Most homeowners would have seen and had experience with the overabundance of department and fashion store junk mail delivered to their mailbox. Catalogue fashion photography is a commercial genre of photography that captures models in department store clothing and garments for marketing purposes.
Versus high fashion
This genre of photography is different to high fashion photography in that the models aren’t usually as exclusive and glamorous as highly paid fashion models. There is a marked difference between the photography of fashion models within the local department store catalogue and those within magazines such as Vogue.
TO LOVE FASHION IS TO LOVE FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY
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Catalogue fashion images are usually, but not always, shot with white background in a fairly standard studio session format, whereas high fashion photography is usually high budget which reflects the experience and recognition of the model and the brand they are representing.
Catalogue fashion photographs will usually show most or all of the attire the model is wearing from top to bottom in a simplistic way for potential purchasers of the product to review as a whole.
Illustrating fashion
This genre of photography is attempting to illustrate the fashion that the model is wearing. Photographs will usually show most or all of the attire the model is wearing from top to bottom in a simplistic way for potential purchasers of the product to review as a whole. Catalogue fashion photography models are usually posed in a set number of poses to obtain a consistent look and feel across the catalogue. This also aides the purchasers in making easier visual comparisons from one garment to the next.
Direction
The photographer can direct the model for each shot, but an experienced or even semi experienced model will know to pose in at least two positions for every garment. This along with a fixed chest-height camera position on a tripod will ensure consistency across all photographs.
Although the catalogue fashion model is a vital component of the shoot, the focus and brief for the shoot is always the fashion. So, it is important that the new fashion catalogue photographer treats it as such and doesn’t move away from the brief and pose the model in more of a portrait session format.
The brief
The brief from the fashion catalogue client may include very specific light and posing requirements. The photographer should become very familiar with the brief and all of the components required to fulfill the assignment to the satisfaction of the client.
Fashion editorial photography
There is another side genre of fashion catalogue photography called editorial fashion photography. Editorial usually involves outdoor location shoots rather than a fixed standard studio session and may involve the use of props. Some clients will prefer either a catalogue or editorial style of photography and may stipulate a specific location or poses for every fashion catalogue shoot.
The fashion editorial photography style will usually have a higher budget due to location, props, additional hair and additional stylist requirements for the shoot. It is more suited to fashion and photography magazines and sits in the space between fashion catalogue and high fashion photography.
Show off your catalogue fashion photography on social media
Create a website and social accounts such as TikTok, Facebook and Instagram to showcase your best catalogue fashion images.
Have fun with catalogue fashion photography!
The focus and brief for a catalogue fashion photography the shoot is always the fashion.
