Behind The Scenes of a Photo shoot

Jancarlo Cortez Anthropology 102 Dr. Leanna Wolfe November 1, 2010

Generally, one assumes that a photo consists of one individual’s work but they seem to neglect that it’s a collective effort to produce an image. Here a photographer and an art director are collaborating to produce an image that will be advertised on a clothing website.

A photographer needs an assistant at all times when shooting in daylight. The photographer’s assistant is useful because he may carry useful objects that are of use to the photographer such as a sunlight diffuser and a hand held flash, if necessary. Here, the photographer asks the model if the image reflects her personality and if it’s acceptable to her standards of beauty.

The Photographer and the model need to create a social atmosphere in order for them to be at ease when taking pictures. Here, the photographer and the model are joking around before taking serious images.

There is a lot of work when setting up a photo shoot. The photographer and the photo assistant set up the back drop, the lights, and the stands. This creates a dramatic effect once everything is in place.

While at times the photographer may have an idea on how the model should there are times when the art director may guide his idea in order to produce the image the photographer has in mind. Here, the art director guides the model on how to pose, what to wear and how to wear the outfit. This allows the photographer to take images while she is setting up, in hopes of capturing something magnificent.

When the images are finally captured on the camera, both the art director and photographer share their ideas in order to produce a finished product. Here, they are adjusting the color and contrast of the images that will best reflect their philosophy on advertising. They also choose which images are of better quality that will be used in their portfolios.

As one can see, the lighting is important in order to create a dramatic effect. Make-up is an essential tool when taking pictures of a model. Without the assistance of a model, photo assistant and make-up artist, a photographer may not have the opportunity to create these type of images. The images above show the work of all three individuals but it shows the work created by the photographer.