I did a somewhat different type of shoot a few weeks back. A client actually let me photograph something that moves for change. I’d like to do this type of work a little more frequently. A really nice change of pace from my usual day to day small table top product photography.
The shoot was for a new denim company out of LA called Envius. I have worked for and with both owners in the past. They have been working on this concept for a few years now and it seems like it is finally coming together. They are showing at Project in a couple of weeks. They have a premium denim line with a patented closure system shaped like a V (get it EnVius). I met one of the owners when she was modeling for a shoot I’ve done and I’ve worked with here a few times. She introduced me to the other owner and has hired me for a couple of shoot.
The client came down with a full crew from LA. Wardrobe stylist, Makeup Artist, and Model. Good working with a full crew. We never would have gotten done without them. The client had 5 very distinct looks they were after. Whole team did an awesome job making the switch from look to look. Made my job super easy.
First we shot a couple of small products that are the buckle portion of the closure system. My usual. It was a great use of time as first look hair, makeup and wardrobe always seem to take FOREVER. The shot on the jeans looks pretty simple but took a long time to get an angle that the client felt it needed to be to show the closure and then rig it in place using fishing line. Would have liked to massage it a bit more but the model was ready and we had a lot of on figure work to do.
The client wanted model shot on an all white background with a bright open style. I lit background separately with 2 separate lights in an attempt to blow it out. Was able to accomplish this but at the expense of a bit of flare. By bounding so much light off of the white, it flares the lens a bit. I added to the flare by wanting to rim light the model as well to give the shot some extra shape. I put up as many flags as I could get around the lens to block light but still needed to account for all that light/flare when processing the files. The model was super easy to work with. Needed next to no direction. Once I got the lighting set, it was just a matter of pushing the shutter.
Clients Choices:
After All that we still needed at accomplish a fit/wash guide and ecommerce shots of all there jean which come in 3 different cuts and 6 different washes. Since the client was a denim fit model in the past, she took over the modeling and we had the wardrobe stylist on the set adjusting each garment. It took us a bit to determine what would be the 3 standard poses for each pant but once we were happy with the angles, model and stylist were on it and we finished 16 pairs of pants (I had to make 2 in photoshop as they did not have samples) in about 2 hours. Was getting pretty late by then. We were all glad to finish. The crew had to drive back to LA and I had a previous shoot in the AM and was working on hour 14 in the studio. I was done!
Here are a few examples of these shots:
Everyone was pleased with final shots but I still felt these were just a starting point. I ended up doing some additional work to some of the photographs for my own portfolio. I ended up showing to the client and they loved them and bought usage from me. Stoked. Will show them next entry.
