Monday, November 23, 2009

Fashion in India









The Changing Face of Indian Fashion Industry

Introduction
India is a country with diversified customs and cultures. People following various traditions live here, their way of dressing also differ from each other. The traces of Indians being fashionable can be found out from the ancient remains of Harappa and Mohenjodaro civilizations. After the independence, globalization is being witnessed in the Indian fashion industry, due to which changes have occurred in the style of Indian dressing.Styles of wearing saris and salwar-kameez have changed.


Banarsi Sari Made in Banaras India





The look is more cosmopolitan than region-specific. Different styles of blouses like katori style, halter-neck, back button blouses, high neck blouses, puffed sleeve blouses, etc. have become the hot favorite among women. The average lengths of the blouses have decreased. Saris are draped mostly in traditional back pallo style or gujarati style. Indian fashion scene is greatly influenced by its films. For example Mumtaz style sari draping inspired by yester-year heroine Mumtaz. Here sari is tightly draped around the body.As far as salwar-kameez is concerned numerous styles and patterns can be given to this garment. For instance the kameez can be long, short, A-line, skin tight, etc.

Indian Clothing

What makes the Indian couture so unique is the fact that you will find each and every state of the country having its own distinct traditional clothing for men and women. For instance, the salwaar kameez is the ethnic attire of women in Punjab; the Mekhala Chadar is worn by Assamese women, and so on. However, all types of Indian clothing look very elegant and Indians wear them with a lot of pride. The festivities and other special occasions are the time when you can see maximum Indians donning their ethnic garb, be it sari, kurta pajama or dhoti. A sari is long strip of colorful multi-patterned cloth seductively wrapped around the body, teemed with a blouse! It's the traditional dress for the women folk in India and there are many styles in which you can drape it. The blouse worn with sari is also called the choli or ravika. The salwaar kameez, on the other hand, is the most ubiquitous of all traditional women attires in India. Due to its popularity in the Punjab region, it is sometimes also called the Punjabi suit. The Indian men's traditional attire consists of the kurta and pajama, dhoti, lungi and other dresses. Worn on both formal and informal occasions, kurta and pajama are quite popular dress of Indian men.

The kurta is like a loose long shirt almost reaching the knees, whereas the Pyjama is a lightweight drawstring trouser. The men's dhoti is a rectangular piece of unstitched cloth about five yards long, wrapped about the waist and the legs and knotted at the waist. It is known by different names like Laacha in Punjabi, Mundu in Malayalam, Dhuti in Bangla, etc.

This the land of culture and heritage. In India, there are many different casts and religions. Different people have different tastes, and their choices regarding fashion varies. Indian fashion is greatly influenced by its background and cultural heritage. India is well known for its dresses and classy fashion styles all around the world. Indian women wear their traditional dresses, while men can be seen in more conventional western clothing like shirts and trousers.
Indian Salwar Kameez Dresses:Salwar Kameez is a traditional outfit worn both in India and Pakistan. It is the national dress in Pakistan. It is also popular among women in India. The salwar kameez, or salwar suit consists of a kameez (shirt), salwar (trousers) and dopatta (scraf).

Indian wedding dresses:The Indian wedding dress or Bridal dress is given a lot of importance in India. Indian wedding dresses come in different fabrics from cotton to silk, from georgettes to crapes. There is no limit as far as variety in Indian bridal dresses are concerned.

Formal Indian Dresses:Indian formal dresses are quite unique in designs and always have heavy hand embroidery. Formal clothing for an outing is required to be exquisite and complete. Simple material with a simple style can be brought to look expensive.






Lehnga:Indain Lehnga choli, (Langa or Lengha) are available for women of all sizes. Lehnga Cholis have a beautiful history in India. Extremely beautiful and suitable to all female shapes, these Lehnga dresses are often hand decorated in the traditional designs of India.
Saree (Sari):The traditional Indian dress is the Sari which can be worn in many ways. Underneath the sari one wears a Petticoat, a waist to floor length skirt, tied tightly at the waist by a drawstring and a Cholli.




Casual Indian Dresses:Indian casual dresses are available in numerous designs and colors. Salwar Kameez is most commonly used dress in casual wear. Indian casual dresses are made on printed fabrics and fabrics with embroidery work.

Such variations can be done to salwar as well as dupattas. Modern version of kameez is known as kurti, it could be coupled with jeans, pants or churidar. It has taken the form of Indo-western outfit. People in western countries too have started wearing kurtis.Emergence of mall cultureMall culture is slowly and steadily growing in India. Many brands and private labels are launched in the Indian market. The first such retail outlet was Shopper's Stop which launched India's first multi-brand store in the year 1993.

The specialty of such malls is that they offer a wide range of varied branded stuff, all under single roof. Some of the famous malls of India are Pantaloons, Westside, Lifestyle, Globus, etc. These retail outlets have also launched clothing line under private labels, manufactured and sold by them. For example- Pantaloons has many private labels under its brand like All, Fashion station and Mela. Some of the major private labels even operate as exclusive stores. The buyer gets an international shopping experience in such retail outlets. There are no nagging sales persons pressurizing the customers to buy.Family stores are becoming hot favorite shopping hub for the middle-class and upper middle class shoppers. These stores sell garments of nearly all age groups and sexes. Apparels of various brands can be found in family stores. They are being considered as one-stop shopping destination. Roopam, Big Bazaar, Fashion station, V-mart, Maxx, etc are examples of some family stores.
































































Friday, November 20, 2009

Fashion in Pakistan







Salwar Kameez History

Salwar kameez dates back to the 12th century since of Islamic or the Iranian era which was then followed by the Mughal empire in the region now called as India and Pakistan.During those days, men and women both were used to wear salwar kameez as part of the traditional dress but over the years Salwar Kameez has d its popularity in India and Pakistan and the salwar kameez is still getting worn in the continent.Salwar kameez is also known as salwar qameez and has evolved itself over the centuries in a mix of Indian and western wear.Salwar Kameez is popular as its comfortable to wear in day to day casual wear and also in weddings, functions and ceremonies. Salwar Kameez is being made with various fabrics like Georgette salwar kameez, chiffon salwar kameez, net salwar kameez, satin salwar kameez, cotton salwar kameez, silk salwar kameez and other fabrics including the latest trend of fusion fabrics which is mix of the above and synthetic fabric.

