Freepik’s Best Tips to Make the Most Out of Working With Models
Our photographers work hard to provide high-quality photos for our users around the world. Of course, with years of practice they’ve developed some tricks and today they are ready to share a few with us.
We all know that to be a successful stock photographer you need to discover new styles, try a different approach to common topics and that includes working with people. Working with models can be stressful or beneficial. It depends on many factors such as attitude, preparation and of course, professionalism. Yet there are some tips we can give on this subject.
Our photographer Luis with the models
The first thing you need to remember is continuous communication with the model. Explain the message that you want to transmit, the concept of each photo in simple ineffective words. Remember that less is more and when there are fewer elements in the photo, the message will be more direct and clear. It is very easy to do when you have several models in the same picture that are in different states.
Direct where your model is looking. It is very important especially when you’re working with various models. This gives photos some fresh vibes when one model is looking at the camera and the others focus on their action. Also interesting when everyone looks at the camera or everyone focuses on the action. You also have to be careful, that when the gaze is directed at an object that is not in the picture, the viewer has to understand where he or she looks. The example can be a model lying on the couch and eating popcorn while watching television. It is not necessary to show television, but the picture implies that it’s there. A badly executed case would be a model that looks at the camera and not at the camera, then it is understood in this way and the magic of the photo is lost. If your model is looking at the photographer and not at the camera, that is a bad thing.
You have to avoid overreaction unless you want to exaggerate the situation and take it to the comical level. If this is not the case, ask the model to interpret its role naturally. For example, at the time of smiling it is very easy that it is not perceived in a natural way. You also have to understand the subject, for example in sports or business, it is normal to put the models in situations where it is okay to smile, but often it is better to be focused on what they do.
Choose makeup and costumes carefully, according to the general theme of the photoshoot. In relation to acting, makeup and costumes can be a fundamental complement to reinforce or simply understand the message.
Users normally look for “universal” photos, so it is not always necessary to focus on face-level interpretation, but with any part of the body and thus achieve more universal images using silhouettes, placing the model on its back when you want to enhance the environment, or focusing on a certain part of the body, such as hands or leaving the face completely or partially.
Break the ice. Working with models for the first time can be a bit hard, so it is essential to break the ice, talking a bit before starting directly with the shooting, making him/her laugh. Keep in mind that the first photos you do rarely end up great, so do not pose your key photographs for the start of the session.
For example, our photographers always try to talk to the models before, between and after the photo shoot to establish a connection which makes everyone feel more comfortable and enjoy the process.
At Freepik we aim to provide our users high-quality photos for each occasion and if you have a good camera and motivation to make money with your pictures, we are waiting for you. Become a part of Freepik Universe now!
