My Fashionable Life: Pretty as a picture?

August 02, 2005

Pretty as a picture?

Ali asked me how I take good pictures (thank you Ali!), so I thought I’d use my answer as a post, in case it makes interesting reading.

First I must make clear that there is no way I could take these pictures with a self-timer. I have a dear husband, who is not a photographer but who plays along patiently with my fashion fantasies. These are the few rules we play by:

1) Take pictures in natural light. It’s obvious to state, but easy to forget. I find indoor shots on a fairly bright day are most flattering. Outdoors can work, but choose an overcast day. Bright sunshine causes too much contrast in your pictures, which can mean you lose detail, and also makes your model’s face scrinch up.

2) If like me your natural expression is a scowl, be aware that every fleeting emotion shows on your visage. Empty your mind and face of every last negative thought before you start – no matter how irritable you are feeling.

3) Plan the shot. Tidy away the pots of pens, piles of letters, phones, keys, clutter that will be in the background. If you are both stylist and model, check your garments regularly - it’s dull to get what would be a great picture if only your bra strap wasn’t peeking out.

4) Strike a pose. At the very least, jut out your hip. Far more flattering than standing square on.

5) Take many, many, many pictures. For every modelled shot that appears on this site, at least 15 others have been discarded. I learnt the importance of taking lots when listening to Desert Island Discs with Lord Litchfield. He reckons on getting no more than one decent shot per roll – and he is a professional and world famous photographer. The more you can bear to take, the more likely you are to end up with something usable.

6) Look at every picture carefully before you decide which ones to bin. With judicious cropping, the most unpromising can yield unexpected surprises.

7) Use Photoshop or an equivalent if you possibly can. No image appears in a glossy magazine that hasn’t been photoshopped to within an inch of its life, and I’m not too proud to admit to use of the airbrush tool. Adjust your contrast and brightness, and colour balance. For an very professional look, select the model, and apply a slight blur to everything else.

Thank heaven for digital cameras, and Photoshop. Mine don’t know what have hit them since the establishment of My Fashionable Life.

Posted by Amelia at August 2, 2005 12:45 PM

Comments

Great advice! I too have learned much about the island of lost pictures...I usually only get 1-2 quality pictures per roll in my photo classes also. Cheers!

Posted by: Christina at August 2, 2005 07:29 PM

Excellent tips Anna!! I should take them to heart - I tend to get very impatient and wind up rushing photos in the morning before work and then blame their poor quality or my poor posture on Brad somehow (poor fellow). Anyhow, I missed Claude's debut over the weekend - gorgeous - I think this is your best yet. The color and the style are so flattering and the pearls just put it right over the top of hand knit elegance. This is a design that I would definitely make and probably wear to threads. Well done. :-)

Posted by: Vicki at August 2, 2005 07:40 PM

As a pro photog - I will second the take as many pictures as you can tip. Shoot way more than necessary. Always!

Oh and yes. Photoshop is your friend. In fact, I'm working on pictures right now!

Great post!

Posted by: Cara at August 2, 2005 08:55 PM

Thanks for the great tips...I need them. I probably need photoshop too...thanks again :)

Posted by: michele at August 2, 2005 10:03 PM

Thanks for the tips Anna. Now all I need to find is a patient Husband!

Posted by: Ali at August 3, 2005 01:34 PM

Thanks for all of the good advice and tips!

Posted by: Liz at August 3, 2005 04:03 PM

Thanks for the tips. You are so correct about all of them. Great photos can make or break a blog.

Posted by: D R E W at August 7, 2005 08:23 PM

Dear Anna/Amelia,

I found your link while reading Mason Dixon knitting a few days ago. It is no surprise at all that yours has been honored with "Best of Blogs." Your Olympics coverage is witty and fun, and your patterns are whimsical, romantic and magical.

Can you tell me which of your patterns you'd suggest for someone who is not a master knitter, (I can do the basics, and cable.) I would also like to know if you have a sense of when "Claude" will be available again as a pattern, and your oatmeal below stairs sweater pattern is breathtaking. I will continue to check in on your blog.

Sincerely,

Mary Dwyer Pembroke

Posted by: Mary Dwyer Pembroke at February 25, 2006 01:22 PM