Turning your average girl into a topmodel [Archive] - Canon Digital Photography Forums

Claire

7th of July 2005 (Thu), 17:42

I was channel surfing and ended up watching bits of "Topmodel", the US version. The girls looked fairly average all of them. A couple might look good for catwalk stuff, one girl look very girl-next-door cute. But in all honesty I found majority of them weren't as good looking as I thought they'd be (considering they entered a model contest). I have friends who I personally find a lot better looking.

Anyway, they were showing each girl the best photo from the photosession they had had. OMG, I was AMAZED how different the girls looked on the photos! In the photos they looked like fashion models in adverts. It felt really weird to see such plain looking girls turned into stunning models. I think that's when it hit me what a good makeup artist, lighting and photographer really means to a photo. Oh, and of course the PP guy too!

I'm curious if any of you photographers out there has tried styling a model (makeup, clothes etc) and managed to change her totally for the camera.

tim

7th of July 2005 (Thu), 19:44

Here's one I did, with some makeup, a little care with natural light, and photoshop. Click the "up" arrow on the 2nd link and see a few more examples. This was my first attempt at taking photos of a "model", who's actually my step sister.

Before (http://www.mrwild.co.nz/PhotoGallery/2004/Wanganui/slides/IMG_1672.html).
After (http://www.mrwild.co.nz/Featured/Models/slides/IMG_9336.html).

longshot

7th of July 2005 (Thu), 19:52

tim

7th of July 2005 (Thu), 19:55

Thanks! :)

You should see what you can do with a good makeup artist and good lighting, hopefully i'll get a chance to do that before too long.

CyberDyneSystems

7th of July 2005 (Thu), 20:07

Tim .. I .. er.. recall.. the Kylie posts.. (for some strange reason...)

The before pic is quite an eye opener :)

When I clicked the links above.. I clicked the before pic first.. I did not recognize her at all..

...but despite the bad photo I thought to myself.. "she has a model's bone structure.. lot's of potential.. she'll look good with make up etc.."

But .. I was not prepared for her to be the Kylie I remember from the after images.

Wow.

tim

7th of July 2005 (Thu), 20:21

Heh heh. Good example then? ;)

lost

7th of July 2005 (Thu), 20:28

Excellent work tim.

DwightMcCann

7th of July 2005 (Thu), 20:46

Well, now I know why my glamour pictures are no good ... the girls aren't plain enough to start! Gezz, Tim, that's a real eye opener ... great thread, Claire!

lostdoggy

7th of July 2005 (Thu), 21:15

Tyra Banks the Super Model has said in many interview that she is looks better on Photo then in person. She would go as far as saying that she is not that attractive compare to some non-models.

robertwgross

7th of July 2005 (Thu), 21:23

A point of clarification here...

Are we talking about girls or young women?

We have to be politically correct, you know.

---Bob Gross---

lostdoggy

7th of July 2005 (Thu), 21:30

Models and Super Models can be as young as 12 years old and looking like 21 year olds, so either would work!!!

Big_B

8th of July 2005 (Fri), 04:46

Heh heh. Good example then? ;)

Ummm, yeah! :lol:

CappuccinoDavid

8th of July 2005 (Fri), 11:55

I know its hard to beleive, but I seen wonders. But not all girls can become models...

Barb42

8th of July 2005 (Fri), 12:27

I once met a Miss America from the 90's. She married a congressman from the state I lived in at the time and she was not very attractive in person. On film or TV and she was amazing. But sometimes really beautiful women don't photograph well at all. To be a good model 'the camera has to love you'.

tonytony

8th of July 2005 (Fri), 12:52

Amazing, Tim. The 2nd picture is one of my favourite I have seen in this forum.

CappuccinoDavid

8th of July 2005 (Fri), 13:42

Claire

8th of July 2005 (Fri), 16:03

Tim, I recognise that picture of Kylie from your businesscard. It's a great shot and she looks great too. When I saw the before picture I have to admit I hardly recognised her, but agree that it was easy to see she'd look great all dolled up. Btw, love the pose and face expression in the 2nd pic. :)

Any more takers? I'd like to try something like this myself at some point. I have a friend who'll be back in Sweden soon and she doesn't mind modelling for me. Her personal style is kinda hippie-ish and I'm wondering what she'd look like with make up and such. Might give it a go when she gets her.

Hm, and personally I believe I look better in pictures than in person. lol Weird considering I used to hate having my pic taken...

lostdoggy

8th of July 2005 (Fri), 16:10

So how about a self portrait???

Claire

8th of July 2005 (Fri), 16:26

lostdoggy

8th of July 2005 (Fri), 16:35

You're right you do look good in pictures.

aam1234

8th of July 2005 (Fri), 16:40

Don't know if I asked you this before Claire, but are you and the bride somehow related. You both look a lot alike.

As for beautiful models/ beauty queens...etc, once there was Chanel fashion show in the hotel I was staying in in Paris (that was some time ago). Saw the models outside the hotel waiting for their ride. Let me tell you. These were the scariest women I've seen. They are so skinny, their legs are as thick as an average man's arm. They are also so tall that they appear funny and awkward. As a guy, I certainly don't want to date girls like these ladies, they don't look appealing at all.

