My Fashion Photography Journey

[BongTindugan]

I have been doing test shoots for some years now and I haven’t got a chance to have a venue for a sound critique. I’ll be posting some of my past photos here to learn from your opinions and ideas. (I’d love to know the things that I need to stop doing and things that I need to continue doing).

I will try to incorporate your comments and suggestions on my future photography work, may it be in fashion, commercial, or editorial.

“Critique my work not the people in it”

[BongTindugan]

Josanne Salvaleon
Photography & Production: © 2009 Bong Tindugan | http://www.AnyFormTM.com
Hair and Makeup: Chin Viyar
Fashion Design: Louie Bagadiong
Location: Seventy-seven Outdecor House and Restaurant
More Details: http://anyformtm.com/project/Gallivant/Gallivant.html

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[BongTindugan]

Diana Jane Nicolas
Photography & Production: © 2009 Bong Tindugan | http://www.AnyFormTM.com
Hair and Makeup: Ouie Lopez
Fashion Design: Louie Bagadiong
Location: Seventy-seven Outdecor House and Restaurant
More Details: http://anyformtm.com/project/Gallivant/Gallivant.html

Equipment:
Canon 400D
Canon 50mm f/1.4
Canon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
Canon 580 EX - portable softbox
Morris 60W AC Slave - shoot through umbrella

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[simon3116]

I'm no expert but here's what I think. In your shots the backgrounds are very busy which draw my eye away from the models, sometimes less is better. The processing in the shots looks like HDR and the middle shot has a yellow colour cast especially on the models arm resting on the bar so her skin is two colours. I also feel that they are very tightly cropped so I'm not sure what the "message" of the shot is.

[BongTindugan]

Thanks for sharing you insight Simon, appreciate it.

> Indeed, all photos were processed in HDR (just trying...)
> Busy background is an improvement that I can do.
> I tried to get the ambient light on the bar so I dialed down the shutter speed. That causes the yellow color cast that you've observed (coming from the light above the bar).
> Probably the cropping around the waist level is a bad idea.

I'm no expert but here's what I think. In your shots the backgrounds are very busy which draw my eye away from the models, sometimes less is better. The processing in the shots looks like HDR and the middle shot has a yellow colour cast especially on the models arm resting on the bar so her skin is two colours. I also feel that they are very tightly cropped so I'm not sure what the "message" of the shot is.

[HayleyEPaterek]

I agree with what Simon has pointed out, HDR is not great for fashion photography so you would probably find it better to begin working more on your lighting techniques.
Using a bounced flash can be great for fill in light and would work really well at balancing your colour casts in some of the shots, particularly where you want to capture some of the ambient light in the bar. Set the shutter speed a little slower so that the camera can record some ambient light in the room after the flash has fired and been recorded. Alternatively you could make corrections to colour casts in Photoshop using Colour balance or selective colour. Lightroom is also really good for this.
I would maybe try shooting in some outdoor locations first using just natural daylight and a reflector, keeping things clean and simple so you can build up on your technique.
I think its also important to also remember that if your shooting fashion the image needs to be more about the clothing and I would really recommend looking up some fashion photographers whose work you admire, start looking closely at how they frame, light and pose the models in shots it really helps!
Good luck and keep posting would love to see how you get on!

[BongTindugan]

Thanks for giving your inputs Hayley, having this kind of pointers will really help me improve.
Little by little I'm learning more in Lightroom and Photoshop, good tools. I'll be posting some more photos soon (hope you could still provide feedback).

I agree with what Simon has pointed out, HDR is not great for fashion photography so you would probably find it better to begin working more on your lighting techniques.
Using a bounced flash can be great for fill in light and would work really well at balancing your colour casts in some of the shots, particularly where you want to capture some of the ambient light in the bar. Set the shutter speed a little slower so that the camera can record some ambient light in the room after the flash has fired and been recorded. Alternatively you could make corrections to colour casts in Photoshop using Colour balance or selective colour. Lightroom is also really good for this.
I would maybe try shooting in some outdoor locations first using just natural daylight and a reflector, keeping things clean and simple so you can build up on your technique.
I think its also important to also remember that if your shooting fashion the image needs to be more about the clothing and I would really recommend looking up some fashion photographers whose work you admire, start looking closely at how they frame, light and pose the models in shots it really helps!
Good luck and keep posting would love to see how you get on!

