Sunglasses shoot soon Advice needed!

jaketrask12

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Jake
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Hi all!

I currently work for one of the biggest retailer's of sunglasses in europe as a sales adviser and have recently asked to do a shoot for some of the new 2012 sunglasses I will be most likely using big brands such as Chanel , Gucci , Tom Ford , Bvlgari etc...

I'm quite a "NOOB" to modelling and shoots like this! I will be getting some help from my friend to.

The images will also be uploaded to our website , I see this as a big oppurtunity for myself and to build up my experience! , I live near a seaside town , so there are plenty of Great locations to do Spring/Summer shots.

I would like some advice on lighting and set up for these days and shoots.

I currently use a Canon 40D , 50mm 1.8 , 70-300 sigma lens and a Tamron 10-24mm 3.5-4.5 , 580ex mk2 and a 430ex mk2 and I may also be borrowing my friends 24-105 L lens which I will soon be purchasing for myself!

If anyone has some example shots I could get some ideas from that would be great!

Thank's all!
 
Not my field, but so you don't feel quite so alone, the only (very stereotypical) shot I know is the "reflected" shot - pick a pretty landmark, and reflect it in the lenses - does kinda take the emphasis from the glasses though - Is this with models, or just the glasses?
 
It will be with models aswell , I live near the seaside like I said , so I'll be down near the greenest grass , trees and beach !
 
My advice is that, going off your OP, this is a job for a professional company that deals with product lighting and models etc if it is to be a model based sunglasses shot.

If this 'big retailer' does not know that then surely they can't be a 'big retailer'.

If it is to be a light tent style product shot like this one

http://www.sunglasses-shop.co.uk/find/gender_womens.aspx

Then do a search for product shooting via a light tent.

I hope it goes well but there is so much to know about.
 
I really hope this goes well for you. There is an awful lot to learn though.

I hate to ask this, but as one of europe big retailers, aren't they going to be expecting a great product from you (I'm not saying you can't deliver that by any means), but their marketing/sales/advertising departments are going to be aware of the value good photographs to their sals and will be expecting it. Same with the brands themselves.
 
What are the shots for? I have to say it would be most unusual for a major retailer to entrust an important advertising shoot to an amateur, no matter how good. Your data on TP says:

Real First Name
Jake
Biography
Photography student
Location
Essex
Interests
biking,drumming,photography,music
Occupation
entertainer,promoter

Is this for a student project, perhaps? If you could post more info, the answers are likely to be more useful!
 
Get a FULL and THOROUGH brief before you do anything. As the company's visual selling aid, these need to be top drawer and shot to exact spec by the client.

What is the scale of the catalogue and does it require both studio shots and locations shots? Get this cleared up first so you know what route to take.

It sounds massively exciting and could be a very good step up the ladder - good luck :)
 
Hi all ,
Thanks for your replies.

I work for www.Sunglasses-shop.com as the link from tiler65 states.

I have become close to the team upstairs who deal with editorial for the website and the advertising that happens for the company.

They know I have a large interest in photography and have then asked me to do a shoot and see what they think, I am quite confident enough to produce a great shoot but want to impress them as much as possible. They can allow me to borrow equipment and obviously sunglasses, clothing and accesories.

I know that I'm no pro but if this shoot goes well I may have a chance in the future to do more for them. I know this will be a great experience for me as a photographer in the future too. Also going along with my style and age I can attract a younger and trendier Genre of customer's for the future.

I just wanted a little insight from you all! from reading the replies you know this should be done by a professional and yes I agree with that , in previous shoots they have had professional's do shoots and as a large retailer they should.
But what I'm stating is that for my experience this could be a great oppurtunity! :)
 
Ah yes john ryan I must update my data sorry...
 
Also going along with my style and age I can attract a younger and trendier Genre of customer's for the future.

This is a really interesting statement of capability. Can I ask how you are going to achieve this ?
 
Meonshore,
I'm 20 years old and see people of my age forever looking for the newest and latest styles and fashion.
At the moment the advertising for the company is very glamorous aiming it only at the big spenders...
To use brands like Rayban, Micheal Kors, Oakley, Armani , Ralph lauren and brands for a younger generation, it can attract people that see their own style in street photography and everyday life which is then a big sales point. I don't really think sunglasses should be shot in a studio because You don't really wear them inside... So to bring the shot outside in a more "urban" and "cool" environment it can attract these sort of people

do you see where I'm coming from...
 
Jake, I think he ment how are you going to achieve the image? If he doesn't, I certainly do!
 
Well I was interested in the concept as well....

I'm still intrigued - what you have described sounds like the kind of ad campaign that a manufacturer / designer would commission for those brands of sunglasses to create demand and place the product in a particular demographic.

So is this shoot a campaign for Sunglasses Shop for print etc to drove young, cool, urban styled kids specifically to Sunglasses Shop as a reseller ? in addition to all of those loaded people who respond to the glamourous imagary.

