UX in Photography
Objective
Exploration of how UX is used in my photography. | UX is used all around us. Here is a case study tell my story, share my process, and how UX is apart of my photography.
My Role
Photography
Direction
Tools
Canon AE-1
Studio Lights
Team
Photographer
Model
Duration
Until we get THE shot
UX in Photography?
When you think of UX, I’m sure someone would hardly ever think of “photography.” But I’m here to tell you that if someone is a good photographer, they have been doing UX for just as long as they have been shooting. If you look at what it takes to get a good photo, the lighting, the model, and the setting, all of these different variables need to blend for the right formula, the perfect shot. For me, my journey in this is a bit different. I approach creating art with someone a little bit out of the norm from most.
The process that I have had for the last few years is much more than just a simple shoot, so let me walk you through it. Creating a photo that tells a story is no easy task. Like I said before, there’s a formula to it. But oftentimes we can get a little lost in everything when in reality, we need to bring it back to the very beginning before a photo is ever made.
Meet Jo.
“I’ll master whatever you throw my way.”
Jo is a 23-year-old model who is relatively new to the industry but has a ton of amateur work under their belt, they are a natural.
Jo has a lot of e-commerce and on-location shots in their portfolio but there’s not a whole lot of editorial shots in a studio setting.
Jo needs to expand their portfolio due to the
lack of editorial shots because they want to
appeal to a different market from the
one they already have.
The Initial Contact
Let’s say Jo approaches me on Instagram via DM. I take a quick scroll through their profile and can make a few decisions, like if I want to work with them? Do I like their look? Will this be benefiting just one or both of us?
Once I made my decision to go ahead and schedule Jo, I start with a conversation. I want Jo to share ideas they have with me, what they expect, how they envision this shoot to go, and to send me some screenshots of things that they enjoy on my page or others that could potentially be brought into the shoot.
From these images I can create a mood board.
The Mood Board.
Example
Why A Mood Board?
I do this for two reasons it allows me to understand the comfortability of the model and how avant-garde they want to get. I am, however, someone that likes to go against the grain a little bit so, I tend to make it clear that mood boards aren’t what shoot will look like but just ideas, feelings, and emotions I’m trying to understand from the model. Now that we have a launching point, of “chic androgyny” I’m able to tailor my ideas to Jo’s and also get them the shots they want, the shots I want, and from that hopefully, things that could potentially go in their portfolio.
How might we give Jo an expierence that
is comfortable, exciting, and out of the norm
from their current work they have in their portfolio?
Now What?
Since Jo doesn’t have any shots in a studio setting, I offer my home studio. I love hosting people and creating a sense of community. This is another tactic as well as more opportunity for me to get to know someone better and create a more meaningful piece of work.
When I host people in my home, in this case, Jo. I always have snacks, a mimosa, or some sort-of drink as long as they are legal, of course. To get them comfortable with me, my home, and themselves. During this time, we laugh, talk, play with my kitties, and create a safe space that the model and I are both comfortable with. This is one of my favorite parts of the time I spend working with creatives as it brings a sense of realness to the work we are doing together. My goal here is I want to create a connection past the work Jo and I create together. One that potentially could last a lifetime. If I grow, you grow, and vice versa.
“Hey Siri, Play Something.”
From here, we’re able to jump right into shooting. I have a very sassy Homepod that allows whoever is in the space to play music to their liking unless Siri doesn’t want to, that is. I always ask whoever I’m working with to play the music they listen to every day. I’m a bit of a “Swifty,” so “bad taste,” as some would say, runs in my blood. As I said, this is a safe space, “play what gets you moving!”
“Jo, tell Siri to play any kind of music you want. Let’s have some fun!”
Getting The Shot.
When the shooting beings, I’m able to get a feel for how someone, Jo, models, what their angles are, and how well they know their face and body. What’s amazing about doing this kind of work is that everyone is so vastly different from the next it’s crazy to see how light hits someone’s face. Depending on the angle of the light, you can create a whole new person. Even after you’ve been doing it as long as I have, it still baffles me.
Below is a Gif (yes, I say the G but, I know it's J) that I saw a few years back. Hopefully, you’ll understand why I’m so amazed by this even to this day.
Thats A Wrap!
As the shoot ends, I would sit down with Jo again, and debrief, talk about dreams, goals, and where we want to go. I do this to wrap up all my shoots as it acts as a sort of manifestation, we complement and hype each other up before I send them on their way to shine for others as they did for me.
I have done this process for the last few years and, it has helped me create some amazing friendships, relationships, and art with people. I have “UX-ed” my process down to a T without even realizing what I was doing. With this process I’m able to create the most inviting, creative, and comfortable space that I know-how which allows my photos to tell a story.
My next steps would be my developing process, I develop my own film in my home. I bring the entire concept from start to finish.