Mary Vogel's Page

with pleasure: simply google my name Mary Vogel or go to maryvogelphotography.com

I'll be photographing an artists fiber fashions soon on a human model. I plan to photograph this as if she were sculpture. Basically modeling with light. What's most important in anything 3D is to use at least 3 lights. 2 lights are in front at maybe 45 degrees. One of the front lights which is called the main light is the most powerful. The second front light called the fill light is perhaps 1 stop weaker. The third light is at 45 degrees to the rear and elevated as to be pointing down at the model (like the sun), this creates a beautiful 'rim' light, this light would be the weakest of all (at least 2 stops).
The next phase is to decide which camera angle to use. This can be tricky because there are so many elements involved, (photographing the models face along with making the garment look stunning). I typically photograph a model dead on instead of higher or lower which creates distortion in the face and the garment. I crop tightly to zoom the eye into the piece.
Using amateur models can be a mistake because they don't have the patience required for long shoots, their hair and makeup needs to be professionally done, and they should be classically beautiful. I've had clients bring their relatives in as models where I've had to PhotoShop out tattoos, piercings and deal with overly made up faces (clumped eye lashes) and very processed hair.
All of this requires a very good camera, sharp lenses and pro lighting....