chandise in a straightforward, very detailed manner. This work doesn’t carry
the status of editorial or advertising print photography, but it can form the
backbone of a photographer’s income.
For this type of work, models are selected based on their look. Generally,
they shouldrepresentthe ideals of the marketsegmenttowardwhichthe par-
ticularcatalogistargeted—whetherit’steenagers,seniorcitizens,moms,busi-
nesspeople, or plus-size women. The idea is transference: “If you buy this
outfit, you will look as wonderful as our model does!”
Catalog shoots often involve more than one model per shot, so be pre-
pared to design lighting setups that will accommodate multiple subjects—
while keeping the emphasis on the garments or accessories being sold. While
catalog shoots don’t carry the status of editorial or magazine ads, the current
trend in this genre is actually toward more exciting, artistic, and interesting
looks. Of course, you must still stay within the needs of the specific client.
Swimwear Images.
Exotic locations, white sand beaches, soft breezes, and palm trees—these are
key ingredients when shooting swimwear. The very nature of this market de-
mands exotic beauty. In this genre, the line between fashion and glamour
softens. As such, the models for this line of work tend to be more curvaceous
than those seen in straight fashion photography. Swimwear models can also
be shorter than fashion models. The bottom line in this market is transfer-
ence—the general public wants to feel that if they buy this swimsuit, they too
will be hot, sexy, and beautiful.
MATCHING THE LIGHT TO THE IMAGE 996-24, 6–25, 6-26.Outdoor locations make sense for swimsuit photography—but
you may need to implement strategies for shooting in bright sunlight to create the
most flattering results.