1 Fashion Look, 3 Different Ways! | Inside Fashion and Beauty Photography with Lindsay Adler

There is no one right or ‘best’ way to light a fashion image. It all depends on how the shot is going to be used… aka the PURPOSE of the shoot. Is the image for a model’s portfolio? An advertising campaign? A fashion editorial? An album cover? A photographer must consider the brand, the magazine, and the end ‘home’ of the image when determining how to light for a shoot.

In this video I show you how I capture the same fashion look in three different lighting setups, providing very different moods and results.

Camera/Lens: All three images were captured with the Canon R5 and the Canon RF 24-105. This is my go-to camera and lens combo for studio photography.

Background: For all three of these shots I utilized a Savage Universal Fashion Gray seamless background. Fashion Gray is extremely versatile. Depending on how you light (or don’t light) it, you can make it appear black, white, gray, or any other color when a gel is introduced into the equation. That makes it the perfect background choice for this experimentation!

Let’s take a look at each of the three setups. For the first setup, the goal was to create an image that was timeless, perhaps for a classic editorial or timeless portrait. In the second setup, we went for something a bit more high key and friendly, perhaps for a celebrity portrait or commercial magazine cover. Lastly, we went with something colorful and far more creative… perfect for a creative fashion editorial or album art.

Setup 1:
- Purpose: Timeless Editorial or Portrait
- Main light: In this one light setup I used a beauty dish with a grid to the left-hand side of the frame to create flattering, sculpted light. The grid causes the gray background to appear darker, and for the light to fall off (get darker) down the body.

Setup 2:
- Purpose: Celebrity Portrait or Magazine Cover
- Main Light: The beauty dish with the grid remained the same as setup #1.
- Background Light: I placed a strobe on a floor stand directly behind the subject, pointed at the background. I turned up the power (a couple stops above the main light) to give me a pure white background.
- Fill Light: A used a medium umbrella with diffusion as a fill light on the scene. This helped to lift up/brighten the shadows for much more high-key results.

Setup 3:
- Purpose: Creative editorial or album art
- Main Light: The beauty dish with the grid remained the same as setup #1.
- Background Light: The strobe on a floor stand stays in the same position as setup #2, except in this instance we added a green gel to the light.
- Fill Light: The medium umbrella with diffusion is in the same position as setup #2, except for this setup we added a cyan gel. This will now create a blue fill to the shadows as well as a kiss of blue to mix with the background color (making it not just pure green).

For this shoot, you can see that I used the same hair, makeup, and wardrobe for each shot. Keep in mind, however, that once you have determined the purpose for the shoot this will likely affect all elements. You will start to change the model’s makeup, hair, set design, posing, and more to reinforce the underlying purpose of your fashion shoot…. This is why purpose is so essential!

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✘ PRODUCTS USED:

Canon R5

Canon RF 24-105mm 4.0

Profoto D2

Profoto Beauty Dish + Grid:

Floor Stand:

Large Umbrella + Diffusion:

Creative Gels:

Fashion Gray Background:

#fashionphotography #lightingsetup #adorama

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Photographer: Lindsay Adler

Videographer - Samuel Bouret

Makeup: Joanne Gair
Hair: Linh Nguyen
Styling: Raytell Bridges

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THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING!

[jeffnewman]

I like the high key shot the most. The model and dress really stand out.

[leestrickland]

Very nice. Your work is always superb!

[jerrym]

All are absolutely gorgeous, but I my favorite is the timeless one. If I went for a second fav, it would be the total opposite… the gelled one.

[omniconcepts_]

A very well thought out instructional video on purpose, posing, posture, expression, lighting, and rational for the shoot. My favorites are 6:07 and 6:15 of the time line.

[heartofntx]

Lindsay, you're signature red lips keep me completely focused. Love the color. I feel like such an amateur not knowing that putting a bright light on a gray background would allow for a high key white. Learned something new.

[josephchan]

I like all of them, especially the third one. What great ideas from you and your team. Kudos to you and your team.

[Treasures_of_life]

I thought i liked the high-key commercial one until i saw the last three pose. Taking a successful picture is not just about lighting. Thank u Linsey

[fcoker]

Great info as always!!! I would say I like the third photo using the gels.

[johnl]

The best part of this is the model has very striking and beautiful looks that you can work with and seems to understand what you are trying to bring out. I admit the traditional image was the best for me.

[bardoteachings]

Thank you. Love your simple and very helpful explanations of your magic!

[photoquent]

I think you have just proven that old saying “blue and green should never be seen” wrong as the third set up was definitely my favourite!

[toddstrong]

As always I enjoyed your presentation. I particularly liked the low key shots and those with the color. Hoping all is well. Todd from CO.

[ale.giacobazzi]

Great job, as always, Lindsay! I have to say that I like all of them, but I will go with the timeless look. Why? Because it's 😄

[anekcem]

fantastic I love your work Thank you very much.

[manniweberfotografie]

I think the last shot is the best one for my opinion, but the background glow is a fraction to weak.

[abjames]

I Can't find the photographs on your page, where is it uploaded Please?