Final: Fashion and Product Photography

Fashion Icon Richard Avedon

Background
Flipping through the glossy pages of magazines, how many images do you see of fashion and products being sold? What do you think of when you hear the word “fashion”? Chances are, images of catwalks, models, and couture clothing fill your head, but fashion is so much more. Fashion photography has been around since the advent of the camera. Fashion, like photography, is an ever-changing and evolving art form. There are many different types of fashion in America alone, leaving this assignment very broad. 

Artists to consider: Richard Avedon, Helmut Newton, David LaChapelle, Mario Testino, Ellen Von Unwerth
Brands to consider: Forever 21, GQ, Free People, Louis Vuitton

Assignment
Your assignment is to submit 3 fashion photos and 3 product photos that could be printed in a magazine. You will mount two on board and put two on the back. You will be printing 2-8x12 prints and mounting on black board. This is your FINAL so show us everything that you’ve learned throughout the year. This project is a culmination of your EXCELLENT photography skills. Be sure to place BOTH photographs in the Google Drive folder before the day of the final. You may print both images in the classroom but it is your responsibility to have them both printed and mounted by the exam day. If you cannot make it to the printer then you may print them at CVS or another photo lab. During the exam day, you will write a written reflection.

Tips:

• Look around you. What kind of fashion surrounds you? Then think about what kind of fashion you want to photograph (vintage fashion, couture fashion, teen fashion, men’s fashion). You may use anything that has to do with fashion (heels, purses, accessories).
  
• When photographing a product, think about something that really interests you and find a way to make that product pop. Set up a studio if need be in order to get those crisp shots. Are you photographing an organic face lotion? Perhaps place rose petals with your shot. Make it APPEALING. 
  
• Think about your subject and how you are going to frame it. You are going to be selling this fashion design or this product so you want it to look fantastic. Think about your model-will there be one? Think of what background you choose. Are you going to use a studio setting or outdoor setting? The rest of the photograph should complement your product.
  
• Edit your photo. No digital photographer shows unedited photographs. Use Photoshop to make your photo pop. Online tutorials are great resources to find out how to edit photographs. We suggest you do some research on youtube.com or psd.tutsplus.com/ to find out how to edit your photographs to perfection.
  
• Our cameras aspect ratio is 8x12. You need to crop 2 inches off the 12" side to make a photograph be 8x10. 8x12 mats are difficult to find, most are sold as 8x10.

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