So I just shot my second campaign (woot woot) and I wanted to share a few pictures and a few tidbits that I learned the second time around. The client was Donna Vera Swimwear and they are debuting a new line of swimsuits focused on the real women (in fact, donna vera means “real women” in Italian).
If you didn’t know, one of my biggest creative goals is to shoot major campaigns for companies like NIKE, Polo, Armani, etc, so I always jump at the chance to work with up and coming designers to create their vision. Keep in mind these budgets are very small (or non existent) so I have definitely learned how to do a lot with very little. I hope you like the pics but here are a few things I learned along the way:
1.) Shoot for the future — No I’m not talking about the futuristic stuff you see on Star Trek, shooting for the future means shoot the type of work you want to get. If you’re interested in shooting weddings, babies, dogs, high fashion or even huge campaigns make sure your portfolio reflects that. My style is all about natural lighting, bright colors and story-telling, and luckily that’s what this client was looking for. When you shoot for the future you begin to create your own style and soon enough you’ll get hired for it.
2.) Plan like hell but find beauty in the mistakes — I’m not gonna lie, some of my best pictures are HUGE mistakes. But the reason they turn out great (I’m guessing) is because I plan so well in advance. Planning takes a lot of energy and time but is crucial to executing any shoot. You have to scout the locations, storyboard the looks, coordinate timing, conference with your team, fit the models, and so on and so on but trust me, it gets easier the more you do it. I recommend treating every shoot like its a six figure client — even if you’re doing it for free. When I was still in Corporate America and shooting people on the weekends I would plan out my shoots weeks in advance. I wasn’t getting paid a dime but I treated every situation like it was a shoot for Vogue Magazine. I can promise you, mistakes will happen but if your plan is tight they will be a lot more bearable.
3.) Keep a Positive Attitude — I don’t quite understand how a photographer could ever have a bad attitude. For me, I am doing something that I love and something that I am so passionate about, so every shoot is a thrill! With that being said I always maintain a positive attitude on set. As the photographer you set the tone for the whole shoot so if you get frustrated, upset or lazy its a good chance everyone else will too. Yeah, you’re getting hired for your talent but clients also take your personality into consideration as well. So try to become more well-rounded, relatable and generally interested in the next person and it will make your shoots a lot smoother.
This is a great journey and I love sharing the things I learn, so if you have any other questions shoot them over to: elton@eltonanderson.com
Thanks!
