All you Need to Know About the Editorial Process
What You Need to Know About the Editorial Process
Shooting for an editorial job is among the most exciting jobs you can find in the area of photography. It requires you to come up with some of the most exotic images. Editorial photography is known for featuring unusual makeup artistry accompanied by an equally bizarre clothing ensembles. Not every photographer can conquer this form of photography. It requires great expertise and creativity that surpasses many boundaries.
The Purpose
The true purpose of editorial photography is to make sure that it highlights the complete essence of the story rather than point out a specific aspect of it. It follows the theme of the story. Normally, it is the editor himself who determines the theme, but editorial photographers have the full leverage to experiment with creativity.
Editorial Process
Being an editorial photographer only adds to the process you need to go through in order to end up with truly captivating pictures. If you plan on becoming one, here are a few things you definitely need to know about the editorial process.
Knowing the Context
You cannot just begin to haphazardly shoot for an editorial. It first requires understanding what the content is all about. This will help you determine what kind of pictures can be a potential candidate for the magazine or blog the editorial content is being used for.
A great move is always to ask if the written content is ready already. In case it is, you can go through it to digest the concept. Since your photos will be designed to complement the article, knowing what’s written in it can be of greater help than say, getting a short brief from the editor.
Portraits are Preferred
Portrait photography tends to be widely accepted regardless of the medium the editorial photoshoot is being conducted for. While it is better to ask the editor about the orientation of pictures he wants, if you are blank on the matter, the safest alternative is to go portrait, especially if you are photographing for a magazine.
The reason for this is that more often than not, these images are being used for the cover. If you are in luck, your efforts might get your work on the cover of a popular magazine. This is a great reason to always opt for portraiture unless asked otherwise.
Curved Vs Straightened Lines
When it comes to editorials, curved lines are not appreciated much. You are hired to create images that have straightened horizons with sharper tones. This is a key part of the editorial process. So the next time you pick up an editorial photography assignment, make sure to refrain from curves, and create a scene with clean composition. This is what professional editorial art directors prefer!
Work with the Stylist
Editorial photoshoots are a bit more complex than others. They require a unique set of guidelines to be met, which further requires the assistance of a stylist. This is the person on the set who adds to the creative aspect by offering the scene a refining touch. The stylist is also the person responsible for arranging the apparel that best matches the brief.
Instead of relying solely on your creativity, work closely with the stylist to produce some of the most exotic material for the editorials. After all, it is what these editorials are all about—producing prestige content for the user.
Absorbing More Content
Magnifying content is one of the most generic practices among photographers. Editorials don’t do ‘generic’. This is of utmost importance in the editorial process. Instead of enlarging the frame, you can take a step back and capture the essence of the entire set. The reason why it is key in an editorial process is that it can lead you to a picture that covers the entire room.
In editorial photography, the images are intended to fill up the entire page. It is your call whether you want to showcase the subject or the entire scene to portray the theme of an editorial you are shooting for.
Casting a Model
This part of the editorial photoshoot cannot be emphasized enough. No matter how well you capture your scene, or how exotic of a representation you have, if your cast is not offering the right touch, your editorial will not offer the great value it is supposed to. This is why it is crucial to be meticulously detailed when selecting your model. He or she will also define you as an editorial photographer. To opt for the right candidate, you need to head back to “knowing the context” part of the blog.
Once you know the statement you want to make with your editorial photography, it is only then that you will know the right model for your photoshoot.
Post-Shooting is Equally Important
During an editorial process, photographers often forget to take the importance of post-production into account. There is a lot more left to your editorial photography by that point. No matter how good of a picture you have captured, adjusting minute elements like the temperature and exposure is better done during the post-production phase. While this job is often outsourced to editors, editorial photographers should always take part in the process to help keep the important elements of the images intact.
Whether you want to learn more about editorial photography, or want to hire professionals for an editorial, Dino Mosley Photography is who you need to contact. We are experts in all kinds of photography and cater to a wide clientele. For more information about our services, drop us an email at info@dinomosleyphotography.com. To hire us, dial 323-332-1197.