Opinions, advice and commentary about Photography, Modeling and Acting.
Generally speaking, lifestyle photography shows people in action, often outdoors engaging in regular activities. However, studio shots can also reflect great editorial photography, usually illustrating certain products or fashion accessories. Consider the following photos that are both indoor and outdoor shots.
A variety of photos in your portfolio not only showcases your diverse look, but can say something about your personality. Consider the variety of looks from each of these models and how an expression on the face or change of posture tells a unique story.
Art directors use the term editorial photography to describe the type of lifestyle photos that can be used to advertise a company’s products or services. Generally speaking, the style uses images that are designed to show people in ordinary situations. The purpose might be to sell an idea or more specifically a product that shows people doing activities or in situations that tell a story. For example, a woman relaxing on a park bench might illustrate peace of mind (life insurance) or simply better quality of life (some kind of hygiene or health-related product). Retailers use this type of photography often to sell clothing because it shows the lifestyle or happiness you would enjoy when you purchase their clothing. Below are some sample lifestyle images. What does it take to sell you on a product?
The newest photo trend, named High Dynamic Range or HDR photography is slowing picking up fans as it becomes integrated into cameras (the iPhone 4 and 4S models both have an HDR option built in), involves a series of photos, blended together to capture the best lighting and colors. On a manual DSLR, there are settings that allow you to take multiple photos in rapid succession at different exposure levels. These can be combined using photo editing software to create an image that can be both either surreal or with vivid colors and lighting. Since the Nikon DSLR I use (and my iPhone for that matter) both allow HDR photography, I’ve been experimenting. So far, I’m pleased with the results as a creative outlet. There are various options for output from black & white to painting, grunge or simply enhanced colors. Below are a few examples.
Spring brings the much anticipated senior prom and for many high-school juniors, a chance to take senior pictures that reflect personality, poise and fun! Below are a series of candid and posed photos with a group of friends for the 2010 Columbia River senior prom and one senior picture. Each of the photos helps capture these fun moments to forever preserve those memories.
Getting a photo subject to show personality and a natural smile can be easy if the person is in a playful mood or comfortable in front of the camera. This is often the reason that photos of couples can be great candid shots as they relate to one another. Sometimes, it’s a distraction, a mood, looking at someone with curiousity, flirtation or humor. If the end result is a smile that tells a story or shows an emotion, it’s a success. See the examples below.
One futurist described the Information Age coming to an end when every person on the planet has access to the sum of human knowledge. While this provocative thought is interesting, particularly when you think about the world being divided between the haves and the have nots (that is access to education/information), it makes me wonder how individual creativity can ben harnessed on a global scale. For instance, if artwork can be created and or manipulated by anyone, anywhere, the only limit is our own creativity! One simple, creative tool in the form of an iPhone App, named Mobile Monet, is perhaps one, small example. The application allows the user to take a photo and change it into a black and white drawing or into a watercolor picture by using your finger to rub across the screen. Amazing results! Here is an example of an original photos and two versions created with this program.
Cheerleading is a sport. If there is any doubt, watch some of these young girls doing gymnastics, twists, bends, jumps, flips and aerial stunts. Here’s a few photo captures of the joy of flying:
You’ve read it here before. Do you have a celebrity double? Celebrity lookalikes are popular at conventions, expositions and conferences and can often turn a mall into a crazy crowd of rubberneckers. (That’s how it was for me as an innocent bystander when Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes walked by me in L.A., but that’s another story…) What I want is your opinion: Which celebrity does the model below resemble most? Leave a comment below.
Photo Theatrics 