[BongTindugan]

Diana Jane Nicolas
Photography & Production: © 2009 Bong Tindugan | http://www.AnyFormTM.com
Hair and Makeup: Chin Viyar
Fashion Design: Louie Bagadiong
Location: RCBC Tower Helipad, Makati PH
More Details: http://anyformtm.com/project/Zenith/Zenith.html

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[BongTindugan]

Josanne Salvaleon
Photography & Production: © 2009 Bong Tindugan | http://www.AnyFormTM.com
Hair and Makeup: Chin Viyar
Fashion Design: Louie Bagadiong
Location: RCBC Tower Helipad, Makati PH
More Details: http://anyformtm.com/project/Zenith/Zenith.html

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[simon3116]

Much better shots Bong. The first shot is very dramatic and is a fantanstic location that would make many people very jealous.....but there are a few things I noticed.

In the first shot the light under the models arm is two colours which looks odd, there are also boats??? in the distant background look like dirty sensor spots which I would clone out.

In the second shot the lighting on the models shoulder has left a big dark shadow which is distracting. Her hair also disappears into the dark sky and I think the composistion could be improved by including her full shadow into the shot especially if she was nearer the edge of the helipad with that dramatic background.

[HayleyEPaterek]

Fantastic improvement! They both look a lot more professional, particularly when you look at how you have directed the model and lit her under what can be difficult low light! The second it my favorite she really commands the frame although I'm not sure what is in the bottom left hand corner? I would maybe just clone that out as it could be a little distracting. Other than they are great! Keep posting as you go would love to see how you get on

[BongTindugan]

Hi Simon, Thanks for the comments, I'm glad that you liked the location.

> Two colors on model's arm: I think this was caused by the S-curve that I've added. My masking was not that good.
> Good guess those are boats along Manila Bay: I'll keep an open eye for similar distractions in the future.
> Distracting big dark shadow: I'll just be more mindful on where the shadows would fall next time.
> Hair disappeared on the dark sky: Maybe a hair light would help separate the model...
> Full shadow in the composition: I didn’t realize that the shadow would create an impact to the entire composition, brilliant idea.

Much Thanks!

Much better shots Bong. The first shot is very dramatic and is a fantanstic location that would make many people very jealous.....but there are a few things I noticed.

In the first shot the light under the models arm is two colours which looks odd, there are also boats??? in the distant background look like dirty sensor spots which I would clone out.

In the second shot the lighting on the models shoulder has left a big dark shadow which is distracting. Her hair also disappears into the dark sky and I think the composistion could be improved by including her full shadow into the shot especially if she was nearer the edge of the helipad with that dramatic background.

[BongTindugan]

Thanks Hayley, it's good that you’ve liked the photos.
> This really is a very tricky low light situation; the sunset on the background disappeared so fast. You would see the difference on the light between the two photos.
> The bottom left hand corner on the second photo is the H on the helipad.

Thanks again...

Fantastic improvement! They both look a lot more professional, particularly when you look at how you have directed the model and lit her under what can be difficult low light! The second it my favorite she really commands the frame although I'm not sure what is in the bottom left hand corner? I would maybe just clone that out as it could be a little distracting. Other than they are great! Keep posting as you go would love to see how you get on

[BongTindugan]

Photography: © 2010 Bong Tindugan | http://www.AnyFormTM.com
Hair and Makeup: Sarina Farcon
Production: Mark Bersales & Tin Nombres
Location: Anawangin Cove, Zambales
More Details: http://anyformtm.com/project/Zambales/Zambales.html

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Krisheela Enriquez
Tin Nombres



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Krisheela Enriquez

[BongTindugan]

Krissy Ford
Photography & Co-Production: © 2010 Bong Tindugan | http://www.AnyFormTM.com
Hair & Makeup: Chin Viyar
Sponsor: ShutterClique Photography Club
Location: Fort Santiago, Intramuros
More Details: http://anyformtm.com/project/FortSantia ... tiago.html

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