I’ve had the opportunity to work with many pageant contestants and models over the years. They come from all over the MD, VA and DC area to my photography studio in Gaithersburg, MD.
I really love helping these young ladies look their best and creating amazing portraits for them to use in contests, press, advertising, websites, social media, resumes and everything else that you can imagine.
Tips for Creating Amazing Pageant & Model Photography
Here are a few key tips that every you should consider for your pageant and model photography.
Pageant & Portrait Photography Tips
1. Keep it fun and loose
I like to keep my models moving as much as I can. I constantly make suggestions such as “shoulders facing away from the light, turn your head back towards light, eyes down, chin up etc “, helping her into flattering body positions under the lighting that I created.
2. Create lighting that allows movement
Taking into consideration the inverse square law of light, I move my strobe far enough away from the model so when she moves it doesnt substantially alter the exposure.
3. I guide my models into positions of movement
For example, not necessarily all at one time of course, but generally speaking we want angles and curves, not straight lines …. bends in the elbows, knees, wrists, and shoulders facing one way and the head another, a twist at the hips, weight on one foot, one shoulder up, one shoulder down, or shoulders back, arched back, chest out, one arm up one down etc..
4. Help the model create a variety of facial expressions
Experiment
I try to elicit different expressions from my models so they feel real. We’re looking for a range, from big smiles to a cute pout, and everything in between. Closed lips no teeth, partial smile, eyes closed, looking down, looking up etc.
Continue to make suggestions to the model, saying encouraging words. Keep the model moving, changing expressions and taking pictures often. When it doesnt look great I suggest something else.
Pay close attention, and when something works, jump on it. Explore. Take a quite a few images making slight changes until it looks amazing!
So what are you waiting for?
