There are some photographers out there who consistently produce brilliant work based on the basic tenets of great imagery. Here are 10 of my favorites. Let me start with my favorite of favorites: 1. Tom Munro. He has a beautiful sense of aesthetics. He knows how to get the best angle on his subjects and his lighting is impeccable.
fashion photography's unglamorous side
Many years ago, I had a nightmare that I never forgot. In it, I'm driving my car along a narrow path, to the left of me, lapping up against this path, is the San Francisco bay. All of a sudden I notice that water is rising in front of me and over the path. I also realize this path is too narrow for me to turn around. Worse, I see that the water is rising behind me too. So as the water continues to rise, lifting my car, I step out of it and it begins to float. So I'm walking my car (not sure why)...and then the dream ends. Okay...got the picture?
So today, Tracey Morris decides we're going to shoot down by the LA River. But not NEAR the LA River, we're talking ON the LA River. So I'm following the directions that take me through a tunnel down by the 6th street bridge to the where the shoot is taking place. I head down a steep embankment that drops me ON TO the LA River.
The river starts off dry, just like driving on a street, but then, all of a sudden, I notice water is completely covering this "road." Now granted, this IS the river, so why wouldn't there be water. I continue to cruise along—just hoping I'm not going to fall into some pit where I'm stuck until the rescue helicopter is sending ropes down for me to hang on to. As I continue to drive, I see no sign of our photoshoot up ahead—just water.
Around the bend, I finally see the stylist's tent and some other vehicles. Whew! But then, when coming back, I miss the opening to the tunnel and end up driving about two miles on the river before finally deciding to circle back (fortunately). Um, no more shoots on the LA River, please. Okay?
rollin' ...rollin' ...rollin' on the river....
what dita? you don't like the cover?
As we were getting ready to go to press, I was texting back-and-forth with Dita about her cover and her thoughts were it didn't look like her. She asked if I'd made her lips larger. Hmmm, good catch Dita. It wasn't that we made her lips larger, it was that we'd shot at such a low angle, we pinched the jawline, because it looked too wide. The challenge with altering anyone's face—especially one as recognizable as some of these celebrities, is that the slightest modification can alter them from looking like themselves. This was a good case in point.
I agreed with Dita and decided to hold the presses and to run this image (below) on the cover instead. It's a flattering shot for her face and the best part is that it looks like Dita! I also decided to kill one of the inside shots that I was going to run, the black and white image. It's always better to run a shorter story with "great" shots; than to dilute a fashion story with even one "okay" shot. One bad shot can kill four great ones.
excuse me, have you seen dita von teese's lingerie?
Everything worked out. We got the perfect location. My favorite photographer. Great hairstylist. Super makeup artist. Fantastic stylist. And one of my favorite subjects: Dita Von Teese. It's my third time working with Dita on a Genlux cover. Marc Baptiste shot the first Dita cover—in fact, that was my first time working with Marc—also my favorite photogs (I can have many favorites, right?). BrakhaX2 shot the second cover of Dita. And now, Tracey Morris shot this one!
I requested some snow, and Tracey obliged. She brought in a huge bag o' snow! We sprinkled it on the floor, statues, fireplaces, everywhere! Then, as we were shooting, we threw it on Dita. Like any element that conveys kinetic movement in a photograph—it brings it to life. So whenever possible, we like to add water, wind, fire, movement, and even shadows give a look of energy.
Angel Terrazas was our stylist. He brought a beautiful red Valentino patent leather coat and some great shoes. Dita supplied the lingerie—her own collection that available at Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom, Myer, Figleaves, ASOS, Glamuse, and a bunch of other retailers.
I'll say this a million times, I appreciate that Tracey Morris and hubby Robert bring enough equipment to ALWAYS get the shot—regardless of the lighting situation. They have the scrims, the backdrops, tons of lights, all the goodies to get the shot done right. You won't find a shot done by Tracey Morris that isn't lit perfectly. She always gets it right.