The Salwar Kameez has transformed itself over many years into various styles, designs and cuts so even the name has seen lot of variation over the decades. While the Salwar Qameez originated during the Mughal Empire when Urdu was the commonly spoken language of the era. But over the years Hindi as Urdu became less common and Hindi language became the common language of the present era the original name came as salwar kameez.Although In Pakistan where Urdu is still commonly used its still known as salwar qameez or shalwar, but in India and Punjab region of Pakistan its known as Salwar Kameez.The salwar kameez can be further categorized into:

1.Patiala Salwar Kameez - Patiala Salwar Kameez as the name suggests comes from Patiala in the State of Punjab in Northern India. The King of Patiala in earlier times had its Royal dress as Salwar Kameez or Salwar Qameez. The salwar kameez has lowers as salwar and long knee length top known as kameez. Now the dress is not getting worn by men but has classically transformed itself with new cuts and styling into women salwar kameez.




2.Churidar Salwar Kameez – Churidar Salwar Kameez is known for its sleek look. Churidar Salwar Kameez is preferred by lots of female as it looks elegant and gives shape to the body. This salwar kameez has body hugging salwar which is tightly gripped to the body like a stocking. Its comfortable to wear and is very narrow around the ankle area.





3.Cotton Salwar Kameez - The cotton salwar kameez comes in various fabrics like South cotton, blend of cotton and silk and pure cotton due to high production of cotton which is comfortable fabric in the Indian and Pakistani region as it's comfortable to wear in summers.








4.Designer Salwar Kameez - Designer Salwar kameez are made by fashion designers and normally have lots of hand embroidery work which is done in pearls, stones, beads and sequins. Although every designer has its own approach while designing a salwar kameez the basics still remains the same. The designer is known to give various cuts and styles around the neck, sleeves, kameez and churidar of a salwar kameez which can change the complete look of the salwar kameez.





5.Printed Salwar Kameez - These are called Printed salwar kameez as they are machine printed or digitally printed on all kinds of fabrics like Georgette, crepe, cotton, chiffon and other materials. The Printed Salwar Kameez has a wide range of designs from flowers to polka-dot to abstract to other prints. The latest in fashion are the digital prints on the printed salwar kameez which include variety of colors.


6.Punjabi Salwar Kameez - Punjabi salwar kameez, the name comes from Punjab an Indian state in the north western region of India. These salwar kameez are also known as Punjabi salwar kameez. Punjabi women are fond of bright colobright colored Salwar kameez and dupatta. The Punjabi suit consists of an upper known as Kameez, Dupatta which is a piece of cloth worn around the neck and lower known as salwar. The Salwar is comfortably loose around the waist till the ankle making it a very comfortable dress. The bright printed colors or heavy embroidery of stones, sequins and beads is must on a Punjabi suit.







7.Silk Salwar Kameez - The Silk Salwar Kameez is never out of fashion as its the fabric for special occasions like weddings, ceremonies, party or even get together. The silk salwar kameez gives a very rich look to the dress due to its shine. The silk used in salwar kameez has started coming in various combinations besides pure silk like Chiffon silk, pure silk, satin silk, paper silk, crepe silk and tussar silk.

8.Wedding Salwar Kameez - Wedding Salwar Kameez are heavy salwar kameez which means they have lot of hand embroidery all over salwar kameez including the kameez, salwar and the sleeves. The work is mainly of beads, sequin and stones. The work is similar to jaal work or iompletely filled up. One wedding salwar kameez may take many days of a hand embroidery person to make as the work is so delicate and intrinsic. The wedding salwar kameez gets the name not only due to the hand work involved in it, but also due to its heavy work it can get worn in wedding and other functions.





9.Bridal Salwar Kameez - The bridal salwar kameez is for bride to wear on her wedding day or prior to the wedding day on a ceremony. This salwar kameez is normally in pink or red color due to the auspicious occasion. The salwar kameez is heavily done up with hand embroidery work with stones and other material.





Pakistan: Traditional Clothing

Although many different cultures may have found their way into Pakistan, certain things remain unchanged despite various influences. Here’s a look at the traditional clothing of Pakistan that remains to be the most favored ensemble out here.
Despite the presence of certain conservative areas in Pakistan, one can see the effect of many cultures in the society off late. Pakistan today, shows a mix of various cultures and traditions seen in the dressing as well as food habits of a person. Pakistanis display a strong attachment to cricket (although the national sport is field hockey) and fanatics completely immerse themselves into this game. Off late, Pakistani music has also made a mark especially in India. ‘Junoon’, a Pakistani rock group has recently established its own identity in India. ‘Strings’ tasted success with their song ‘Sar Kiye Yeh Pahar’ and had many more songs to their credit following this track. Despite the success of Pakistani songs and singers (of the likes of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan) particularly in India, Indian movies face a Government ban regardless of their popularity with Pakistanis! There are many factors that help to establish the identity of a nation despite all these influences. Be it the language or the sense of dressing, there are many more things, which speak volumes about the culture of a particular nation.



With the effects of globalization; currently, Pakistan also tends to be heavily influenced with cultures from the west. One can even witness a mixture of various cuisines out here. Even then, most families stick to their traditions and customs. This is probably why you can find a blend of the modern cultures and traditions in Pakistan.One feature still prevalent in Pakistan is the traditional clothing seen out here. There are many women and men who prefer to stick to traditional clothing of Pakistan although a majority wears western attire. Pakistani clothing, like Indian clothing, holds significance during many ceremonies and festivals celebrated throughout the year. Various forms of Pakistani traditional clothing are on similar lines to those spotted in India! Here’s a detailed look at the traditional clothing of Pakistan.


Traditional Clothing of Pakistan:Salwar kameez (shalwar qameez) is the national dress of Pakistan. Salwars are loose trousers designed in various styles. Originally, the salwars were flared towards the bottom with embellishments or fancy cutwork. Today, there are many variations of the same.

At times, the bottom of the salwar is narrow and fitting. The salwar kameez is important especially during the festivals celebrated in Pakistan, for men as well as women. Salwar kameez is also popular due to the comfort factor. The salwar is tied at the waist with the help of a drawstring and more recently; elastic is also used for the same purpose. The fit is generally baggy or tapering. Narrow tight fitting salwars are known as churidars. These have become a rage in the recent years even in India. The kameez is large and loose fitting tunic worn with the baggy salwar. Men as well as women wear the same attire, with a difference in the colors used, fits, silhouettes and the kind of embellishments used. Interesting patterns woven with lace are used to add femininity to the kameez. Women also use a dupatta with the salwar kameez.

