Vintage fashion photography: red Cadillacs & high fashion models
May 29th, 2009So you all know that I have NEVER used Photoshop to TOTALLY change my photos. The only reason Photoshop is ever used is to smooth skin and dust spots. But a recent shoot I did was in a classic car museum and there was no way in hell that we were going to be able to take these cars out to a location. The solution was to change the background in Photoshop. If we didn’t change it then the whole shoot would be a total loss. I lit these with a ring light and some edge lights. My digital compositor did an amazing job at creating a classy yet edgy look ! I would love to hear your opinions and thoughts !
You may view more of the series on my site.
May 29th, 2009 at 8:16 pm
The images came out great.
I don’t see anything wrong with using Photoshop for this purpose. If it’s OK to build elaborate sets in the studio or on location, what’s wrong with building them digitally?
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May 30th, 2009 at 4:43 am
Fashion News…
[...] fashion photographers la. Jason Christopher captures the beauty of fashion from all over the world. From high fashion couture to the lifestyle of southern california. [...]…
May 30th, 2009 at 11:32 am
Hey Farrell ! Thank you for visiting my blog. You are also on Twitter as well. And thank you for the compliment too ! Now that you mention your point about set building it makes sense. I never looked at it that way. Hey you taught me something !
Please continue to comment on my other work and always feel free to ask me ANY questions. I share info with everyone. I’m not a typical over egotistical photographer. 
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May 31st, 2009 at 8:22 am
Hi Jason,
Im 16 from England and i am currently studying photography at A-Level and i came across your site on Google. By the way i think your photos are amazing and you are very talented
I absolutly love photography and i want to do it in the future (fashion or portrature) but i would like to ask a few questions to you.
Everyone says you need to find your own style but how do you know when you have found it?
Also how do you find your ideas for creating and contrasting the background with the model like in some of the advertising work which your have done?
If you have any other useful infomation that would help me in the future to reach my goals i would love to hear them.
Thanks
Vicky
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Jason Christopher Reply:
June 1st, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Hi Vicky, thank you so much for the compliments ! These are great questions.
Finding your own style: That is a tough one. My advice is to shoot anything and everything that interests you. Experiment with different lighting styles and shoot as often as you can. Eventually you will know inside your heart what look you love to shoot most. For example, the photos you see of my outdoor back lighting with flair is my “look”, at least that is what I have been told lol. My point is that look happened on accident. The first time I saw that flair i really liked it. So I kept shooting like that when ever I was outdoors. Then I recreated that same look in the studio. Obviously there are other lighting styles in my portfolio because I do like different styles other than just back lighting with flair. Now so far I have been talking about lighting style. A photographers style doesn’t just mean lighting. My fashion style has been described as very classic, classy, clean and romantic. How did this happen ? It just evolved. The more you shoot the more you will feel it. It works the same way with singers and bands. You’re still very young but eventually you will develop and come into your own style. It will literally just happen. When I look back at when I first started shooting my style was all over the place because I still didn’t know myself as a photographer.
Your next question about creating ideas etc. can be answered in many ways. When I first get an assignment I sit down with the art director and we look at the clothes and I ask what kind of look they want. Sometimes they don’t even know what they want. Sometimes they can see the look they want in their head and describe it to me and show me examples from other various tear sheets and ads they have seen. But what you need to know is the reason a company will hire me is because of my style of photography. So the process is already halfway done. Next we need to find a location and models. You want to tell a story, even if it is only one photo that your client will end up using for the ad. There has to be something going on with the photo that tells a story or at least gets the viewer thinking about what is happening in the photo.
So we will sit down and brainstorm and write out ideas and eventually it just happens. I am hired, photographers are hired for our ability to think of concepts and bringing them to life. We’re not hired to push a shutter button, anyone can do that. So our creativity is what makes us special and eventually get the jobs.
Keep shooting Vicky and always feel free to ask and comment !
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May 31st, 2009 at 10:42 am
Hey Jason, I’ve recently been doing a lot of fashion photography, looking to do much much more, but, I’m still getting used to the light types used in the industry. As a film Gaffer I generally use much different lights so sometimes I get a little confused.
I wanted to ask you what the difference between that the look from a ring flash would give you compared to that of some of the strobe work that you do.
Also your quick comment about the Umbrella vs. the Soft box was a very interesting and helpful point!
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Jason Christopher Reply:
June 1st, 2009 at 11:28 am
Hi Nate, thank you for visiting my blog.
