Jason Christopher, LA Commercial & Fashion Photographer Bio

As a working professional fashion photographer I love to give back.  I love to share my knowledge with other photographers and help them learn and get a bit of a head start in this competitive field.  Some people think I’m crazy but it really does make sense  What you give is what you get.  Listen up guys, there will ALWAYS be someone better than you.   So instead of keeping your “secrets” which aren’t even secrets , all to yourselves, learn to share and you will be surprised how good it feels and what comes back to you.

My private one on one photo workshop with Kevin Miller was great !  Kevin came all the way out from Ohio to spend two full days with me learning and having fun shooting.   As I have said before, my private workshops are specially prepared to suit your level  and skill.  Kevin messes around with his dslr however he really wanted to get to the grit and learn the right way, learn fundamentals and learn how to work with models and put together a fashion shoot all by himself.   His particular area of interest is commercial fashion and glamor.  So the first part of day 1 started with me and Kevin only.  We went over the basics of how aperture effects shutter speed, ambient light, and the mechanics of the camera and how and why it does what it does. I went over the zone system with him which is very important.

I then went over the basics of studio lighting explaining lighting ratios and depth of field, and where to place your lights etc.  As we progressed, Kevin took diligent notes and referred back to the lighting diagrams I provide.  I showed him soft boxes, grids, reflectors, umbrellas and even gels.

It was then time to bring in the make up artist and model.  It’s very important for the photographer to have a vision for the make up and relate that to the make up artist.  When I began shooting I must admit I was intimidated to tell the make up artist what to do.  Well I soon learned that I had better tell the make up artist what to do and to let he or she know what my vision was.  Kevin listened and observed as I directed, yes directed my make up artist on how I wanted the make up to look.  A professional make up artist is used to this and will not be offended.  IF your make up artist gets offended, you pull them to the side in a calm manner and explain to them how you work.  If that doesn’t work, show them the door lol !

As the make up progressed I started to set up the lighting for  our first shot.  Kevin helped me hands on which is very beneficial so he learns as he is actually doing.  We set up a medium soft box, reflector etc.  During this period we went to check on the make up to make sure it was coming out as we planned.  The hair was now being styled and I directed my make up artist on how I wanted the hair to look.  I do this by showing tear sheets or images from the web.  I do the same with make up.

Ok so now the make up is done, the lighting is all set up so we go over to the wardrobe rack and try on clothes so we know what we will be shooting the rest of the day.  Very important part of the process.  On large jobs I have a wardrobe stylist to do all this BUT don’t you think for a second that I am not involved.  All this prep with the make up, hair and wardrobe is to show Kevin that you must be involved in every aspect of the shoot AND you the photographer have the last word OR on a large job, the art director or designer will have the last word.  Every situation is different.

Now it’s time to get down to business.  After picking out a nice outfit, I start shooting and Kevin watches and listen how I interact with the model.  From time to time I call the make up artist in to make adjustments etc.  Kevin took many many notes which was great.  After I shot it was time for Kevin to shoot. He did great. I let him do his thing and when he got stuck I helped him out like a good instructor does.

So for our first day these are the images Kevin shot. We see a great example of side lighting on the second photo.

As you can see, the styling, make up and lighting is perfect.  And let’s not forget the expression from the model.   Kevin wanted to come in tight on Nadia’s beautiful face so we shot this wonderful image.

A nice example of Rembrandt lighting.

Stay tuned for DAY 2  of my private one on one photography workshop with Kevin Miller.

Please ask any questions or comment.

When a fashion model calls me asking to shoot for her model portfolio what does that involve ?  I get this question often and I love to answer my fellow photographer comrades.

ASK QUESTIONS – GAIN INSIGHT – GIVE ANSWERS

The first thing I ask the model is if she is new and has no photos at all or is she a working model and just needs to update her portfolio.  If she tells me that she is  just starting out, doesn’t  have an agency yet and needs to start a portfolio, then I ask her how tall she is, what color hair , measurements etc.   That will lead to her emailing me a couple of snapshots of herself so I can get an idea of what type of modeling she should get into.  If she is 5′ 6″ – 5′ 7″ then I know she is not going in to high fashion.  If she has a beautiful body and great hair and is physically fit then what I would do is:

1. Shoot a beauty shot that emphasizes her beautiful hair and skin.

2. Shoot her in a swimsuit. It can be in studio or on a beach or even the desert.

3. Have her bring a running outfit or a tennis outfit.  Maybe she does yoga.  A fitness shot is important.

4. Shoot  a commercial fashion / Hollister/ Abercrombie type shot.  Commercial fashion is big in Los Angeles and actually it’s big everywhere.  You can’t go wrong with this look.