Dupattas are long yards of cloth available along with the salwar kameez because their color and pattern is coordinated as per the entire ensemble. Women also wear scarves or shawls with the salwar kameez that is used to wrap around the head and neck area. A variety of synthetic or cotton fabrics are used in the creation of the salwar kameez.

Although the sherwani originated in India during the 18th century, it is also the national dress for men in Pakistan. Off late, sherwanis designed for women are gaining popularity. A sherwani is a long coat worn with a salwar. Sherwanis are generally made from heavy fabrics. The achkan is yet another important dress of Pakistan. An achkan is a long jacket, which also originated in the 19th century in India. These are long sleeved coats reaching all the way to the knees. At times, achkan can even go lower. Apart from the traditional clothing worn by Pakistanis, on similar lines with India, one can see other forms of western attire as well. But the traditional clothing definitely has a strong foothold in the modern society even today.
Wedding Dresses




















































































































































































































Fashion In Sri Lanka















What to wear in Sri Lanka







It's a mix of Eastern and Western fashions. Young people invariabaly wear jeans and the author whouldn't be seen dead without his. Even older people sometimes choose to wear jeans. Teenagers and wear shorts and T-shirst as well.






To be really comfortable you should choose clothes made of cotton. Shirts should be light as possible. Bright sunshine during the day make dark colored clothing too warm. Sri Lankan's however are not particular about the color of their clothes unless it's for a formal gathering.
For office wear ladies choose Sarees, dresses or skirt and blouses. Men where shirt and trousers or the National dress. (white sarong and a white shirt that comes almost down to the knees). Business suits are hardly ever worn. Everyone will wear a tie though.






For the evenings and functions, gents don a suit or national dress for formal occasions. Ladies where dresses, or sarees.
At the beach (or anywhere else for that matter) nudism is taboo. The smallest of bikini is acceptable.






What is the Traditional Clothing in Sri Lanka?

Ancient Dress of Sri Lanka( TheTopless Saari)





Tradition of Wearing Saari among Young Girls




the traditional clothing of Sri Lanka is actually very interesting! The women (near the age of marrying or already married) normally wear saree's as traditional clothing. Little girls wear pavadai sattai which is pretty much a skirt with a design and a blouse. The aged girls (who have reached puberty) normally wear half sarre's which is like a saree but not fully, there would be a long scarf or cloth to put on your left shoulder and gets tucked in your skirt and it is like a pavadai sattai too! the men wear patta vetty which is a shirt and a long cloth which they wrap around their waist. or they may wear panjabi's which are very similar to women panjabi's. They are just a blouse which pants and a scarf. Pretty simple huh?



Saari In The Royal Fashion




























Fashion in Vietnam




























Vietnam is a country known for its diverse culture and traditions. The Vietnamese are very simple people, which are mirrored in their way of living, the culture of Vietnam and especially in their clothes. Fashion in Vietnam has a touch of elegance and smartness. Well, evidently the Vietnamese dress very well. Even though, Vietnamese fashion has regional differences, especially in North and South Vietnam and among the various classes, but in some way or other their traditional way of dressing is similar and definitely sets them apart.
Traditional Fashion in Vietnam



The Vietnamese have several ethnic outfits which are as simple as the people of Vietnam. Each outfit shows how much they value comfort in dressing. Some of their ethnic wears are:
- A silk shirt and trouser worn by the Northern locals, which is called Ao Ba Ba.
- Fashion in Vietnam differs between cities and towns. The traditional Vietnamese outfit in the city is a little different. For the men it is simple brown shirts and white pants, accompanied by a headdress, which is just a cloth draped around the head. For the formal occasions they just add a long robe with cuts on both sides and a turban, to their daily clothes.
- Young women in the cities wear short shirts of light brown color and long black skirts. Their ceremonial clothing is known as Áo Dài, consisting of a long dress graduated in three layers which has a slit on any one side. The next layer of garment is called Ao Tu Tha, this one has four cuts in its lower part and is brown in color, the second layer is yellow and the third one is pink. This is fashion in Vietnam at its elegant best.
- To add to this the women also wear a palm hat, which is tapering in shape and is called Non Bai Tho.

Á o Dài the National Dress of Vietnam

Áo Dài, the national dress of Vietnam actually means a “long dress”. It has been in existence for ages, from the beginning of the 18th century. Originally it was called Ao Ngu Than. Right from the beginning the Áo Dài has gone through several alterations; however its basic form, consisting of a long flowing skirt, remains the same even now. In modern times the Áo Dài is worn mainly by women, especially during all festive occasions. More than anything else it is still the one and only marriage trousseau. Also, wearing the Áo Dài has been made compulsory in many senior schools. The popularity of the Áo Dài is not just limited to Vietnam but has spread all over the world. The Áo Dài has become like a national symbol of Vietnam. This age old fashion in Vietnam has set the trend for several modern international fashion designers and has been featured in Hollywood movies as well.

Modern Fashion in Vietnam
Modern Vietnamese fashion has been subject to a lot of western influence. Young Vietnamese women wear a lot of dresses and skirts on a daily basis and men wear shirts and trousers. Apart from this, the modern Vietnamese themselves are trying to work more on their traditions and the city now has a budding fashion industry. Fashion designers from Vietnam like Minh Hanh and Le Minh Khoa, are known internationally as well.
A beautiful country with lovely people, that’s what Vietnam is all about and the Vietnamese fashion is just a peek into their wonderful lifestyle.


Wedding Suits In Vietnam





Vietnam Beauty Contest 2008 crowning to be held in Hoi An


The final round of the Vietnam Beauty Contest 2008 will kick off in ancient Hoi An town of central Quang Nam province in mid August, said the contest’s organising board at a press conference in Ho Chi Minh City on May 20.

The 20 th beauty contest, launched by the Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper, aims to attract Vietnamese girls aged between 18-27. The contestants must be over 1.60m tall and neither married nor have children. The regulations also stipulate they must not have undergone cosmetic or sex change surgery.Participants who pass the first qualifying round will travel to the next round of competition in Hanoi and HCM City , before the finalists compete for the Miss


Vietnam Beauty title in Hoi An on August 31.The winner will be awarded the prize of 150 million VND and one trip abroad and her runners-up will get 80 million VND and 60 million VND, respectively.





