots of important elements that should all be included. A good model of course, is needed. Mary Duprie's (MM #142234) new DVD "Simply More Modeling" has a really section on Beauty Photography. It details several nuances unique to Beauty Photography so you may want to get in touch with her. Those highend shots your looking to produce usually showcase a product. Lipstick, eyeliner etc. So a good MUA is important as well. Your lighting should also showcase the product. Soft lighting is good for some shots, hard edgy lighting is good for others (like the shot that show'd off the shadows of the eye lashes). And of course good retouching. Its all good! Dec 01 07 03:56 pm Link So true! [RE: Retouching!] Sean Armenta wrote: Dec 01 07 04:31 pm Link I don't see the problem?......I've looked at your port and the light is good and poses compostion......what are u looking for exactly? Dec 01 07 04:34 pm Link JT Sumner Photography wrote: *snickers* Dec 01 07 04:36 pm Link a lot of beauty photography consists of images with very tight tolerances between shadow and highlight...like 1/3 stop. that's the really clean cosmetic type ads you often see. still, others throw deep shadow by using hard light. there is a book titled something like "cookbook for fashion and beauty photography"...it's a good read. Dec 01 07 04:36 pm Link I have the book referenced by Mr. Di. Lorenzo, but unfortunately, I was advised by one of my mentors to not use "recipe" books--rather learn from trial and error and lighting experiments. For the retouching aspect of beauty photography, Ms. Eismann's book, "Restoration & Retouching" comes highly recommended. Best, RNT Tony Di Lorenzo wrote: Dec 01 07 04:42 pm Link great post~! Dec 01 07 04:48 pm Link Retaining the services of Salma Hayek is a good start. Dec 01 07 04:50 pm Link All of Katrinne Eismann's books are fantastic. Welcome to Oz by Vincent Versace is also fantastic (though I'm not smart, patient or talented enough to incorporate his processes). Dec 01 07 04:52 pm Link ok, im going to the book store~! Dec 01 07 04:54 pm Link Retouching styles and cropping is the only real difference between your work and the examples you posted. I would like to hear from one of the photographers you named though... Dec 01 07 04:55 pm Link im loving this thread Dec 01 07 04:59 pm Link DE Studios wrote: yep I agree, cropping and composition Dec 01 07 05:00 pm Link Certainly you know Bruce Talbots work. Doesn't get much better than this...but I love the sample illustrations above. Sean Argenta and a few others here excell at it. I've begun a beauty project as well,to learn about it, and finding suitable (non caucasian) models in my area is a real challenge. I have 3-5 candidates that'll suffice for this. And I may soon hit the colleges for undiscovered beauty prospects. Dec 01 07 05:01 pm Link There is no hard rule to how to light beauty other than making it look beautiful Most shots are lit with a beauty dish or similar small semi-hard directional light source. You can learn alot on how the lights were setup just by studying the catch lights in the images. Then, cast the best skinned models you can find. Hire the best MUA you can find that has similar work in her portfolio as you are trying to produce. Hire a pro retoucher who understands lighting and facial structure. One that doesn't blur and can retain natural looking skin with pores visible. Study your finished results againsts industry's see what's different, what can be improved. Then go and shoot again and again and again. Vitaly Druchinin Dec 01 07 05:02 pm Link  with a little retouching... Dec 01 07 05:11 pm Link Dec 01 07 05:13 pm Link The Design House wrote: .... A M A Z I N G Dec 01 07 05:43 pm Link Softbox, Loop Lighting, a Good MUA, a Stylist, and as was said, Lots of Photoshop goodness. Dec 01 07 05:51 pm Link f. 5.6 Dec 01 07 05:53 pm Link Cropping, composition, a good makeup artist, agency model, and photoshop. But also if youd like to learn, maybe you can see to assist someone doing good beauty photography. Dec 01 07 05:56 pm Link Gregory Storm wrote: That's funny, you posted two clients of mine (Avon & Kinerase). Dec 01 07 05:59 pm Link Gregory Storm wrote: While photographic skills ARE required they pale next to the need for good MUA, Stylist and hairdresser. Take a look...exactly what is being showcased in your examples? Is it the model..not really..how about the photographer's talent? Not nearly as much as the rest of the support staff's work. Lighting is key but not overly difficult to achieve. But that MU must be flawless..OK..PhotoShop skills could offset this a bit but in tandem you get the best work. And then there is all the wonderful things done with the hair that can really put it over the top. Dec 01 07 06:07 pm Link Beach wrote: absolutely. without world class hair m/u and styling, no world class fashion beauty. most of the work the op has shown requires roughly $25k+ and a lot of attitude mgmt. then, of course, great technique, which translates to imagination, visual sensitivity, and control. just a note, pre photoshop, these type of images were created daily without it? Dec 01 07 06:11 pm Link Odin's Eye wrote: Do you mean this as "always a softbox"? Because the RMK image was not shot with a softbox as the main light. Salma Hayek was, though. Dec 01 07 06:20 pm Link NSE Films wrote: Actually, the people that have said "soft light" are probably wrong in most cases. Most beauty photographers that I know shoot with a hard (or semi-hard) light as their main. Dec 01 07 06:21 pm Link KevinMichaelReed wrote: Yep. Donna Trope often uses hard/semi-hard light. Dec 01 07 06:26 pm Link imo, starting out with a beautiful model will simplify matters greatly. Dec 01 07 06:41 pm Link Eric S wrote: Bingo. Dec 01 07 06:44 pm Link John Lei wrote: Thanks. I think I still need to work on light placement and I'm going to try more of that edgy single-sided lighting. Dec 02 07 11:34 pm Link Sean Armenta wrote: How do you know how much or how little to retouch? Dec 02 07 11:38 pm Link I am surprised no one has said it yet.. Medium or large format. I don't care how many pixels they stuff on a little receptor you will never get the tonal subtlety and clarity with a small camera. resolution, maybe but that is only one part of the equation. If you are not going to use medium or large format cameras I would try and find a style of beauty photography that does not require the utmost finesse. Dec 02 07 11:41 pm Link |