I guess when this started I had in my mind you were shooting the products for display in the webstore where it need to be more like the ones your company already have. Hence the questions about lighting and and setup. The two things are of course completely different.
 
Yes this shoot will be for a campaign on sunglasses shop behalf , not the Brand / Designer.

Like I have stated , this is to test me at what I can do , and to hopefully drive those young cool kids to our site. If my photo's get uploaded of course.

I know this thread has come slightly off subject of lighting and setup , But hopefully the more details I give , the more help I could hopefully get and to give people an idea of what I'll be doing. :) I just want a little more insight on the commercial based level I want to try and aim at , and make sure this shoot goes well.
 
OK so what you have given us is.

- Modern fashion shoot
- Target demographic cool Teens/Twenties
- You have a beach, and the greenest grass
- Presumably somewhere also urban you can shoot
- Magazine ad style

and you want advice on lighting and setup.

My 2p then...

- You need to deconstruct the ads you look at and want to aspire to for lighting. I don't know what ads you are trying to emulate so you have to do it for yourself.
- Control of light is going to be critical
- Look for the direction of lighting - is it backlit, lower contrast, flare or harsher frontal lighting or off-axis side lighting.
- Whatever it is you'll almost certainly need either some large reflectors or some off-camera speedlites or battery based lighting (Quadra/Ranger etc) to either deliver the main light or fill.
- Look for specular highlights in the lenses to see if you can identify the size and placement of the lights.
- You almost certainly need a pro Hair/MUA to help you and some "models" who fit the brief.
- The lens you use, aperture and viewpoint is again entirely dependant on what you want to deliver.

It's time for you to put your own ideas down onto paper notes, reccee the area, build you scene up in a plan, work out how to light it and then go deliver.

Just bear in mind that print ads in mags are more often than note shot by quality pro fashion/advertising photographers, with a ton of experience as a photographer and before that an assistant to another great pro, supported by a team of assistants, stylists, hair and make-up and probably an art director, and then finally a professional retoucher. They'll also have a big bag of (mainly lighting) kit which they own, or will have rented for the job.
 
OK so what you have given us is.

- Modern fashion shoot
- Target demographic cool Teens/Twenties
- You have a beach, and the greenest grass
- Presumably somewhere also urban you can shoot
- Magazine ad style

and you want advice on lighting and setup.

{snip}

Just bear in mind that print ads in mags are more often than note shot by quality pro fashion/advertising photographers, with a ton of experience as a photographer and before that an assistant to another great pro, supported by a team of assistants, stylists, hair and make-up and probably an art director, and then finally a professional retoucher. They'll also have a big bag of (mainly lighting) kit which they own, or will have rented for the job.

I would of thought this^^^ as well. I hate to say it as well, but all that takes a van load of cash, are you sure your people 'upstairs' have this in mind
 
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Depends how they want it shot, there's no point us going into beauty lighting if you're told categorically to shoot full length and so on. It seems a fantastic opportunity but it could go either way, either you look like you know what you're doing, or you look like an enthusiastic amateur, I'm guessing they are allowing you to do this because they know you like photography, rather than because you have an outstanding fashion portfolio.

Just a polite warning and most definitely not a crit, I hope you blow them away. Make sure you're ready and well prepared, book the best team and models you can afford, if you don't know how to light then hire a professional lighting assistant. Whether you're happy to spend, or ask for a budget is up to you.
 
Thank's for the tips!
I'm just hoping the weather turn's out to be sunnier on friday at the moment in my area it's hectic rain.

I have 5 model's lined up already and have had them come into the store for a chat on what's going to happen on the day , I have got myself some ideas from professionals and previous campaign's. Also got myself a make-up artist and hair stylist who has done it for the company before!

Really looking forward to it now... I just hope I can deliver to the best I can

Thank you again, Will keep posted on the photo's once they are edited and developed.
 
That give's me another idea Danny! I used to always shoot film! and then converted to digital :/

Will bring it along with me :)
 
You know you wanna :)

Kodak colour emulsions are a safe bet these days, the new portra is especially good for a medium/fast film, or grab Ektar for something more saturated.

Good luck fella I'm sure it'll go well
 
Thank's for the tips!
I'm just hoping the weather turn's out to be sunnier on friday at the moment in my area it's hectic rain.

I have 5 model's lined up already and have had them come into the store for a chat on what's going to happen on the day , I have got myself some ideas from professionals and previous campaign's. Also got myself a make-up artist and hair stylist who has done it for the company before!

Really looking forward to it now... I just hope I can deliver to the best I can

Thank you again, Will keep posted on the photo's once they are edited and developed.

Is there any update then on the shoot, or the resulting images ? Looking forward to hearing all about it and seeing what you got.
 
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