Next time you are scanning
magazines, Instagram feeds, and websites, and you see a perfect photo of a
flawless model in a dreamy location and you start to think to yourself “why
don’t my pictures ever look like that?’ or “why does my hair and makeup never
look like that even when I spent hours on it” – just STOP!
You know all about image
manipulation and photo-shopping of magazine and web images, and you’ve probably
tried out photo filters on your phone to enhance your own pics, but there is
often so much to it than that, and keeping this in mind when you look at these
altered images takes the sting out of it this perceived perfection. It takes a whole team to make an image
for a magazine editorial when working with a model, and an even bigger crew
when the feature involves a celebrity. Models and movie stars are mere mortals
and just like the rest of us, not a single one of them arrives on set looking
like the final image.
A typical editorial shoot has a
large crew to make a production go smoothly and to help the team achieve the
images to create the “story”. The
model may have been cast by the magazine’s booking editor, or a casting
director. The producer takes care
of the location, catering, transportation, scheduling, and budget
management. The fashion or beauty
editor represents the magazine, has the “concept” of the shoot planned out
ahead of time, and sourced the other members of the team. They might also have assistants on
set. The photographer and their
assistants look after the technical aspects of the shoot and interpret the
story line given by the editor.
The digital tech processes the images as the shoot progresses, so the
team can be certain they are on the right track.
The stylist brings all the
clothing, shoes, accessories and jewelry that fit the concept and will have
several options for last minute switch-ups. The stylist also pins, stitches, clips, irons, tapes, and
alters the styling to fit perfectly for the purposes of the shot. The makeup artist and hair
stylist are given a mood or inspiration board, and it typically takes two hours
to transform the model into the “look” that fits the storyline for the shoot.
For each shot the model and
photographer work to compose the image, whether it is a static, posed shot, or
if the model needs to repeat a specific movement. Add in the changing lighting conditions, wind, or other
variables in a shot such as waves, crowds, or vehicles, and each shot must be
done like choreographed routine when shooting on location. And normally the team shoots eight such
images in a day for a magazine editorial.
The production team must be creative, good collaborators, proficient, and
flexible to get it all done in a day.
Catalogue shoots might rotate models and shoot twenty “looks” per
day. Advertising projects might
have an illustrated storyboard for the shoot, and the team is then led by an art director.
After each shoot is completed, the
images are edited by the fashion or beauty editor and the photographer, to
choose the best shots to tell the story.
These images then proceed to the post-production stage to be manipulated
and retouched. Hair out of place
or skin imperfections? Gone. The dress blew in an odd way when the
model moved? Corrected. Less than idea lighting
conditions? Brightened. Tourists looking on at the edge of the
frame? Out. Model’s eyes too small, legs too thick,
hair not full enough?
Altered. Colors too
dull? Enhanced.
It takes a team of top
professionals to create the best possible images on set, and then the image is
still manipulated to be optimal and void of any “imperfections”. This is the case in nearly all photo
productions. How can anyone
without all this creative help ever achieve these type of images?
So don’t compare yourself, or
judge, or feel inadequate when you see your photos and feel they fall
short. Do your best and be your
most amazing self. Practice what
looks good for you in photos. Try
filters, but not all the time.
There is nothing “wrong” or “less” about being yourself.
When I started modeling there was
no photo-shopping of images after they were completed. We used black and white Polaroids to check the light and the details. Yes, we
still had a team, and it was so gratifying to see my pictures later knowing how
hard we all worked together to make it happen. We appreciated the efforts so much more. It was me! It was real! Technology
has trained our brains to expect perfection in images – and in ourselves – but
it is not a true representation of reality. No one can measure up to these standards.
I have many posts on this blog to
show you from my perspective as a model how to put your best face forward and
pose like a star in photos!
Instant tricks to improve your phone photos! But first - let me take a selfie! Real supermodel tips
It's pretty easy to "put a smile on your face" - read this post to make sure it at least "LOOKS" genuine because you can definitely tell when it's not. {HERE} How to smile for a photo - No cheese please!
Use makeup to enhance your beauty and create illusions with highlighting and contouring. This is a trick celebrity makeup artists have used for years for flawless perfection in a photo. Learn how to do it yourself {HERE} Contouring is the New Photoshop #NoFilter!
Practice. Practice. Practice. Moving in front of the camera is easy - Learn how the pros do it {HERE} How to move for a photo like a model!
❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
My book “Face This: Real Advicefrom Real Models on How to Become Picture Perfect!: A Model’s Secrets” gives in-depth tips and photo
illustrations to anyone who wants to look better in photos. In today’s social media world, who
doesn’t need this advice? You can
find my book on Amazon!
