The second part of the "Deconstructing the Photo" series takes us to hair, make-up and wardrobe. In order for a commercial, lifestyle, or fashion shoot to be successful, many times, you need to have a hair and make-up artist on set. The hair and make-up artist will use his or her talents to make your models look and feel their best on set. Good hair and make-up can make or break a photo shoot. You want to have a make-up artist that really is familiar with working on a photo or shoot and is comfortable working under the higher stress levels and is able to perform well under time constraints.
Before the shoot, you want to talk to all parties involved about final shoot product expectations. You need to have the lighting, the hair and make-up, and the wardrobe running smoothly and complementing the shoot product. If, for example, the lighting does not match the mood of the wardrobe and make-up, the shoot could fall apart before you take the first picture.
Defining concepts with the client and others involved in the shoot is equally important. You want to make sure that all of your terms are defined. For example, if you say that you are doing a beauty shoot, you need to make sure that everyone involved has the same understanding of the "beauty" concept. One of the simplest ways to do this is to show everyone some pictures that you consider to be in that style.
Defining concepts with the client and others involved in the shoot is equally important. You want to make sure that all of your terms are defined. For example, if you say that you are doing a beauty shoot, you need to make sure that everyone involved has the same understanding of the "beauty" concept. One of the simplest ways to do this is to show everyone some pictures that you consider to be in that style.
The best way to find make up artist is though referral from other photographers in your area. If you like the look of a photo, don't be afraid to ask the photographer who they used for make-up. When booking a make-up artist, it is important you find one that is not only good at their craft, but also reliable in terms of client relations. For example, I recently did a test shoot with a model and a make-up artist. The day of the shoot, the model was running a little late due to traffic, and my make-up artist decided to bail on me. I was left with a second shooter and a photo assistant, and neither of them could do make-up. Luckily, the model had brought her own make up and is an excellent make up artist in her own right. She was also able to do her own hair, as well. Lesson learned: be ready to trouble shoot in case of the unexpected.
It is important to plan the shoot's wardrobe, as well. Will it be inspired by the hair and make-up or will the hair and make-up inspire the clothing look? Either way, make sure the look works together. For this shoot's wardrobe, I had a "GQ" look in mind. I wanted a gray seemless with a nice, clean look with a pop of color and light. I asked the model to bring many clothing options that she felt met this look, and we ended up choosing this yellow shirt. I had her do a clean, fresh make-up look and a simple hairstyle.
In the next article on "Deconstructing the Photo", I'll cover lighting.
In the next article on "Deconstructing the Photo", I'll cover lighting.
