Damian’s five steps to evoking Hollywood glamour
1 Perfect poses
Nobody wants to look bad! Think in terms of flow and shape to flatter. Try to shoot at an angle: presenting the shoulders square to camera makes a lady look heavy-set and unnaturally wide at times. Think of the pose in terms of both aesthetic beauty and body language. What is it you are trying to say with your image? Build the message into the image, and you’ll have a photo with strength.
4 Control light
Lighting conquers all: it is essential to good photography. It’s irrelevant whether it’s natural light, flashguns or a fully equipped studio. The secret to great photography is the control and manipulation of light; the quality of your light creates the feel of your image. Big light sources, such as a large modifier or a simple flash bounced off a wall, give a soft gentle feel that can be flattering. Soft, not flat, light must always have direction to give shape and form.
2 Flattering lens choices
Compression of perspective is key to flattering the face. The longer the lens is, the greater the compression: it’s just an optical trick. If a lens is longer than the standard focal length for your format (for example, beyond 50mm on a 35mm system), it starts to flatten out the planes of the face, compressing perspective; noses become shorter! It’s image enhancement without a computer.
3 Introduce props
Narrative-rich images are always a winner. They involve the viewer more, they engage us, and they tell a story. Props in an image help to tell that story, whether they are used to dress the set or are directly used by the subject. They also help in giving the client something to do in the image. Less is often more, though: over-propping is as much a sin as not using any props. It’s all about a realistic balance.
5 Set the scene
Look at the whole of the frame: think foreground, mid and background. Not only do these elements support the image narrative, but they also help you set mood and create depth in the image. Our aim is to give the illusion of three dimensions in a two-dimensional medium. Don’t make it intrusive to overshadow the subject, but give the scene a supporting role to strengthen the story.