Anatomy of a Fashion Shoot

[chuasam]

Yesterday, I did another shoot. This was mostly headshots, and model tests and updates for my portfolio.
Here are some of the unretouched files.

 

[chuasam]

Here is the first of the edited files:

 

[DiskoJoe]

I love this shot. Best one you posted. Now you need to kick that water mark up some. That is not fancy enough for fashion. Maybe a cooler font and box it in like its a brand name tag. Put it in a corner. The placement here takes away from your photo and if this gets stolen it would be pretty obvious that its yours.

*LOL* thanks Joe. It isn't fancy enough for Fashion Editorial but it was for an online catalogue.
oh the Watermark...I'm not so much afraid of the picture being stolen. The reason for my watermark is so that viewers are led to my site. Most of my work is out there and completely unwatermarked. All of the artists and photographers out there that I admire do not use watermarks either. But they're well known and don't need to generate traffic to their site.

Here's a few
Brooke Shaden
Jonathan Hobin
Joanne Ratkowski
Lara Jade

and...
my favourite pet photographer ever Tim Flach
even my friend KC who is an amazing wedding photographer

Not One of the really good photographers use a Watermark. Why do I have one? I'm not there yet. I look forward to the day when I do not need a watermark again.

Well I could tell that it was more of a signature as opposed to a water mark but your photo is sooo much better then your signature that the sig takes away. Just have a pro design you one thats something more sophisticated. I am very serious. Your work deserves a signature that complements it. Better design equals better recognition which is exactly what you are looking for. I do have a business degree and entrepreneurial certifications so you can take this as free consulting advice.

 

[chuasam]

Thanks Joe, I reckon that I'll hold off having a proper signature for now. My little tagline is more like a way to get people to know who took the picture.
Meanwhile...

 

[2WheelPhoto]

Beautiful shots. If you don't mind me asking, your client doesn't own the pics and rights to the images?

Usually in Tampa the photographer doesn't dare release the photo's until after they are printed and public, they're considered property of the magazine, advetising agency, or an agent. And sometimes before print of course they go to the client's graphic artist after the shoot for various changes and backgrounds/text added, etc etc

 

[chuasam]

2Wheel,
It depends on your contract. For bigger clients who pay more, they can purchase exclusive usage. Rarely do they own the rights to the pictures (that would be very expensive for them). Often, editorial clients have an embargo on the pictures so that they can use them first. Yes, often you deliver the image for the client to put through the mill and churn out something on the other end.

Unfortunately, I'm new to commercial photography and I deal with very small clients. I am also a retoucher so I tend to do my own post-processing. I haven't done an editorial shoot in a very long time; that had a whole different set of requirements.