Shooting My Editorial

It had been a such a busy week. The Squad (TM) had decided we'd try and get as many shoots in as possible before we broke up for Easter. It was a great idea but it was exhausting. In this week I became really confident with setting up studios according to a brief. This was something I struggled with last term as it was all new to me. I'd take my brief and do it accordingly but I'd be able to fix anything if the any of the girls weren't happy while they were shooting. So it felt a bit odd leaving it in someone else's hands as it had become my norm now.

I didn't really know for sure how I was going to be doing the make up. I felt really intimidated because I'd see the girl's shoots and they were really good. I was like " How am I going to live up to this?" So in the morning when I was packing my kit I knew exactly what I was going to be doing and how I wanted my photos to look. This already, was a more promising start to my shoot unlike the meltdowns I'd had with my shoot last semester.

During the shoot, I had decided I wasn't happy with the blue gels or the green ones for that matter. I didn't like how it was making my make up look. I was going for 'Sea Nymph' and it made her look more like an Ice Princess. 

When I was happy with the first set of pictures I had taken, I added loose pigment to her skin. I didn't want to make it look like the Holi festival so I was careful about how I went about applying it. I gently 'tipped' it onto her skin so it wouldn't look like it had been thrown on. It looked like tears if anything.

I started realising my inner Rankin/Bailey hybrid. Offering gentle direction to Harriet who listens really, really well. Looking at my photos on Capture One I wasn't completely happy. I politely ask the girls if they would might moving the lights around, I do a few more test shoots before I get back into the swing of. I like the lighting more now, I don't think I needed to try and add the gels. The contrast of the lights making her skin look warm and the cool colours I'd chosen to use. 

Thinking back to my tutorial session with Chris last semester I tried to bear in mind the feedback. I thought more about my composition. I tried harder to make sure my photos weren't under/over exposed. When I looked through my photos on the Mac, I noticed that one of my shoulders was slightly bare. I added some of the pigment to the shoulder because I was almost certain that this would be something that Chris would pick up on.

Using the Evian Spray I've got halfway through the shoot, I spray water onto the pigments to make them start running. I love this! I tried to shoot with a lower shutter speed to try and capture the water as it's being sprayed. This it seems, is a little above my skill level. So I scratch this idea until I know how do it.

I spray more water into the hair and I love how the droplets are sticking to her hair and she literally looks like she's stepped out of the sea/magical lake. YES! I feel so confident with these photos. I don't actually feel dread when it comes to showing Chris. Maybe Sharon, but there's always going to be nerves there.

Overall, the shoot goes without any hiccups. All smooth sailings which feels like novelty because we had hit little roadbumps in the other sessions. I feel so proud. This is what I'm passionate about.


Here's just a few snaps from my phone: