Things You Should Know About Fashion Photography in Bali

Credit Photo: C-reel

In fashion photography, we believe that there’s no such thing as creative restrictions. As long as you’re telling a story, you can shoot whatever you want and however you want. What’s essential for fashion photography is how you embrace your own creative style, adjust it to the concept of your story and translate the story into a work of visual art. 

With the rise of talented local and international designers moving in, the Bali fashion scene has blasted in recent years. It leads to growing opportunities for fashion photographers to advance their skills and career. Multiple fashion photographers can shoot in the same areas of Bali and end up with completely different results. That’s because Bali is a charismatic island that offers a diverse selection of atmospheres and scenes. 

If you are planning on doing a fashion photoshoot on this island of gods, here are some tips to help rein it in: 

Create a concrete concept in advance

Fashion photography is about the concept and the story. To tell a story, you need to have a concept in advance as well as an idea of how you’ll create that concept. One way to develop a concrete vision is through a mood board. Your mood board can contain any image that captures the feeling and essence you want to express in your photoshoot. Learn as much as you can about the designer whose clothes you are shooting, and do research on make-up and hair ideas, lighting as well as posing techniques. 

Always be open to inspiration

Fashion photography reflects a photographer’s vision. Iconic photographers such as Peter Lindbergh and Irving Penn have revolutionized the world of fashion photography as we know it. When you’re looking for inspiration in fashion photography, it’s worth reading up on these big names' stories and treasuring their archived works. 

The key success of fashion photography is a collaboration

It’s true that fashion photography is often the work and product of a team of people, from the designer of the clothing, the models posing to the photographer, the assistant photographer, the stylist, and the make-up artist working on the shoot. To have a successful collaboration in your fashion shoot, set a clear communication process with your team. It's important that you as a photographer communicate your expectations about the shoot and the people working with you should also feel as if they can share their opinions or offer insights throughout the process. 

Location Recce

Credit Photo: C-reel

We learned some important tips from a Bali-based fashion and lifestyle photographer, C-reel as Fashion Photographer Bali who had collaborated with brands such as Redbull, Etam, Oakley, and Le Coq Sportif. In his photography adventures, C-reel is the true definition of a self-taught man. The artist behind the 2019 Deus Exhibition “Natural Breathing” shared his experience about the importance of location recce, especially if you shoot on the beach.

“This is really important to do a recce before shooting on location. To make sure everything is ready for the shoot. I check all the details like forecast, tides, wind, the color of the sand, authorization, sun orientation, blue hour, golden hour… I usually use apps like PhotoTime & Sun Seeker during the recce to match with my needs to find the perfect moment.”

Focus on technical details

For fashion photography, the phrase “the devil is in the details'' is so true. Besides having strong technical knowledge, you need to pay attention to your equipment, lighting, and editing tools. Consider things such as which type of camera and lenses you will use or plan on playing with the lighting as part of your prep work. 

Pay attention to the logistics

Having an awareness of what makes a great photo is needed. Fashion photography has its own set of logistical concerns that is worth noting. Pay meticulous attention to the detail of your image composition, backdrop, props, and poses that can highlight the clothes. A quick tip: movement shots are helpful to bring the clothing to life. 

Have some fun experiments!

Like any other genre of visual arts, exploration and experimentation should exist in the life-blood of fashion photography. There is always a possibility you’ll uncover something even better if you experiment. One way to experiment during a shoot is to capture the same pose from different heights. You can photograph the models at eye-level, bend down, upwards, or climb up on a ladder to capture them from above. While it's worth experimenting, it’s crucial to remember the needs of the people you are working with on the shoot. Don’t keep them longer than they’re contracted for or work without a break in the interest of getting perfect shots. Remember that fashion photography is about teamwork--- teamwork makes the dreamwork. 

Have a successful shoot day!