Fashion Photography Homework #3: Project 2

So for this assignment, we were asked to do a controversial ad. Most of my classmates groaned while I smiled uncontrollably from ear to ear. Finally, something I know and can do very well. At least I thought I did, until I took the train home and started to brainstorm.

Coming up with controversial ideas, sure, not a problem. Trying to incorporate such ideas into fashion... ah-ha... ah-ha, like the old jewish man in "Coming to America."
That was gimmick.
I thought of David LaChappelle and Robert Mapplethorpe and Sally Mann. Shit, even Annie Leibovitz. None of them were really, truly inspiring me and no one else I knew personally did controversial photography, only paintings and mixed media.

So I sat down to brainstorm with Robert Dumé, director of the first independent film set I photographed for, and after bouncing a few ideas back and forth. Nothing really stuck, but then it hit me, "what if we photographed an old man and a young girl?" Nah, that sucks and it's been done I bet. So, "what if we photographed an older woman and a young man for an underwear ad in a provocative pose?" Ding, ding. We had a winner.

The first thing I did was hit up a close friend who is always down to shoot anything controversial for me, Kelvin. He agreed without so much hearing the whole of the idea.
Now, next to find an older woman. I asked one of my aunts and she agreed because it was for me and it was for homework and for my future.

Everything went in line for this shoot, from getting wardrobe, to hair and make up which I did (I was very proud of myself for that) and most importantly the location. A friend of mine, Carolina, agreed to let us use her very modern apartment on 42nd Street to shoot. She too, had no idea what kind of photo shoot it was except that it was a controversial one.

In the end, my professor loved it and I finally felt like I was back in her good graces.

Here is the finished product, with a tag line I created for this and all:

Fashion Photography Homework #2: Project 2

My professor asked that we take a stylized shot and a snapshot. I thought I understood the assignment, but after seeing other people's work, I realized, I didn't.
Here's someone's rough definition:
"A “snapshot” can be taken of anything and of varying quality (composition, exposure, etc.) Usually a “snapshot” is a quick rough capture to document a scene or event. A “photograph” on the other hand is a well thought, composed, exposed and executed art form..."

 Stylized shot by Jill Greenberg (who is known for achieving these shots by enticing children with candy then taking the candy away at just the right time):

 

 

 Here is an example of a snap shot shot by someone else:

Here is my misunderstood version, Stylized:

Snapshot:

 

So essentially, they are very much the same shot as per my professor. I didn't realize the difference until the day I showed this in class.

Luckily, I wasn't the only one who misunderstood and I really felt that if the professor had shown us some examples of what a "stylized" shot was versus a "snapshot" prior to us doing the homework, most of us would have done a better job.

Actually come to think of it, the same goes for the ad vs the editorial. I didn't realize there was a difference until after my blunder. Lesson learned though and hopefully some of you will learn from mistakes as well. =0.)

Fashion Photography Homework: Project 1

The first objective for my fashion photography homework was to take two photographs, one has to show clothes or an item of clothing on a person and the next photo has to show the same clothing or item off a person.

After class, I wondered what the hell was I going to do for this project. My first idea was to show a person fully decked out in a suit/dress and then using that same attire and laying it flat on the bed with that person in their underwear looking pretty sullen, sitting next to the bed.
I tossed that idea out. It was pretty shitty and done before.

I then decided to focus on one item, I was going back and forth between a handbag and a scarf. I chose the scarf because it's my favorite accessory.

Now the idea. This was pretty tough, but I eventually came up with something I knew no one had done, at least, not that I have seen.

I spent all day yesterday, calling around to friends whom I thought could pull this shoot off, friends who were naturally stylish and most importantly none that I shot before. I happened upon my friend, Rob Krevolin, a superb writer and a talent manager, who lives in the lower east side. I called him and though he hates being in front of the camera, he consented because he wanted to help in anyway he can. I have many people in my life that support my (photography) habit, he is one of them.

I asked him if he had roof access, he scoped out his apartment building and texted me that he did and that there were fire hydrants around the neighborhood. Essentially he scouted locations for me. He even found a red pump which would contrast/compliment so well with the teal scarf. =0.)

I got to his place, popped off 40 frames between himself and the hydrant and below are the results. Murphy tried to stop this shoot from happening, but I always believe things happen for a reason.

I am still debating which set I should show to my class for homework....thoughts?

Project 2 coming soon... =0.)