Participants of Miss Vietnam Contest











Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Fashion Photography



History of Fashion Photography


Often, the creative desires of the photographers are at odds with the intentions of the editor, as Anna Wintour, fashion editor at Vogue, illustrates: Our needs are simple. We want a photographer to take a dress, make the girl look pretty, give us lots of images to choose from, and not give us any attitude. Photographers - if they are any good - want to create art.


Through this tension have come about some of the most memorable images in the history of photography, transcending the time in which they were made, and representing that time for us today. I became actively interested in fashion photography when, in 1991, I saw an exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum, detailing the development of the genre in the post war years. I found many of the images extremely captivating and interesting. Though I had enjoyed the fashion photography of contemporary magazines such as Harpers and Queen and Vogue, I had never before seen so many original prints from earlier decades and I responded to them with enthusiasm, hoping to introduce elements of their technique and atmosphere into my own photography. I intend to use this piece of writing as an opportunity not only to learn more about the history and development of the fashion photograph, but also to analyse, by the use of many of my favourite images, what it is that underlies their timeless appeal, and, from the point of view of a student of photography, the techniques the photographers used to achieve their desired effects. The precursors of fashion photography go back to the eighteenth century, when images of fashionable clothes were printed in magazines and often hand-coloured. Paris was at that time a centre for the production of such magazines, many of which were imported into England. Figure 1 shows a typical example of such an image. The technique of photography was developed in the 1830s, but it wasn't until much later that the métier of fashion photography came into existence. The earliest popular photographic technique, the daguerreotype, could not be used for mass printing. A later technique enabled the production of the "Carte de Visite" which were made for individuals and which also depicted famous theatre and music hall personalities of the age. It wasn't until advances in halftone printing techniques that fashion photographs came to be featured in magazines. This happened in about the first decade of the 20th century. Baron de Meyer (1868 - 1946) called "The Debussy of the Camera", had wealthy, though not aristocratic origins. He was born Demeyer Watson, of a French father and a Scottish mother, and grew up in Saxony. He came to London and married into nobility. He was given the title Baron de Meyer and set out on a life of extravagant entertaining His main characteristic was a wonderful use of backlighting and the soft-focus lens. In Fig. 2, we see many of the characteristics of his style. Though static, the pose is natural, and the picture is arranged using a strong pattern of vertical elements, giving a sense of authority and formality. We can see a clear use of the "rule of thirds" in the placement of the curtains and chair. What strikes us as being special to Baron de Meyer, however, are the glinting reflections from the background material and the jewels. The overall key is a light grey, the only dark areas being around the sitter's face, arms and lap. It's interesting to note that the chair is hardly a suitably aristocratic-looking piece of furniture, but perhaps he chose if for its colour, more than anything else. Edward Jean Steichen (1879-1973) was born in Luxembourg, but his family moved to the USA in 1881. With Alfred Stieglitz, he founded the Photo-Secession Galleries in New York. He first photographed fashion models in 1911 for the magazine "Art and Decoration", and worked with Conde Nast during the twenties. The photo above (fig. 3) was made for American Vogue in 1920, and shows Marian Moorehouse, wife of the poet E.E. Cummings, wearing a Chanel gown. The arrangement of rectangular shapes shows the influence of constructivist art, which was influential at the time. The vertically placed white rectangular card has been carefully positioned to show the shape of the falling drapery, which shows signs of considerable retouching. A piece of horizontally placed black card provides further contrast. The head and shoulders stand out from the mid grey of the wall, and the toe of the shoe, pointing elegantly downwards, protrudes into the area of white on the floor. A white and black vertical band just to the left of the model, divides the upper part of the picture, and completes the background. The lighting is a combination of general light plus sidelighting, on both sides, giving the flesh tones a mid to high key, contrasting with the solid blacks. This image skilfully uses very simple props to create an elegant arrangement of forms, modernist in flavour, but classical in order and arrangement. George Hoyningen-Huene (1900 - 1968) was another of the aristocratic practitioners of early fashion photography, and did most of his most memorable work between the mid-twenties and the end of the Second World War. He was born in St Petersburg, but moved to Paris in 1920, where he first did fashion illustration and then photography. He moved to New York in 1935, and worked mainly for Harper's Bazaar. He spent the latter part of his life in California.


To Become a successful fashion photographer you must love clothes and to know how to work with a model.
Of all the qualities, imagination heads the list. In spite of the comparative simplicity that marks many fashion photographs today every picture is the product of some photographers imagination.
You will need to approach each photo with a fresh slant.
The background must be harmonious with the merchandise. It must accent it without distracting the eye from the outfit that is featured in the photograph.
The basic rule in fashion photography is concentrate on the merchandise. The merchandise is all important.
Your image needs to sell the product and you need to develop a “feeling” for the garment.
This feeling involves many things. Firstly, it guides the photographer in the selection of an appropriate background; casual, beach, glamour or street depending on the type of the garment.
Second, it “keys” the photographers lighting. If the texture of the gown is important, the photographer will light it one way or another. The clothing feeling is instinctive with some photographers and comes only with experience with others.
Study From the Masters
You should build up a library of a file of fashion magazines as many as you can find! Some old fashion magazines can be found valuable as the fashion changes and you can be inspired by some old approach and find out when the “old” is due to become “the latest” again.
Your file heading should read “backgrounds” “Poses” “Lighting” “Single Figure” “Two Figure” “Groups” etc.
These files will help you to study the fashion photographs of the masters and to find yourself that some pictures will appeal to you move than others. Try to study how they did it and what kind of the tricks they use to achieve effects. It will also give you a better idea of what you will actually need in the way of a studio and equipment.
Minimum Studio Equipment
Two large format digital cameras (20 million MP) and
One DSLR (11 million MP) for location and studio
One tripod
Additional lenses filters
One good and reliable exposure meter
Lighting units
Studio screens, preferable large and white
Background reflectors
Posing stands
Small dressing room
Bright lighted mirror and shelf for cosmetics.
Nine feet is the minimum height for a studio as some time you will need to shoot from above and 15 feet on each side.
Handling the Model
As your dealing with human beings, the first basic rule is don’t yell!
Keep your voice low and your temper and try to pose her calmly to achieve your goal. Without a friendly feeling between you and your model you will not achieve a successful fashion shoot it is exactly like in every relationship between two people.
Be patient and choose a model not just for her looks but also for her personality. Constantly talk to her, encourage her and compliment her and if you can even joke with her it will make the atmosphere more fun and the model will get relaxed and she will begin to pose with more freedom and east. With more smiles and more flirtatiousness. With luck, you will get the shots you want in one session. Do not forget to give her time off for a break and for yourself.
In choosing a model look for long, thin legs, a small waistline, slender hips and disproportionately broad shoulders. This is the look that most woman in the western world admire. She believes that she can look like the girl in the photograph if only she buys that outfit.
It’s your job to make her want to buy it!
When shooting, don’t forget to analyze the lighting on the way it falls on the garment.
Study it and learn what is the best way to emphasize the light over the piece of cloth to make it look desired.
Try to improvise in cases that the clothes do not suit your model size such as using clips on the back of the clothes to tuck them in.
Manufacturers expect you to return their merchandise in good condition. Make sure that model dresses carefully. BE PROFESSIONAL!
Location Shooting
On location use DSLR and before you go look and your file for inspiration. Try to fit the look to the location mood.
Models for action, outdoor fashion pictures need different qualifications from models for high fashion.
If you are looking for such a model when there is no agency close by, try to look at your nearest dancing school. Trained dancers are usually attractive, healthy girls that can learn modeling easily and become because they are performing in public they will be far less self conscious than the average non-professional girl.
To get good clothing for the beginner fashion photographer, contact clothing stores in your town and ask if you can rent them for 10-20% of their value.
Also look in any market or second hand shops/flea markets for interesting props.
Choose props carefully for your photographs. You can also develop a connection with a shop for renting pros from them like an interesting radio, tv screen etc. it also applies to animal use and cars.
On Location Recommended Points