5. Lingerie is popular and pays good money for a model.   If she doesn’t want to do lingerie then I would change it to something in the look of a catalog “Gap” looking shot.  So that is five different shots.  I shoot in studio and outdoors at a couple different locations that suit the shot.

This is a nice variety of images that show the model in enough situations for the agent to get an idea of where the agency can place her and which castings to send out on.

Now some might not have a home studio and can only shoot outdoors.  That’s ok.  I just shoot both because I have a home studio.  The more variety you can offer the better.  I know what agencies want to see because I have been doing this so long and have seen hundreds and hundreds of model portfolios.

MAKE UP ARTIST

I ALWAYS include a make up/ hair artist and keep the make up simple, not over the top.  Remember that the model is a product to the agency and the agency is selling the product.   When I hold a casting I wanna see what the model looks like and I don’t want to see photos that the photographer has retouched so much that she looks fake.  Do not over do the retouching guys.  Save that for your advertising clients and editorials.

PRINT SIZE

The standard print size for a model portfolio is 9″x12″  Some agencies do use smaller books but the majority use 9″ x 12″ prints.

CLOTHING

As far as clothing is concerned I have the girl bring her own clothes.  I email her examples of the look we will be going for so she can plan.  Always have her bring twice the amount of outfits.  So five looks she should bring ten outfits.  That way I have choices and I can mix and match if need be.

LIGHTING

You DON’T  want to use flat boring lighting, but you also don’t want to light too dramatically either.  Remember as you are going through the day that she is going to try to get an agent and the agent wants to see what she looks like.

Now I want to remind you that this photo HAS NOT been retouched yet and the model did have slight acne, but with the combination of a great make up artist and soft beauty lighting, this image will only need slight retouching.  I can’t stress enough how important it is to light your work so it doesn’t have to go through hours of retouching.  It only creates a bigger budget for the client no matter how small or large the client is.

To sum up, when you get the call to shoot a model portfolio you want to:

1. Ask questions – gain insight – give answers

2. Shoot five different looks.

3. Shoot in studio (if you can) and shoot on location

4. Include a make up/ hair artist

5. Use clean flattering lighting.

Talk to your model during the whole shoot.  Direct the model especially if she is new and never shot before.  You need to help her feel confident and sexy.  You are the one person she is counting on to make her shots great and that those shots get her an agent !

Now get out there and shoot shoot shoot !  Ask me anything you would like and share with everyone ! 

I am going to Nashville June 10th to shoot country singer Hannah Bethel for her up coming EP release and some promo photos.  While I am there I have scheduled a fashion / glamor workshop.  The workshop will be a full two days and I will cover my shooting styles and lighting styles as well as how to direct and work with a professional make up artist and how to direct models.   I will also be covering business practices.  The two day workshop will be just like my two day workshop I conduct out here in Los Angeles.

This one is a little different in that I am going to be in Nashville and I am accepting six photographers and offering a much lower discounted price of $650 for two full days. The normal rate is $1,650 for two days for a private workshop.  With a small group of six photographers it will be just the right number so that there aren’t too many so you can fully grasp my techniques and have my full attention.

Day one we will be covering studio lighting for fashion and glamor.

Day two will cover how to light outdoors, especially in difficult lighting conditions.  With the use of different lighting tools like a speed light on camera, to reflectors to using actual strobes and scrims, I will show you that you don’t have to wait until the “golden hour” to make great photographs.

There will be food and drink as well as a whole lotta southern fun !  You can get more information and sign up on this workshop page and you can get the full details of what I cover in  my two day photography workshops that normally run $1,650.00 here.

Check it out and please ask any questions you may have !          

Time is running out !  Reserve your spot today !

My assistant shot some photos of me shooting that I thought you all might enjoy.   This was a shoot for NXS Hair Extensions.

Los Angeles photographer Jason Christopher

NXS Hair Shoot

beauty photo campaign

Beauty Model

This model is from Ford Model Agency.  For this shoot I kept it simple. I used just one small umbrella above and a medium silver reflector by Photoflex.  I placed a strobe on both sides of the background with a yellow gel.  The yellow gel combined with 18% gray paper gives you an olive color.  In the end though the art director decided they didn’t like that color and in post they had the retoucher just make it white.

Just a quick note to let you all know that the workshops have been going great ! Everyone is really gaining some great knowledge and having a great time. Remember the workshop is private one on one. I have a professional model and make up artist at every workshop. The photographers who have taken my workshop all agree that learning one on one is so much better than attending a group workshop. You can ask any amount of questions and you get them all answered without anyone else interrupting.

So whether you are just starting out in photography or have been shooting for awhile and want to brush up on your skills, my private workshop is a great way to learn and focus on EXACTLY what you want to learn and not what 12 other people want to learn all at the same time.

Please don’t hesitate to call or email me with any questions !

Thank you !
– Jason 818-889-9559 jason@jasonchristopher.com