Claire

8th of July 2005 (Fri), 16:52

aam1234, I think you asked me that before. Nope, we're not related. :) We met during our MA studies in London. Same class. Hit it off on the third day and inseperable during the whole year.

I knew of two girls in my High School who modelled a bit. They were of course slim, but not unaturally so. Very pretty and bright both of them. The brightest one was probably the girl who refused to lose 3kgs just to get the modelling job they both competed over...

Well, I honestly feel a bit sorry for the male models too. Those sixpack stomachs can't be easy to get. And as a girl I can't stand men who are too buff. Fit is one thing, too much muscle all over is a turnoff for me. But everyone's taste is different. Thank god.

aam1234

8th of July 2005 (Fri), 17:02

Sorry for the repeated question about your friend :o I knew I asked you before but wasn't sure.

As for muscle guys, let me quote my friend's girlfriend. She says " the bigger the muscles, the smaller is the brain". She also said "when you look at these guys, you wonder what they are trying to compensate for".

Don't hate me guys, I didn't say these things.

Citizensmith

8th of July 2005 (Fri), 18:15

It really is amazing how much difference those photos show.

I've seen the same personally as well. For instance in real life I'm a bit funny looking, but in photos I'm, Umm. Well on TV. Umm no, anyway.

aam1234

8th of July 2005 (Fri), 19:24

Ha ha CS, you remind me of some of the situations I've been to.

For some strange reason and if someone is taking a group pic/video, they always come and photograph me. I'm talking about TV news type, or publicity/ad photos. Go figure :D

tim

9th of July 2005 (Sat), 22:43

Amazing, Tim. The 2nd picture is one of my favourite I have seen in this forum.

Thanks :)

belmondo

9th of July 2005 (Sat), 23:03

Lostdoggy,
I don't have any recently taken pic of me here right now. I know I took one a while back.
This is the only one I can find now. Was taken at my friend's wedding end of April. I have longer hair now. Eh, that's me to the right. lol

What a relief. Since we already knew you weren't the bride, the only other person you could have been was the one on the left. Phew.

You're a lovely young lady (I can say those things.....I'm an old goat.)

Claire

10th of July 2005 (Sun), 18:14

Belmondo,
No, I did not marry my friend. :p Don't even know if that's legal in MN! LOL

And now, let's not have this thread be about me (I can make another thread for that! LMAO)

Anyone else has photos where they've re-invented a friend's look?

Wazza

11th of July 2005 (Mon), 04:33

Tim, how much do I have to pay you, for a conversion on myself?
:lol:

Of course, that pic of your sister, is the worst you could find. I have some shockers too. Always the dull cold, blue colour tones, make for shabby people shots.

tim

11th of July 2005 (Mon), 05:56

Tim, how much do I have to pay you, for a conversion on myself?

I did some family portraits and asked if they had any requests. The father said "make my look 20 years younger". So I did. Quite amazing what you can do in photoshop with only a little knowledge. I'll give it a go after Auckland eh? :)

I'm starting to think I should be giving lessons, not so much to people around here, but to people in my club. This stuff ain't hard, but some people have a hell of a time trying to work it out.

tim

11th of July 2005 (Mon), 21:07

I'm wondering what percentage of paid media model photographers can even get away with doing their own makeup. There's actually a cosmetologists' union!

Their own makeup, or makeup for the models? :p I only know one fashion photographer, he uses at least one makeup artist on a shoot, even though he's a qualified makeup artist himself, he's busy enough with other things. Luckily he's a helpful chap, i'm scheduled to go and watch/help/learn from him in the next couple of weeks :)

Scottes

12th of July 2005 (Tue), 15:41

One of the guys in work is pretty darn serious about photography, and does a lot of model photography. Come to find out, the receptionist is a semi-pro makeup artists, and she started doing most of his models. Wow! What an improvement. Not to be outdone, I took a small batch of shots and spent a night Photoshopping them. Add another notch of improvement.

When she saw the shots, the model was absolutely floored. Stunned. In awe.

She showed us her portfolio, saving her previous favorite for last. The 4 of us sat around saying "wow" for several minutes. There was no comparison to her old shots - all quite good - and the new ones - most quite stunning. It can be amazing when several pieces come together.

Claire

15th of July 2005 (Fri), 12:53

Scottes, does your friend have a website with the photos of her uploaded?

DocFrankenstein

19th of July 2005 (Tue), 23:37

"the bigger the muscles, the smaller is the brain"

"when you look at these guys, you wonder what they are trying to compensate for"

I showed this to my girlfriend. Took half a second:

"She's a dyke"

Brains are overrated anyways. :cool:

aam1234

21st of July 2005 (Thu), 16:08

Don't mis-quote me Doc, I didn't say these things.

Btw, what is "dyke".

DocFrankenstein

22nd of July 2005 (Fri), 22:45

Don't mis-quote me Doc, I didn't say these things.