• The simpler the background the better!
• Blue sky is preferred by many photographers.
• Look for correct color balance for the outfit and the background including the relationship between the two.
• Public buildings are usually architecturally interesting.
• Make a list of places that you visit and like and create a location list for future work.
• Shooting outdoor is a challenge as you are out of your studio where you control the light and effect and on location you have to consider the weather that is constantly changing.
• So these are necessary for working in the field.
• A good fill flash and reflectors do not work between 11am-2pm.
• An overhead sun causes heavily shadowed eye sockets and white bleached nose.
• The long shadows of early morning or evening are soft and decorative.
Remember as one master photographer summed up “anyone can become a great fashion photographer. All you have to do is make a $3 dress look like $300!”
Digital Photography



  • Fashion Photography

A Career in Fashion Photography
Fashion photography to many entails dreams of huge paychecks and a glamorous lifestyle, but it is very difficult to attain this level of success in fashion houses and magazines. For every one talented young photographer, hundreds are left at the sidewalk, only dreaming about the moment that their photographs will be chosen and published in a fashion publication.
Here are a few fashion photography tips for anyone looking to get started in fashion photography. The first tip is study your subject and realized that you can never learn enough. Study any and every fashion magazine you can get your hands on. There are a number of fantastic books on fashion and model photography available. Amazon.com is a great place to find some. You are going to need one or two good cameras, a tripod, and a lighting system. Always make sure that you have plenty of extra film and batteries on hand. SLR and digital cameras take different photos, so you want to choose one that is best suited for your field.
When submitting your fashion photography work, always have your portfolio on hand, in case the editor of the fashion magazine wants to see samples. When putting together your portfolio, sharp images on a 4 X 5” transparency will showcase your work best. If your work has already been published, regardless of whether it was a local newspaper, magazine, or contest, a tear sheet (literally a sheet torn from a magazine) should always be included in a portfolio. Be sure to have at least 20 photographs in your portfolio preferably with different styles.
Remember, fashion includes not only clothing, but jewelry and accessories as well. A luxurious watch from a high end manufacturer adorned on the slender wrist of a beautiful woman would make for a great fashion shoot. If you are applying for a high fashion photography job, be prepared to leave your portfolio behind for an extended period of time. I would advice you to make copies and have several extra on hand in case you need to leave yours behind for some time. This will comes in hand when showcasing your work to many different people when looking for fashion work.

In this modern of the internet, it is imperative that you display your talent as a high fashion photographer online as well. Set up a website with samples of your work. Submit your photos to online contests. Submit them to online fashion gallerys and stock image sites. This will help to get your work seen so that people can see your high fashion photography skills.
Most fashion editors are looking for your individual personality in the photographs that you take. Every fashion photographer captures the essence of the fashion item and its model in their own unique way. Therefore, you want to learn from what other successful fashion photographers are doing, but you need to develop your own unique style. The key is to set yourself from apart from others with your photos. Most importantly, if this is truly your dream, never give up. If you stay persistent and continue to learn and evolve, success will come your way.

  • Night Photography

Night photography can be challenging but rewarding.
Night photography is where many people come up disappointed with the results. Why? Because lack of light presents problems with cameras.Cameras rely on light to take images, so presenting the camera with a complete lack of light to work with can choke it up and without proper knowledge by the operator, can result in images of pitch black or blurs.
In this section of the site we will go over some handy tips for night photography which cover all aspects of night photography exposure.

Night photography techniques are easily learned and once you master them you can truly take some spectacular shots of things like traffic, city lights and even night sky photography focusing on the moon.

Night sports photography presents another challenge for the photographer. Combine lack of light with fast moving objects and it’s a recipe for disaster! Well that’s unless you know what you're doing which you will after reading our article!
Ferris wheel at night.
Night photography relies heavily on shutter speed choice as well as the lens and camera you are using.
I

have to say that my favorite night subject has to be when I’m standing atop a tall building in the city looking down on the traffic.I love the blur effect you can achieve with all the traffic lights and car lights, just like the image shown above.
I’m also a fan of going to the amusement park at night and taking shots of the lit up ferris wheel.
As you can see, night photography can be a spectacular form of imagery once you have mastered the basics.

