Inspiration for fashion and portrait photography

[verdantsound]

I want to learn how to shoot fashion and portraits in an urban setting and I was wondering if you can point me in the right direction where I may be able to draw inspiration from or imitate. Specifically, I want to shoot my friends in NYC, but I don't know what to do. I don't know where to put the hands/feet/facial expressions and I was hoping you would know of some work, or website that is not too photoshopped that I may learn from. Books would be helpful too, but images are better.

[dmead516]

The best way to do it is to pick up various magazines and look at their poses. Tear the ones out you like and start from there. Victorias Secret, Vogue, Glamour, etc. I have a whole folder full of these sheets and use them on all my stuff for ideas. Some will work, some wont. Good thing about digital (unlike film), you can easily get rid of the ones you dont like.

[TooManyHobbies]

Ditto. I have thousands of images from magazines and off the web that I organize into folders for poses, lighting, makeup, wardrobe, backgrounds, etc. with various subfolders to organize.

[slimninj4]

Yup I get from web but for inspiration I use Vogue magazine. Its only 5$ and has hundreds of good ads in there.

[speedster00]

I like Rolando Gomez's books on shooting glamour.

[harroz]

Try ModelMayhem, there's milions of images on there!


otherwise do this, it it also what I do:)
Yup I get from web but for inspiration I use Vogue magazine. Its only 5$ and has hundreds of good ads in there.

[hawk911]

Boy- if you have an acct on Mayhem, just hit the main page and start looking at ports. Lik Harroz says, there's a ton on there. I have lists started for specific styles of shoot, from headshots to location to outfits. Even the Photo-of-the-day contest can give you ideas. There are books out there too, depending on the subject; there are pinup books if that's your thing, etc.