5 basic tips on how to take fabulous fashion photos

MANILA, Philippines – If you want to break into fashion photography or just simply enjoy doing it for your social media profile, we got some tips to amp up your photography game.

During the Canon Pro Night: Fashion Revolution held in Samsung Hall SM Aura in Taguig City on Friday, Philstar.com got the chance to talk to one of the members of Canon Crusaders of Light, professional photographer Wesley Villarica.

According to Villarica, fashion photography is not limited to the statement pieces. Having the right knowledge on framing, lighting and setting is important too. Fashion photography has evolved into something much more than simple snapshots of clothing designs.

Even your Louis Vuitton and Chanel can look dull and lifeless without the right knowledge of photography.

While not everyone is a pro when it comes to fashion photography, you too can learn some simple tips to bring oomph to your simple snapshots.

Make a powerful portrait and give a wow factor to your photo by following these tips from Wesley Villarica:

1. Tell a story

Photos, just like any piece of visual art, can convey every human emotion. It is a complex language that allows us to express ourselves through the elements that are put into it such as the setting, body language up to the wardrobe that the subject wears.

"Like with telling stories, may story din yung pananamit," Villarica said.

It is important to bring the photos to life by telling a story and making connection to those who are seeing the photo. So always remember to pull all the elements of the scene and the model together to reflect this story.

2. Put together a coherent look

When it comes to taking a good photo, having "balance" is the key. One of the mistakes most people make in taking photos is putting all possible element of a story into one picture.

But the truth is, a good photo is not just about the number of elements that you are putting in a frame. It is about putting together a coherent look regardless of the number of elements.

Less is more. Throwing together too many visual elements can overwhelm and obscure the main subject of the photo.

"You cannot have too much of something because it will overpower the whole look," Villarica said.

"For example, you are doing something more minimalist, you can have a monochrome, a simple wardrobe, but have a statement piece like a shoe," he added.

A good photo means having balanced elements. If there's too much going on the background already, try keeping the wardrobe simple.

3. Play on the strengths of the model

Fashion photography should convey an essence of power, so your model needs to be confident.

"Wag mong pilitin yung hindi naman bagay," he said.

Taking note of the body type of the model is important.

"Kung heavy na yung tao, bakit mo pa siya isho-shoot ng from below? Eh di lalong lalapad."

If the model has good eyes, make her smize. Using poses that require angular  body shapes can add edginess to the photo. It also makes the body length of the model more elongated.

4. Work with your environment

Working with your environment means playing with the light or getting the perfect spot.

Getting the right location is important if you want to convey a narrative within your shot.  For example, if the clothing that you will be using for the photo is edgy, you may want to consider an urban setting. If it is a couture shoot, you have to set up an environment that can go well the theme to make it organized and coherent.

If you are shooting without the flash, try to find light. Explore how various camera settings affect your photo. Experiment with angles to create effects and discover what works best for the shoot.

5. Choose the right camera

Last but not the least, you have to have a decent camera. "It has to have a dynamic range like Canon EOS 5DS, which can capture a lot of details," Villarica said.

5DS features a 50.6-megapixels ultra-high-pixel Full-frame CMOS sensor and Dual “DIGIC 6” image processor with a standard ISO range from 100 to 6400 and 5FPS High Speed Continuous Shooting.

Canon continues to push the boundaries of technology with the launch of its latest large-diameter fixed focal length lens. The EF35mm f/1.4L II USM is the first model to use Blue Spectrum Refractive optics (BR optics), an optical element capable of achieving a new level of sharpness by reducing chromatic aberration when combined with concave and convex lenses. This enables the lens to render superb image quality and performance, making full use of the brightness of a large aperture.