How do you bring life to fashion through a lens? This is a question a lot of people do not think about often. People often overlook the work behind the screen, magazine, camera, or social media post. Most people think that the models just get dressed up and take photos when, in actuality, hours of labor go into deciding the perfect shot before the final product is produced.
To start the process, a mood board is created within the core team of the photoshoot during an executive meeting before any models are hired. In this meeting, several details are discussed, such as the current fashion trends, cultural themes, or worldwide events that will captivate the audience. The mood board is needed during this stage because it aids in developing the overall aesthetic of the photoshoot, which makes everything look put together when it is released to the public. After the mood board is created and discussed within the team, they will outsource photographers to get their creative aspects picked out while exploring modeling options.
The next step of the behind-the-scenes work of a fashion photoshoot is to pick out the hair and makeup. Picking up cohesive hair and makeup for the aesthetic can be a grueling task. The photography team works alongside the design team to pick out the right makeup for both the model and the aesthetic. The makeup that they choose has to fit both the model and the aesthetic of their photoshoot, or else the photos will look jumbled together and not cohesive for the expected look. Since the clothes used in photoshoots are not usually meant to be bought and kept in storage, the team has to make sure that the clothing picked out is rented in good condition and that it is also returned in good condition.
After the look for the shoot is finalized, the location and extra details are decided. The location goes along with the style for the photoshoot and highlights the creativity in the small details, such as the blush on the model or the slight curves of the dress. After all of that work, the photos are taken. In professional photoshoots, there are usually many photographers nd directors to make sure all opportunity to take a good shot is taken. When photographing the model, the photographers are looking to find the best angle or positioning for the photo to be taken from. The better the photos come out in this phase, the better the options will be closer to the ending phase when the team is working to pick out the best photos to include in the photoshoot that would look best where they are publishing it, whether that be in a magazine or website.
To finish the photoshoot, an editorial team takes the reins and chooses the best photos that fit the expected theme from the storyboard. They will pick out many of the images captured to get a new, cohesive look at the end. They want to pick out images that stand out, but do not look out of the ordinary with the rest. Once the final group of photos is picked out, the editorial team will edit the photos to balance and light mishaps or minor adjustments that may need fixing. The photos are then presented in a catching way that will make the viewer or buyer of the magazine interested and, in turn, make it more popular. Once all of these steps are done and they are done right without any trouble, the cover and extra things on the magazine are added. The magazine also goes through another round of editing to have fresh eyes on the finished product. At this time, the magazine is thought of as finished. Now it has been moved to the marketing team.
The marketing team is responsible for developing strategies to sell the magazine and attract new customers. This involves creating vivid imagery, crafting a compelling pitch, and developing an attention-grabbing headline to make the magazine irresistible to potential buyers. In addition to print marketing, they will also strategize the digital release, thinking about social media teasers, influencer collaborations, and targeted ads to build excitement around the issue’s release. The magazine may even feature behind-the-scenes footage from the photoshoot to offer an exclusive look that connects the audience to the creative process. At this point, the photoshoot process is finished, and the photos are ready for publication. Any leftover images may be saved for an exclusive edition, featured on the brand’s website, or archived for future releases. These images could also be used for seasonal promotions or digital content, keeping the story alive long after the magazine’s first drop.