I like ring lights. The type of light they put out is very crisp and contrasty. It brings out details like sequins, diamonds, stitching etc. in a clean crisp way. It’s very even light but doesn’t look flat and gives off a more modern “hip” look. I have some images on my site where I have used a ring light.
Now with strobes you can attach a soft box, umbrella, grids etc. to the strobe so you will get a different effect with each light modifier. With a soft box the light will be soft compared to the ring light which will be more harsh but not as harsh as a bare bulb strobe. When you use an umbrella with a strobe your light output will have more contrast than a soft box. You aren’t able to attach a soft box to a ring light but why would you want to ? That would defeat the purpose of using the ring light.
I offer a private one on one workshop where I go over techniques like this as well as many others in detail. It is two days with a model and a make up artist. Please read more about it here http://jasonchristopher.com/blog/private-photography-workshops/ I just had someone come all the way from Ottawa, Canada and spent 3 days learning from me.
Thank you for asking questions Nate and if you ever need any other advice please don’t hesitate to ask !
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May 31st, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Love the vintage stuff
Did you change the layout of the blog? Looks different?
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Jason Christopher Reply:
May 31st, 2009 at 5:35 pm
Hey Steve, thank you for the compliment. No I didn’t change the layout of the blog. It looks the same to me. The only thing I added was the Flikr and Twitter badges. What looks different to you ? I’m curious.
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June 2nd, 2009 at 12:49 am
Thanks very much Jason for replying and i know that this infomation will help me out alot with future assignments at college
Thanks for the offer to comment i may need it soon
I think people are right about your fashion style they are very classic, classy clean and romantic especially the vintage ones above it really suits the images the way you have used photoshop to create the depth and harshness of the dark colours to blend in with the background which certianly gives it an edge..
Thanks again
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June 12th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
I just happened upon your site and blog. Great work! I’ve been shooting for 20 years and a quick look at your blog gave me great idas! Thanks!
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June 24th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Okay these images are freaking AMAZING!!! I LOVE shooting with cars, and have a car shoot planned later this summer…. These images have really inspired me though:) There’s a number of photographers that inspire me, that I can literally count on one hand, while all other photographers give my ideas of what to try to do better or what not to do, lol!! However, you are definitely on my list that I can now count on my one hand:) Wow, can’t get over these images!:) SO GOOD!
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Jason Christopher Reply:
June 25th, 2009 at 10:24 am
Well thank you Cheri ! I am very flattered ! Anytime you have any questions feel free to post them on my blog and I will answer you asap. I also offer a private workshop that is two days.
Check it out here… http://jasonchristopher.com/blog/private-photography-workshops/
Thank you Cheri
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June 27th, 2009 at 4:44 am
No problem! I mean it:) Thank you, I’ll make sure to come here to ask you any questions:)
Private classes? Very cool! May have to schedule one with you one day! Thanks Jason!
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July 3rd, 2009 at 8:38 pm
[...] View post: Los Angeles Fashion Photographers Blog: style, lighting technique … [...]
December 18th, 2009 at 12:07 am
HI JASON,
I AM JAY, I AM FROM INDIA, YOUR CLASSIC CAR SHOT IS AMAZING
THE LIGHTING TECHNIQUE IS REALLY GOOD. I HAVE LEARNED MUCH FROM YOUR WEBSITE FROM LAST TWO DAYS I AM VISITING YOUR WEBSITE
IT IS AMAZING FEELING I GOT WHILE I WAS LEARNING THROUGH YOUR WEBSITE.
THANKS & REGARDS,
JAY RATHOD
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Jason Christopher Reply:
December 18th, 2009 at 10:31 am
Hi Jay ! Thank you very much. I am very happy you are enjoying my blog. Please feel free to ask as many questions as you like.
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January 23rd, 2010 at 12:04 pm
hai there, im francis from philippines and i want to be aphotographer someday..i just want to ask few question what are those attitudes or ability that you consider to be a photographer. i like to have some photoshoots in our house and i also collects a lots of magazinethat focuseson the high fashion photography so please give me sometips..and if you have some knowledge about that im looking forwardto know that!!
thank you in advance!!!god bless
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admin Reply:
January 27th, 2010 at 6:12 pm
Hi Francis,
My best advice I can give you is to stay true to yourself. Shoot what you love, study fashion. Learn designers, other photographers, other models. Most importantly learn fashion and how a woman should move in a piece of clothing. Yes learn the lighting and camera and also learn FASHION !!
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