Btw, what is "dyke".

hehe - should've used
blah

I didn't mean to misquote.

Dyke is a lesbian. Take it easy man. :D

Scottes

23rd of July 2005 (Sat), 13:47

Doc, I'm pretty sure that Aam1234 *is* being easy, and just doesn't know the definition of the word. Not everyone all over the world is familar with slang from all other parts of the world.

So... "Take it easy man."
:-)

mijbril

23rd of July 2005 (Sat), 14:03

I didn't take these shots, but they are of a friend of mine

After

http://www.fotocommunity.de/pc/pc/mypics/529276/display/3051763
http://www.fotocommunity.de/pc/pc/mypics/529276/display/2988732
http://www.fotocommunity.de/pc/pc/mypics/529276/display/2759153
http://www.fotocommunity.de/pc/pc/mypics/529276/display/2574175

Compare them to her more "natural" shots

http://www.fotocommunity.de/pc/pc/mypics/529276/display/3555752
http://www.fotocommunity.de/pc/pc/mypics/529276/display/3295613

Make your mind up which you prefer.

I've a friend back in Oz who is a professional & though she no longer does people, she never ever let a photo go to a client without some post-shooting processing.

It's the nature of the digital world. Get a decent photographer, a model with good bone structure & someone who knows how to process a picture properly & you've got a (potentially) top model on your hands.... then comes the marketing, LOL.

aam1234

23rd of July 2005 (Sat), 14:07

Thanks Scottes. I really didn't know what that word means. Now I know :)

tim

23rd of July 2005 (Sat), 18:31

I didn't take these shots, but they are of a friend of mine

Only three of the links take me to pictures, the rest are error messages in another language (German?)

am_pitbull_terrier

23rd of July 2005 (Sat), 19:30

Sean-Mcr

23rd of July 2005 (Sat), 19:33

There's a saying over here and it's.."You can't polish a turd"

You can see in the first shot that she has beauty in her

mijbril

24th of July 2005 (Sun), 00:14

Only three of the links take me to pictures, the rest are error messages in another language (German?)

Hmmm, the links work for me.... :(

It's a German photo community, yes, so any error messages will be in German :)

swamprot

24th of July 2005 (Sun), 06:30

And we should see more pictures of "You"..

Sabina

26th of July 2005 (Tue), 23:53

I take a lot of photographs of myself in various styles. I've noticed that I can really change my appearance just with makeup, lighting, and style of pose/expression. In some, my own family doesn't recognise that I'm the model. I have had some photo sessions with myself as model and photographer, where I had no makeup on at all. Some of these are my favourites. So it isn't always necessary to use makeup (though I use it most of the time when modelling). It all depends on what look I'm trying to achieve. Lighting, IMO, is the most important factor.

I agree that the camera has to love you. I'm amazed at some of the bad pics I've seen of women who are truly beautiful in life. I also believe that the model has to love the camera. I've noticed in some of my shots, I look less attractive when I've been feeling tense during the shoot, or simply couldn't relax into the poses. On the other hand, when I'm feeling really good about the shoot, it livens up the pics. It seems to add another dimension somehow.

Another thing to remember is camera angle. If the camera is aimed from straight on, the model appears slightly stubby. (I guess this is basic knowledge, but someone might find a use for it). Shooting from lower down, with the camera aimed up, really works well to give the model beautiful body lines, especially with legs.

Claire

27th of July 2005 (Wed), 05:18

mijbril,
Thanks for the photos. I could only see one among the first ones, and the second on the "everday shots". Too bad, but yeah, amazing what lighting, posing etc can do at times. :)

Andy_T

27th of July 2005 (Wed), 05:27

Hmmm, the links work for me.... :(

It's a German photo community, yes, so any error messages will be in German :)

The links are in the 'secure area' (Geschützter Bereich) and thus only accessible for FC members.

Best regards,
Andy

smasraum

28th of July 2005 (Thu), 08:41

I think the main thing behind models is that they look for certain looks and personality types, but not necessarily the most beautiful women. There are many women that look amazing in person. So good that men and women notice, but they don't photograph as well, and then there are nice but average looking women that photograph extremely well. Of course the photographer has plenty to do with how a picture turns out. Knowing how to pose and do lighting to accent and hide features is a skill/art. I'd love to learn it. I'm horrible with portraits, but I don't have much experience with them.

Yep, I too could see in the before picture that she was a cutie and would do well dolled up.

You see this sort of thing all of the time in before/after photos in magazines or on TV for weight loss, zit medicine, or work-out stuff.

Claire

28th of July 2005 (Thu), 18:44

I have to admit I'm not a fan of BEFORE and AFTER shots in magazines etc. Usually I get really annoyed with the "before" shot always being so damn blah. They just seem to tell the girl to just stand by a wall and take a mugshot picture. No posing, lighting etc at all. Then the "after" shot they not only style her, but also pose her and fix the light. I'd rather see them take a similar shot as the "before" shot to see the difference that way.