  • Sports Photography
Sports photography is perhaps the most challenging form of photography. Because you are almost always dealing with fast moving people, you need to be very quick and your camera needs to be even quicker.
It takes practice to get good motor racing shots.
Professional sports photographers use SLR cameras which are able to fire off rapidly successive photos, often 5 frames per second. Whilst many consumer grade SLR cameras can fire around 3 frames per second, you'll still need skill to capture sports action without unwanted blurring.
In this section we will cover:Indoor sports photographyMotor sport photographyTennis photographySoccer photographyProfessional sports photographyExtreme sports photography
I'll also give out some of my best sports photography tips.
Camera and lenses are everything with sports photography so you'll need to learn all about the latest and best sports photography lenses and the best sports photography cameras which are within your budget. In actual fact you can use any camera to take sports photos, it’s just that some cameras do better than others.
Sports photography equipment often involves more than just a camera. If you're serious about it then you'll need a tripod or monopod, a dirt proof and waterproof bag, filters and various other accessories.
  • Nature Photography
Nature photography is a highly rewarding past time and for some people, it’s a career (if you're lucky enough to be employed by National Geographic!).
In my opinion there is nothing more rewarding than setting out for a day of bushwalking or hiking with your camera and spotting all sorts of creatures and ultimately, being able to take spectacular photos of them.
If you want to try bird photography you will no doubt need a big telephoto lens and alot of patience. Some people set out to spot certain species of birds and this often means sitting in the same spot for hours on end in the hope that the bird will come along. This obviously takes patience but is well worth it once you have a picture of that species that is rarely seen by man.
Nature photography is all about waiting for the right moment.
I suggest picking up the nature photography field guide which covers the basics of nature photography.
Nature and wildlife photography are two different things. Nature photography involves taking photos of anything in nature, whether nits living or not. Wildlife photography is a little more challenging since you are working with living, moving objects.
There are nature photography workshops which teach you advanced techniques. These are great for beginners and advanced photographers.
In this section of the site we'll cover the best cameras for wildlife photography as well as lens choices for wildlife photography.
You'll also get some great wildlife photography tips and we'll talk about the most recommended wildlife photography books to enhance your skills.
Professional nature photography is something that many amateurs aspire to but unfortunately it’s a very competitive field to break into so you are best advised to simply enjoy your photography and if you are a budding publisher, consider setting up a page at www.flickr.com where you can share your photos with the world.

  • Landscape Photography

An example of a landscape photo.
Landscape photography is the art of taking photos of wide open areas such as mountains, seas and plains.
Landscape photography can also involve things like waterfalls and houses. Basically, landscape refers to a wide area of view. The wider your lens or camera allows you to view, the better your photos will look as you can fit more in.
Some popular landscape photography locations include: Mountains Waterfalls Skies / Sunsets Caves Coastlines Deserts Beaches Islands Lakes
Landscape waterfall photography is perhaps the most difficult form to master as there are many combinations you can use to cause desired effects such as slow moving water or fast moving water.
There is a technique called HDR landscape photography which involves combining photos together to form a very well exposed photo. We will cover this in detail in a separate article.
You’ll also learn some great landscape photography tips and some ideas for landscape photography techniques.
For a bigger challenge consider trying night landscape photography where you'll have to really put your thinking cap on to be able to get a good exposure at night time. Highways full of traffic and city lights are perfect subjects for this.
In this section I will review some excellent landscape photography books and talk about the best landscape photography lenses available today.

Points to Consider For Great Digital Shots


If you are new to digital photography then you should first start off with a compact model before moving on to a more serious pro level camera. Once you are done with the basics of digital photography, it is time to buy a Digital Single Lens Reflex camera and get serious about your photography hobbies. DSLR can be expensive, but even if you buy a DSLR worth five thousand dollars or more, you might not be able to use the magnificent piece of technology to its full potential until and unless you learn a few things about it first.

The very first thing to remember is to observe your subject well and then focus on the part that you want to highlight with your photograph. Zoom in to narrow your view which will allow you to focus on the desired point better. A good photo must have balance, but you can also experiment by creating balance through contrast and complement.

Always try to capture your photos from an angle, that is try to avoid shooting your subject in a straight line. If however, the subject is stationary in a straight line, you must move to the sides appropriately enough to get a desired angle on your shot. Along with angles, take note of the height as well. Try not to capture your subject from a far away height as that may result in the subject losing its focus. Lower vantage points are preferred if you have the subject to focus on, but higher vantage points will work well in case of landscape or other background snaps.

Avoid using flash to shoot as images lose their natural color when capture under the flash. Human beings appear paler and everything attains unnatural colors and looks artificial. Natural lighting is the best for photography, but if not available, then make the best use of whatever light source you have. Master the settings of your Digital Single Lens Reflex camera ISO speed, shutter speed and aperture timing to attain great photos even in near dark situations. If you can understand these three settings well, then you will make the best use of light always.

What sets apart DSLR cameras is mainly the facility to be fitted with macro, telescopic and wide-angle lenses which make your camera so much more powerful. Be it the moon or the tiniest details on the ladybird back or wide and vast scenery, you will capture them all with equal ease. Even after capturing your photos with all the effort that you put in, you still can do so much! Use a filter or any good photo editor software to further modify your picture until you achieve that perfect look. You will realize that as you move on with your photography, be it profession or hobby, you are discovering new areas everyday and the experience will only help in further nurturing your innate skills.

How to Select a Digital Camera For Personal Needs


It is not necessarily that crucial to rely on the brand name when attempting to select the best digital camera. Value is most likely a consideration unless it is for a professional and serious type photographer. However, it is important to note that quality must be factored in with the value. Cheaper can be good; just plain cheap most likely will not be.
Shopping around can be fun and helpful to find the best personal use digital camera; it can also buy some time to save extra money towards the final purchase. Online searches are available that compare functions, features, and costs. If one is a sort of amateur photographer in addition to personal photo usage, then a higher quality and slightly costlier digital camera may be purchased. Researching and asking more experienced photographers can help narrow the options down in this case.
Most people currently use their digital cameras to take personal photos, like pictures of family gatherings and members, or of landscapes and sites visited. These same people are also most likely to use a computer, and they will probably want to upload their digital pictures to their hard drive or a disk in order to save time, money and space. There are very few casual camera users who wish to mess with the hassle of taking photos, unloading the film and dropping it off, then later going to pay for and pick up the pictures. Then they must be placed into an album or scrapbook.
Social networking is all the rage currently, and even parents and grandparents have become part of this internet phenomenon. If digital photos are available on hard drive or disk, then the novice social networker can easily upload these to their site; this is easy and fun, as well as a great source of pride for grandparents. Choosing a very durable digital camera is necessary especially if it will be used frequently (by grandma), and/or if it will travel with the user often.
Resolution is another consideration to make in your choice of the right digital camera. Decent high resolution quality of a medium range is advisable for the amateur family and social networker. Higher resolution is necessary for the amateur freelance photographer or anyone that may be taking action shots or changing subjects and environments often.
Selecting the best digital photo camera for personal needs does not have to be very difficult, time consuming, or even very expensive. Following the above tips, visiting camera stores, asking questions of friends, and doing online searches to compare different digital cameras will insure that the search is painless. Then the best digital camera for personal use will be obtained.
Another way to compare prices and features is to go online to camera review sites. They have a variety of different models and brands, and compare their features, as well as their pros and cons. They also compare prices over many companies, so it is easy to find the best deals. Most major electronics stores also have comparison features when searching for products on their websites.
There are also websites that explain in detail what digital cameras are, what they do, and what things can be expected to get from the purchase. Digital cameras are fun, easy to use, and readily affordable for the general public.

