Next time you are scanning magazines, Instagram feeds, and websites, and you see a perfect photo of a flawless model in a dreamy location and you start to think to yourself “why don’t my pictures ever look like that?’ or “why does my hair and makeup never look like that even when I spent hours on it” – just STOP!
You know all about image manipulation and photo-shopping of magazine and web images, and you’ve probably tried out photo filters on your phone to enhance your own pics, but there is often so much to it than that, and keeping this in mind when you look at these altered images takes the sting out of it this perceived perfection. It takes a whole team to make an image for a magazine editorial when working with a model, and an even bigger crew when the feature involves a celebrity. Models and movie stars are mere mortals and just like the rest of us, not a single one of them arrives on set looking like the final image.
A typical editorial shoot has a large crew to make a production go smoothly and to help the team achieve the images to create the “story”. The model may have been cast by the magazine’s booking editor, or a casting director. The producer takes care of the location, catering, transportation, scheduling, and budget management. The fashion or beauty editor represents the magazine, has the “concept” of the shoot planned out ahead of time, and sourced the other members of the team. They might also have assistants on set. The photographer and their assistants look after the technical aspects of the shoot and interpret the story line given by the editor. The digital tech processes the images as the shoot progresses, so the team can be certain they are on the right track.
The stylist brings all the clothing, shoes, accessories and jewelry that fit the concept and will have several options for last minute switch-ups. The stylist also pins, stitches, clips, irons, tapes, and alters the styling to fit perfectly for the purposes of the shot. The makeup artist and hair stylist are given a mood or inspiration board, and it typically takes two hours to transform the model into the “look” that fits the storyline for the shoot.
For each shot the model and photographer work to compose the image, whether it is a static, posed shot, or if the model needs to repeat a specific movement. Add in the changing lighting conditions, wind, or other variables in a shot such as waves, crowds, or vehicles, and each shot must be done like choreographed routine when shooting on location. And normally the team shoots eight such images in a day for a magazine editorial. The production team must be creative, good collaborators, proficient, and flexible to get it all done in a day. Catalogue shoots might rotate models and shoot twenty “looks” per day. Advertising projects might have an illustrated storyboard for the shoot, and the team is then led by an art director.
After each shoot is completed, the images are edited by the fashion or beauty editor and the photographer, to choose the best shots to tell the story. These images then proceed to the post-production stage to be manipulated and retouched. Hair out of place or skin imperfections? Gone. The dress blew in an odd way when the model moved? Corrected. Less than idea lighting conditions? Brightened. Tourists looking on at the edge of the frame? Out. Model’s eyes too small, legs too thick, hair not full enough? Altered. Colors too dull? Enhanced.
It takes a team of top professionals to create the best possible images on set, and then the image is still manipulated to be optimal and void of any “imperfections”. This is the case in nearly all photo productions. How can anyone without all this creative help ever achieve these type of images?
So don’t compare yourself, or judge, or feel inadequate when you see your photos and feel they fall short. Do your best and be your most amazing self. Practice what looks good for you in photos. Try filters, but not all the time. There is nothing “wrong” or “less” about being yourself.
When I started modeling there was no photo-shopping of images after they were completed. We used black and white Polaroids to check the light and the details. Yes, we still had a team, and it was so gratifying to see my pictures later knowing how hard we all worked together to make it happen. We appreciated the efforts so much more. It was me! It was real! Technology has trained our brains to expect perfection in images – and in ourselves – but it is not a true representation of reality. No one can measure up to these standards.
I have many posts on this blog to show you from my perspective as a model how to put your best face forward and pose like a star in photos!
Instant tricks to improve your phone photos! But first - let me take a selfie! Real supermodel tips
It's pretty easy to "put a smile on your face" - read this post to make sure it at least "LOOKS" genuine because you can definitely tell when it's not. {HERE} How to smile for a photo - No cheese please!
Use makeup to enhance your beauty and create illusions with highlighting and contouring. This is a trick celebrity makeup artists have used for years for flawless perfection in a photo. Learn how to do it yourself {HERE} Contouring is the New Photoshop #NoFilter!
Practice. Practice. Practice. Moving in front of the camera is easy - Learn how the pros do it {HERE} How to move for a photo like a model!
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My book “Face This: Real Advicefrom Real Models on How to Become Picture Perfect!: A Model’s Secrets” gives in-depth tips and photo illustrations to anyone who wants to look better in photos. In today’s social media world, who doesn’t need this advice? You can find my book on Amazon!
