WMCFW: Tips on Shooting Fashion from @SteveCarty & Canon Canada

After the last session, I finally hold my camera like a professional and not a n00b. No really though!

1. Try Canon’s Creative Filters

• Canon’s Creative Filters can be applied both before and after shooting and can take a photo from average to spectacular
• You can also stack the filters and create your own unique combinations like Miniature Effect + Soft Focus or Toy Camera + Grainy B&W (The order that you apply the filters also makes a difference in the final output!)
• If you’ve snapped a photo that seems unsalvageable, try out some Creative Filters and see how it changes it image – you might find an unremarkable picture has been saved!

2. Shoot on the step

• To capture the most natural looking fashion photos, shoot when the model touches his/her foot down on the runway, not mid-step
• This elongates the body and will make a real difference in the photos
• Shoot vertically to see the whole model, if you shoot horizontally, remember where the magazine “gutter” would be in your image and ensure your subject isn’t “in the gutter” (middle of the frame)

3. Focus on the details

• If you’re unable to get a successful full body shot, look for detail opportunities
• Focus on the shoes, a belt or a collar
• 4. Having a hard time shooting all white or all black outfits?
• Focus on an area of contrast, like a strap, a shoulder or the neckline
• Consider using AI SERVO AF focus tracking mode. In this mode – the focus continuously adjusts based on the motion of your subject as long as you hold down the shutter button halfway.

5. Stand back

• Even though most of us want to be in the front row, it’s not always the ideal shooting location
• Sit or stand a bit further back so you can show more scope
• Arrive early to get the best shooting locations

6. Shoot in both JPEG and RAW

• JPEGs are great for uploading quickly to the web, but when you want to edit the file they can lose quality
• RAW files can be edited again and again while staying crisp and clear
• When shooting continuously with RAW files the number of shots in a burst is significantly reduced – switch to JPEG if you need more images in a burst

7. Don’t delete!

• If your memory card is big enough you don’t need to delete files on the fly
• You don’t have time to delete photos during a fashion show, so shoot as much as possible and edit later – bad photos can be fixed in post-production

8. Focus Tricks

• If you are having trouble with focus, focus on a spot on the runway where the model steps mid-stride by pressing the shutter button halfway down and listening for the beep. After you hear the beep, flip the AF switch on the side of the lens to MF
• Wait for the model to walk to the point you where pre-focused on the runway – and take your picture.