Hardware and Software Requirements For Digital Photography


Photographers are a lot like drug addicts. They start off with a simple point and shoot automatic camera and, if the bug bites them, they start hiding spare change from their spouse to buy film or the next greatest fix... I mean toy. From then on only a twelve step program has a chance of curbing the addiction. The moment I started clicking a camera's shutter I was hooked and there is still no redemption in sight. As I started to get good images it justified my addiction and the expenditures that followed. I'm pretty sure I never took food from the mouths of my children, but I can't be certain. The digital revolution has even deepened the addiction with the instant gratification of image preview.

Digital cameras have saved folks so much money on film but there are many hidden costs with digital. If you want to do something with your images besides take them to one of those kiosks to print some images you will see a need for a computer and some software. You can be happy for a long time with free software like The Gimp or Picasa that does some pretty cool stuff. But, at some time, when quality becomes as important as the image itself, you are going to worry that these software programs are wrecking your image files. Things you didn't notice will start bugging you; blocked posterized shadows, blown out highlights, loss of tone and detail. The more you tweak them the worse they look.

There will be a new high~ processing a 16 bit file. But to process in 16 bit you need Photoshop. Now you can buy Photoshop Elements for about $90 but it lacks Photoshop's greatest tool, curves. To process without curves is like taking a hike and not really knowing where you are or where you're going. I do all my tone adjustments with curves because you can make very precise tone adjustments without worrying about blown out highlights or blocking shadows. Blown highlights are bright highlight areas that should have detail and tone but have lost them because of camera exposure error or improper adjustments in processing. They are then rendered as pure white. Blocked shadows are pretty much the same problem except the tone and detail loss is in the shadow areas. Curves let you set the highlight and shadow points and only make adjustments to the middle tones.

You can find old versions of Photoshop on Ebay and the web quite reasonably but the latest Photoshop CS4 retails for $700. Ouch! Always be careful when buying anything on Ebay. If it's too good of a deal it is probably a scam. If you are a student or have a child in high school or college you can get a big discount when buying the educational (not upgradable) version. Whatever Photoshop version you get be prepared for a steep learning curve! There are good books that can walk you through the basics and many tutorials on the internet. There are also tons of Photoshop plug-ins that do everything from improving sharpness to smoothing skin.

Another hidden cost in digital photography is your computer. Most people have computers in their homes, especially if they have children. Anyone who has purchased a digital camera in the last year has more mega pixels than they really need for their 4x6 pictures. The more mega pixels you have the larger your image files will be and the more space you need on your computer to store them. Since image files are much larger that text files your computer must also have lots of RAM and fast processors to handle dealing with so much data. I have 3GB of RAM on my computer and three external hard drives to store and back up images. My computer often gives me the hourglass figure when I'm working on large files. If your computer is three years old or more and you mostly do text work it may be too slow for 16 bit image processing. If, on the other hand, your child has just talked you into buying a gaming computer with a high end graphic card you are going to be quite happy. So to operate Photoshop and average sized image files you will need at least 1GB of RAM and at least a 1.8GHz or faster processor, otherwise prepare for some wait time. It's also nice to have an external hard drive to store you images so you don't use up all your computer hard drive space. Your computer also needs at least 1280x800 video display with a 16 bit video card.

Most of us still have film negatives or slides in boxes under our bed or in our closet. Memories of our younger years and images of times we still want to hold onto. Wouldn't it be a nice winter time job to scan all those memories and store them on our computer? Many flat bed scanners scan film although there are scanners made just for film and the quality and resolution is better. When scanning slides or negatives be sure to scan them to a large enough file size and resolution needed to get a good print. I spent many hours scanning old negatives one winter only to discover I scanned them to a too small file size for the print I wanted to make.

Digital imagery has made the printing of photographs a much more exacting science. Instead of having color balance a subjective matter it can now be much more controlled. My camera, software, scanner, and printer all have the same color space. This means that all the different tools used to create, process, and print the image all use the same color palette. As your desire for finer quality prints increases the need to 'print your own' will be the only fix for your new addiction. You will justify the expense of the printer: so you have more control over your art.
After you have amassed the whole assortment of every facet of the photographic process your spouse and children will disown you, your house will be foreclosed, and if you still have a job, it will never again be as important as your new addiction. But it was never your fault; it was that of the person who sold you your first camera.

Pretty Up Your Photos With Photoshop

You may not have a great digital camera or even take great pictures, but by learning Photoshop you can touch up and add effects to any photograph. Of course I'm not saying that your photos will look truly professional, but they can be enhanced, framed and tweaked to be sharper, muted or more exciting than when they were taken.
It's All About Those Special Effects
Here are some examples of effects you can incorporate into your digital photos:
• You can make your photos look like they were taken at the turn of the 20th century with a "sepia" effect (though clothing and digital watches might give your trick away)
• You can add beveled borders to your photo and then print it and place it in a nice wooden frame.
• You can drop pixels from the photo by lowering the resolution of the photo for the look of a very grainy picture.

It's not too hard to learn to use some the basic attributes. But that's only the beginning. Photoshop is widely used by professionals, and has the power to prove it. After you've mastered the basics, you can increase your ability and create very sophisticated image processed effects and incorporate them into documents, presentations and websites. There is nothing like a striking image or photo to grab attention.
The Power Depends on Your Knowledge and Imagination
If you have used the more sophisticated software packages before, you know it can be a chore to get a good grasp on how to do things. And so often, so much power goes to waste just because you don't know how to do it, or you are not aware of what can be done.

