Editorial Photography Research

Before my studio shoot with my friend Kelly, I decided to do some initial research into editorial photography by some of the leading magazines, and how they use photography to sell a product or promote a brand! I looked into both traditional photography methods, and a few experimental methods of capturing fashion portraits.

I thought this was an experimental way of showcasing a model through an editorial in a foreign version of Elle magazine. The model has been photographed in a studio using a white backdrop and three lights, two facing the model and one facing the background. However, in post production or so it seems, there has been a watercolour effect placed upon the models face. It appears to be a tattoo of some sort, placed on the models skin. It gives the overall photograph an artistic feel, as well as a Chinese tradition. My photographs are going to challenge the norm of editorial photography, and explore the realms of the unknown side of fashion photography which is not usually expressed within magazines. To help with my submission, I am going to submit my images to a number of different magazines, to gain feedback as to how they are viewed within a fashion industry environment.

This photograph has also been taken from Elle magazine and doesn't challenge the basics of fashion photography within the magazine. The model has been photographed from the knees up, with her hips leaning slightly to the left of the photograph. There has again been three lights used, and also a wind machine from the left of the shot to blow her hair back in a fashionable manner. I see this a lot in Vogue and Elle magazine, where they want to make the model appear more sexy and attractive. I plan to use the white background like a lot of editorial and fashion photography, but make the model stand out.

This editorial piece has been captured and featured in Vogue magazine. I have always followed Vogue and their work since I began University and even in that short space of time, I have examined their work and seen a change in it. Some of their editorial work is high end fashion, looking at pre-today and the fashions that have been. Others use the general "white background" approach when trying to see a product. The above shot is an example of where they take a fashion style from pre-today and base a photo shoot concept around it. This looks like it has been taken from the 19th century, judging by the dress and cuffs on the sleeves. There appears to be a stronger light emerging from the right of the image, casting a show on the left hand side of the models face. Again, a wind machine has been used to give the model an element of sexiness.

Above is how I pictured editorial photography to be captured. A typical white background with the model and what she is wearing being in focus. I plan to capture it this way as I want the blood and cuts to be the focus of the image, although I can image it would be even if I used a patterned background or a location. I want the blood to take all the drama of the photograph, and make the viewer look and think "Wow, why is she modelling looking like that?". I want to challenge the typical view of editorial and fashion photography and show people that it can be interesting, and can be captured in a scary and different way.