How to improve your fashion photography
Saurabh Dua has spent more than 15 years as a professional photographer within the fashion industry, during which time he has travelled the world working with agencies, designers and brands. Here are his top tips for fabulous fashion photos.
Read time: 2 minutes
Avoid overly posed photos
The most difficult job for me is to ensure that the picture is not too posed. Encouraging the model to be candid yet creating a strong presence can be extremely challenging. I still don’t have it all figured out, but directing the model as little as possible tends to work. If all else fails, ask the model to look away from the camera, lean back on their back foot and angle their limbs (not all at once, of course!).
Image A subtle strength by Saurabh Dua
Step out of your comfort zone
When you’re shooting outside, nature and the elements can bring up roadblocks. I shot this image in the late evening as the natural light was fading. But, instead of scrambling to add more light sources, I made the most of it and manoeuvred around so the ambient light fell directly on the model. A common mistake photographers make is to shoot by the rules; to stay within their ‘comfort zone’. I try to break that every time I shoot, whether I’m changing up the composition, the lighting pattern or something else.
Image Poised in chaos by Saurabh Dua
Light your models well
Every fashion photographer has their own unique way of lighting up their models, and it’s not something you can find in a book or a YouTube tutorial. You’ll need experience and constant, consistent effort to find your style. When you’re starting out, experiment with different types and modes of lighting, different light temperatures and different angles. Imperfections can sometimes make things perfect.
Image Interest in motion by Saurabh Dua
You can find four more tips and images from Saurabh, as well as the stories behind the images featured above here!
Looking for better photos all round? Check out these pro tips for food, family and travel photography!
If you try these tips for yourself, don’t forget to tag us in your photos on social media using the handle @PhotonewsPN!