One way to overcome the learning curve and get a jump start to productivity, along with the more advanced hints and tricks, is with a good set of computer learning CD's. Before you know it, you would be able to apply your new skills to create special effects on the photos you upload onto your social networking pages (e.g. MySpace, Facebook, Digg, Squidoo, etc.) or your commercial web-site. Who knows, your appetite may be whetted enough to become a professional photographer or designer.



Fshion Mrketing and Merachandising

What is Fashion Marketing?
What makes someone spend $400 on a pair of shoes, or $150 on a simple t-shirt? What makes someone feel an uncontrollable urge to own uncomfortably baggy pants or killer 6-inch stiletto heels?

Well, if they're really good at what they do, it's fashion marketers.
After designers come up with the latest trends and send them strutting down the runway, it's up to fashion merchandisers and marketers to figure out how to get people to buy the stuff. Their goal is to move clothing out of designers' showrooms and into customers' closets.

Consumers have to be intrigued by the clothing designers create. It has to fulfill their fantasies, not just their basic needs. Consumers want fashion that will project an image--make them feel younger, or more sophisticated, or more glamorous.

Fashion marketers know this very well, and their job is to help create a fantasy to sell clothing to customers, either by savvy advertising and visual marketing campaigns, or by simply selecting clothing from designers that they think will be a hit with customers. Part of their job involves moving trendy items into stores at the time that they are actually a trend. Not moving fast enough can be a fatal error in this occupation. But good fashion marketers and merchandisers also have the power to make trends by heavily promoting certain looks at the right time. In order to be successful at creating trends year after year, these fashion professionals must also have a profound understanding of consumer psychology and social trends.

Fashion marketing and merchandising isn't just one job, but actually a number of jobs. (Fashion marketers generally work to get consumers interested in a fashion, while fashion merchandisers work on presenting clothing in stores.) People in this field can work in both retail and wholesale sales. Some work as buyers, merchandise managers and purchasing agents, selecting and purchasing apparel and accessories from designers, manufacturers or wholesalers for retail sale. Some work on the other side, as manufacturers' representatives, negotiating on behalf of manufacturers with retail stores. Others work as fashion coordinators with the mission of creating a unified look in a retail store, design house or fashion magazine. Still others work as visual merchandisers, designing splashy store displays that will attract customers and help convey a mood. (See the brief on merchandise display artists). Some people who get degrees in fashion marketing/merchandising become managers of retail stores, or opt to open up their own specialized boutique where they can serve a very specific clientele while promoting their own individual style. Others become fashion consultants and fashion forecasters.

Wherever people in this field work, they straddle a line between art and commerce. On the business side they analyze and implement sales strategies, do inventory control and cost analysis, while keeping a steady eye on profits and losses. But on the art side of things, they are creative, stylish, and innovative, recognizing good clothing when they see it with the ability to sell it to the masses.

Specific tasks in this field depend on the exact job. Some duties might include:
Arranging for the receiving, storage and display of merchandise
Attending fashion shows and visiting designer showrooms
Placing orders for clothing and estimating the amount of inventory needed

  • Pricing clothes.
    Designing visual displays and ad campaigns and promotions.
    Consulting with fashion designers and fashion consumers.
    Keeping tabs on profits, losses and other financial details.
    Maintaining the physical appearance of a store.
    Hiring and training new employees.

Studying Fashion Merchandising
In the fashion merchandising major, students learn how to manufacture fashions consumers want, and effectively sell those fashions.

Students learn to sell fashions in fashion merchandising programs that are most often found in departments of home economics/human ecology or of textiles and clothing, and occasionally in schools of business. Wherever the program is housed, students usually begin the major with classes in writing, speech, mathematics, history, social science, and natural science.

During the freshman or sophomore year, they take courses such as fashion analysis and textiles, which introduce them to the terms they need to communicate with others in the fashion industry and build their knowledge of fashion products. In advanced courses students learn to organize and operate a clothing retail business; to plan, promote, and manage merchandise inventories; and to calculate retail figures for a profitable business.

Merchandising students may also study historical and multicultural costumes, a field they later draw on to develop special promotions or store events that feature a particular line of merchandise.

Many programs offer internships or field experiences for college credit. Some also offer study tours of major U.S. fashion markets such as New York, Dallas, and Los Angeles, or of European fashion centers. Fashion merchandising students also gain experience using spreadsheets and data base programs on personal computers, which are important tools on the job. Group projects are assigned in advanced courses to help students become effective team players.

The major prepares students for managerial positions in fashion retailing and manufacturing. Through course work, they can prepare to manage a retail firm, to buy goods for a firm, or to work with designers in planning the overall fashion message for an apparel manufacturer. Fashion retailing is a highly competitive industry, and the pace is fast.

Potential Careers
Graduates of fashion merchandising programs have numerous opportunities for careers with department stores, specialty stores, and catalogs. Top students can land positions in executive training programs with major retailers; after the one- or two-year training program, trainees are promoted to buyer. Some typical entry-level jobs are: merchandiser for store or catalog; store manager; personnel manager; operations manager; fashion coordinator; journalist; information director for a fashion-related company or trade association; public relations director.

Fashion Retail Buyer Job Profile

Are you interested in fashion and love a fast-paced working environment? Retail merchandising may be for you! A retail buyer (merchandiser) is responsible for the process that allows the final clothing line to appear in a store. Buyers work with designers to ensure that their brand will represent the most recent trends, negotiate costs with vendors, work with technical designers to ensure the garment fits the customer perfectly, and makes sure the vendors meet the delivery deadline.
Buyers' decisions can directly impact a store's reputation and profits. Buyers are usually under a lot of pressure because they are responsible for buying the merchandise that will keep customers shopping at their store.
Buyers, unlike typical shoppers, must analyze inventory and sales reports, meet with consultants and vendors, attend trade and fashion shows, follow advertisements for competitors, negotiate prices, payment and delivery, and much more. A buyer often works long hours and must travel frequently.
A small store may only have one buyer who is responsible for all the merchandise. However, larger stores usually have assistant or associate buyers who work under the head buyer to purchase items for individual departments. Buyers often start out as assistants or associates in order to learn the trade. Many retailers hire college graduates into a management training programs, and individuals interested in becoming buyers can progress from there.
Buyers should have a good eye for fashions and trends, however this is not the only skill important in a buyer's career. Retail buyers should also have a keen sense of how a business operates, analytical skills, and a willingness to work long hours and bear the weight of the responsibility buying entails.