Dayglow Editorial for Flanelle Magazine - Los Angeles Fashion Photographer Charlie Sin
Flanelle Magazine: Dayglow Editorial
May 22, 2022
Photographer: Charlie Sin
Model: Sharmin Rahman
MUA: Ashley Shi
Wardrobe: Lori Lyu
Introduction:
Sharmin and I have mutual friends. One day, she reached out to me through DM on Instagram inquiring about a fashion shoot. She is a beauty model but wants to try fashion photography with the intention to submit to a magazine. Usually, when I do a test shoot, I send a questionnaire asking what type of photography the model is interested in and make a mood board from there because I think you get good imagery when the model has a certain goal in their mind for end result.
She wanted to do an outdoor editorial shoot like what you see in Contributor Magazine. I wanted to do some sort of dreamy feel look with filters. So we combined our ideas and go with the concept. I do have a hard time coming up with a “story” for the editorial and usually come up with it. Therefore, I make it up after I see the images.
PreProduction:
I stumbled upon this location by accident when I went fishing with friends. The place is called Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area. I passed by this location multiple times but only from the freeway. The place is surrounded by a mountain of rocks and I never thought it was a park. It ended up being a beautiful park to visit during the late Winter/early Spring. The location is beautiful when it is cloudy/after the rain and later in the day. The golden hour sub lits the mountain and lake in a picturesque way. This was back in early December and I put this location in the back of my mind till this shoot.
I visited the park’s website and it stated that any photoshoot needs a permit, even a small engagement photo. Not wanting any trouble, I submitted a photoshoot permit for the location. My stylist said for a small shoot, we don’t need a permit but I do not want a bitter mouth of getting a photoshoot shut down by a ranger because this was a small park and during my location scouting, I did see rangers/officers roaming around the park several times. This is my second time applying for a photoshoot permit. The first one was at Malibu Creek State Park. I did have a police officer come to check if we had a permit. I did not have a fire extinguisher so I got kicked out :( but thankfully no tickets because I had a permit.
Do I think a permit is necessary? If it is a popular place like Malibu Cree State Park, I do think it is necessary. IF it is a smaller park/location, with a small crew, not really.
Back to the pre-production, I worked with Lori as my stylist and Ashley as my MUA. I work with Lori a lot because she has a distinguished style like a hi-end punk stylist of feel but is still able to bring a different look from her style. This was my first time working with Ashley and she is quick. Like, she is really quick with her hand because she works in film production.
After discussing looks with MUA and Stylist, I try to match which looks will go well with the location photos I photographed.
On Set:
This is what we do while we wait for MUA to finish... trying to feed wildlife.
I am trying to shoot more BTS of my photoshoot from now on. So for now, bare with a clip like this. ;;;;
The photoshoot day was sunny. The day before was actually the perfect weather with beautiful clouds and chill weather. The weather just turned 180 on us and went up to 85 degrees and zero clouds insight (I guess if you don’t have a permit, you could just go on the days you can….). Overall, the shoot went smoothly. In the beginning, the sun was too harsh and had a hard time balancing the exposure to the setting I wanted. If I had an assistant hold a large chrome reflector, it would’ve been nice rather than me trying to use a flash. However, toward the end of the day, the lighting was how I wanted with the golden light. Also, we changed the location to a place I first had in mind. Every photoshoot is a learning experience and this time, I should’ve done the following:
- If the location is not working out for you, don’t be shy to move to the next location before it is too late
- Find a better way for Make Up artist to move rather than setting everything on the outdoor table.
- Focusing was a pain whenever I come home to check if they are focused. Sigma lenses always have been focusing closer. So I will do more manual focusing. However, I did do a lens calibration with a Sigm Callibration Dock and focusing guide. I’ve calibrated to how I like it recently and will try if the focusing is more accurate but I will do manual with model shoot outdoor.
- I wish I could bring the best out of the models. I think this is more of a communication and learn through seeing how other photographers do it. I am trying to talk more with the model and help them become more comfortable infront of the camera by guiding them on how to pose and learn how to play around in between the poses.
- Also, see if the model is an outdoor model or an indoor model by asking questions like: how good are you in direct sunlight? Because some models will get teary eyes more likely than others.
Images:
