I'm sure we can all agree that women are absolutely beautiful! They are, in fact, the most beautiful sight in all the entire universe. And a great way to help make a woman feel beautiful and empowered is by capturing her charm eternally in still imagery and video.
Three of the main elements I look for in my figure studies are:
- What makes a woman unique
- The distinct lines and curves of a woman
- The feeling and emotion of the moment
There are many things that make all of us unique, much of which cannot be represented in still imagery or video as both are merely a snapshot in time. Much can though since memories and impressions are strongly based on visuals. Some unique attributes of a woman that are apparent in images are her composure and how she carries herself - her physique, posture and confidence. In addition are her hair style, makeup, wardrobe, accessories, and props all contribute to her overall allure. Often times a variety of items are brought to a session. These selections I'll usually leave to her to help me catch her individuality - what does she choose, how does she want to be seen and perceived. Sometimes I will offer a suggestion for items or props to help bring out something I see. In most shoots what I would like to see is the essence of the individual.
The delicate, distinctly female lines are a key aspect that I aim to capture in my work - all of them. My goal is to create stunning images of the fresh beauty of a woman through the supple curves of her entire body. This is amplified by unusual (settings) and camera angles not commonly seen in everyday life as well as advanced image editing techniques. This makes the images much more captivating by adding another layer of visual appeal. To do this does not require nudity or being overly revealing, though it may get close to the boundaries of comfort for some - but it's sure worth it!
Perhaps hardest to catch and most impactful is her mood and emotion. This is largely conveyed through the eyes and mouth and can range from expressions of pure joy to downy melancholy. Eyes focused on the viewer (camera), looking down or away, or closed give greater meaning to a smile or straight face and the subtle tilt of her head. Posture and arm position play into the overall feeling as well. Arms upraised or bent and palms up are generally perceived as more upbeat, while arms hanging straight with palms down projects a more somber temperament. The tone of a picture is also effected by post-processing techniques like softening, converting to black and white, or HDRI.
It is the magic of these essential elements, lines and curves and how they elegantly flow together that I aim to capture and celebrate in every frame.
