Is it difficult to make "Creative Beauty"?

Is it difficult to make "creative beauty"?

I am often contacted by new photographers around the world who love what I do in beauty photography. The most frequently asked question is: "is it difficult to create creative beauty??"

That is a huge question... for WHAT is host? Planning, the ideas, lights..? what part of it?

For some it is all of the above, for others it is the less practical implementation – for everyone it is different.

I will try to describe my thought process and workflow so that you might have the courage to try it yourself - because I actually use very few means (this will surprise many of you.

Inspiration:

I get REALLY a lot of inspiration from pinterest, TikTok, Instagram but also out in the real world. As a photographer, I'm probably a bit "damaged" so I see possibilities in EVERYTHING: a beautiful location, a beautiful color on a flower, a print on a dress, etc. It inspires me in a "feeling" and I buzz a little further on the idea until I have a rough idea in my head.

Planning:

On pinterest I find makeup colors, textures and "styles" that I like and that describe the idea I have as best as possible. I create what is called a mood board which gives the team a clear idea of the look, direction and feeling of the photoshoot itself

I do the same with clothes. and when the model is found, I usually find the clothes myself - because I already have the idea in my head and find it difficult to communicate to others, so I usually take care of that myself.

I find the model based on what the look/intention is with the photoshoot. If I have to shoot beauty with lips as the main role, I spot a model with beautiful lips - if it's the eyes that have the main role, then I find someone with the right eye shape and so on.

Most of the time, it is important to me that the model is talented in posing and knows her angles. It is often what gives the best result and I often ask Le Management about a casting to get the right model. 

Makeup artist is one great part of my beauty pictures - without a professional artist it would never have worked! I describe my ideas and show the makeup artist my mood board. The artist transforms these impressions, trends, colors and ideas into own looks so we make it into something unique.

Now the team is set and everyone knows what we have to do. A potential customer certainly also has something to say and is on board all the way in my thought process and idea generation. 

Now I have to decide which light best suits the result I want (read blog posts about modifiers here) The top two pictures are made with soft light: 1 lamp with a softbox and a silver reflector for reflection) and the next two pictures are made with a Beautydish with a white coating and with the white sock on – here, too, there is a silver reflector for reflection.

So: I have ONLY ONE LAMP running... 

I often use flowers to decorate, because I really think it contributes a lot to the picture. It can also easily be beads, string, hat, colored light, etc. On some, I took a pair of old sunglasses and glued dried flowers on with the make-up artist's eyelash glue – we did that on the spot…. so it doesn't NEED to be huge setups… it can be done with silk ribbon and a few flowers…. Ask the make-up artist if they can do something creative - I promise you that they often have an ARSENAL of ideas and things to play with!!

I collect a bit myself – I might have a pair of fishnet stockings and a piece of a broken transparent colored plastic bowl…. it can all be used to create CREATIVE BEAUTY with…. In the rose picture on the right, it is a piece of nylon stocking that we have tied around the hair and then inserted some beautiful beautiful roses from Monk Decor.

Remember that it's a team effort – maybe the model or makeup artist will get a good idea along the way... listen to it and if there's time, try it out! (you don't know if it's a stroke of genius until it's tested)

It is seriously only the imagination that sets the limits. 

If you want a kick start in creative beauty, I actually hold live workshops where we spend a whole day together learning how to shoot beautiful beauty photos - see more HERE 

You will experience a perfect symbiosis between theory and practice. The day starts with theory and teaching, continues until I hold a live shoot so you can see that what I have just taught is also easy to do. After that, there is "hands on" where you are allowed to shoot beautiful pictures with your own camera - and don't worry - I will probably help you all the way.

Is there anything you would like to know about this blog post you are always welcome to contact me.