DAY 57

FASHION & BEAUTY

Casting Your Talent

SHE’S GOT THE LOOK!

A fashion photographer’s final image is only as strong as the talent who is selected as the model. The fashion industry has dictated that a model must look good in clothes and caters toward figures that are tall, thin, and beautiful. The goal in fashion photography is to find exotic and stunning people to fill beautiful clothes and pull off the themes in editorial fashion spreads. An appropriate model is necessary in order for the image to belong in the fashion photography genre.

In beauty photography, skin and healthy hair is everything. If the final shot is only head and shoulders, a photographer can open up the modeling field to include people other than 6-foot-tall supermodels. Look for models with exaggerated facial features; they tend to give the makeup artist a more interesting canvas.

Where does one find their supermodel in the rough? Online photography and modeling forums are great resources for amateur and professional photographers and models. As with all things on the Internet, though, exercise caution. Ask for references. Be courageous and ask an attractive friend or person that catches your eye in a public place to model for you. In most cases, she or he will be flattered.

Photo © Matthew Roharik. Model credit: Autumn DeSellem.

Plan out and create a description of your shoot ideas and concepts to give the model when contacting them for the first time. Be professional and honest in all aspects of your work and people will follow suit. —MR