For my second shoot I used a studio to take more high-fashion style photos, similar to the works of Mario Testino.
I styled my model, with hair, makeup and clothing/accessories, I also directed my model with poses etc so this shoot was completely directed, set up and shot by me. I also set up the lighting myself and experimented with hard and soft light, I did this by using a strobe light and for some shots using a soft box over it. As for editing I used a photo software called PhotoScopeX which has many different features, similar to photoshop. Most of the editing I did was just light/colour adjustments and I added 'light leak' detailing on some of the photos when I thought it enhanced the image; It helps fill negative space and I chose colours that compliment the skin tones within the photos. I've also included an example of a 'before and after' of one of my edits to show the comparison of the changes I've made.
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As this shoot is inspired by the photographer Mario Testino, and he is known for working with high profile fashion models and creating fashion ad style images, I decided to edit a photo inspired by a glasses fashion advert because I used glasses within this shoot. I was going to do an edit inspired by one of Testino's photos himself, but I couldn't find any that fit the brief. |
I edited to look similar to the ad and I think it works as a nice extra piece to go with this shoot. This edit was difficult to achieve as I had to layer the photos but it was a fun bit of experimentation!
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This is a diagram of the lighting setup of this shoot.
As the model was sat on the floor, the light was lowered accrodingly and set slightly to the right side of her, to create more dimension within the photo. The only downfall of this is that it adds a faunt shadow on the left side of her that I don't particularly like. |
Due to recent allegations of sexual exploitation against Mario Testino, I decided to take this information and turn it into a female empowerment shoot.
Testino was one of my photographer inspirations for this project, and because of this I considered whether I should remove him from my project all together. But on second thought, I felt that this is not something that shouldn't just be swept under the rug and ignored, it should be spoken out against. And that is why for my final shoot, as a female fashion photographer of female models, I felt it my duty to empower women and support the TIMES UP movement. |
TIMES UP is a movement against sexual harassment founded on January 1, 2018 by Hollywood celebrities in response to the Weinstein effect and #MeToo.
This movement is something that I feel very strongly about, knowing people who have been effected by this issue. People wear black to show support of the times up movement and at recent events have also had white roses to symbolise their support. In my final shoot I plan to have a group of models who I have shot previously all together, wearing black. |
I am taking my photo inspiration from empowering girl groups, such as the Spice Girls and Destiny's Child because what these women represent in their music is what I want to convey in this shoot. I also tried to select images that had a prominence of black in them as this is the colour theme for my shoot, in support of the Times Up movement. Although I am not recreating these images I am taking inspiration from them, for example I want to use the ideas of chairs, and having 5 friends all sat on chairs and showing their independence but also their unity and love for one another, as I believe a large part of empowerment is women empowering each other. |