Figure Photography: Techniques for Digital Photographers

✍ Scribed by Billy Pegram

• Publisher: Amherst Media, Inc.
• Year: 2013
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 160
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Walking photographers through the process of capturing the many possibilities of the human form, this guide presents the techniques for shooting figure images that make a statement, grab attention, and create an emotional impact. Professional model photographer Billy Pegram begins by explaining core concepts such as lighting, location, exposure, and styling that are integral to any type of figure image. He then explores a wide variety of specialized genres of figure photography, including commercial, fashion, boudoir, erotic, fine art, glamour, and pin-up, demonstrating the unique hallmarks and techniques that are essential to these styles. The book provides behind-the-scenes looks at a variety of assignments, covered from concept to execution, showing how each image was imagined, the decisions that went into the styling of the set and model, how the pose was developed and refined, the lighting setup used to capture the desired mood, and any postproduction techniques used to enhance the final results.

✦ Table of Contents

Front Cover
......Page 1
Copyright
......Page 2
Table of Contents
......Page 3
Introduction......Page 6
A Short History of Figure Imagery......Page 7
Location Selection......Page 8
FEATURE: Brief the Model......Page 10
Perks and Drawbacks......Page 11
Networking......Page 12
FEATURE: Shoot Reference Images......Page 13
Add Props......Page 15
Change It Up......Page 16
Indoor Locations......Page 17
Lighting and Exposure......Page 18
Approaches, Part 1......Page 19
Approaches, Part 2......Page 20
FEATURE: Soft and Hard......Page 22
The Golden Hours......Page 23
FEATURE: Gobos......Page 24
Placing a Single Source......Page 25
White Background......Page 26
Black Background......Page 27
Simple Variations......Page 28
Window Light, Part 1......Page 29
FEATURE: Simple Lighting, Dynamic Pose......Page 30
Choose the Right Light for Your Objectives......Page 32
Shutter Speed: Slow......Page 34
FEATURE: Practice Shooting Action......Page 36
Short Light Duration......Page 37
Postproduction Enhancement......Page 39
FEATURE: Building Your Team......Page 40
FEATURE: Get a Release......Page 48
Basic Retouching......Page 52
Color + Sepia/Black & White......Page 53
A Graphic Look......Page 54
FEATURE: The Photoshop Trap......Page 55
Photoshop Is Just Another Tool......Page 56
Jewelry Design......Page 58
FEATURE: Skip the Shirt......Page 60
Watch Design......Page 62
Fashion Design......Page 63
Lingerie Design......Page 64
FEATURE: Keep the Options Open......Page 65
FEATURE: What “Category” Is It?......Page 66
Fashion......Page 68
Drama......Page 69
FEATURE: Make It Pay......Page 70
FEATURE: Bra-Strap Marks......Page 72
Expression......Page 75
Elevate the Model......Page 76
Glamour......Page 78
Styling Team
......Page 79
FEATURE: Multiple Usages......Page 80
Clothing and Props......Page 82
FEATURE: Disclaimer......Page 86
FEATURE: Keep It Classy......Page 88
FEATURE: Playboy Style on Location......Page 90
FEATURE: Understand What Publishers Need......Page 93
Products as Props......Page 94
Models......Page 97
Expression......Page 98
FEATURE: Classic Looks, Modern Options......Page 99
Fine Art......Page 100
Universal Appeal......Page 102
Sexy or Sexual?......Page 103
Share Your Vision......Page 104
FEATURE: Mood......Page 105
Find Inspiration......Page 106
FEATURE: Find a Cause......Page 108
Watch the Eyes......Page 109
FEATURE: Shutter Speed......Page 110
Gear Isn’t Artistry......Page 111
Body Painting......Page 112
Schedule Play Days......Page 113
Experiment and Explore......Page 114
Try Different Locations......Page 117
Body Parts......Page 118
FEATURE: Lingerie Hangtag......Page 119
Lighting......Page 120
Consider Specializing......Page 123
Drama......Page 124
Concept......Page 126
Lighting......Page 127
FEATURE: For the Makeup Artist......Page 128
Pink Hair......Page 130
Textured Clay......Page 132
FEATURE: Take Care of the Team......Page 134
Ask Yourself......Page 136
FEATURE: Variations......Page 139
FEATURE: A Toned-Down Version......Page 140
Smoke......Page 142
Setup......Page 144
Lighting......Page 145
Compositing the Final Shot......Page 146
Tips from a Model: Interview with Karrin Rachelle......Page 148
Tips from a Casting Agent: Interview with Julie Green
......Page 152
With New Models......Page 154
The Results Are Worth the Effort......Page 155
Follow Your Passion......Page 156
Index......Page 157