Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Ten Rules for Getting Shot by Street Style Photographers

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I absolutely loved this article my favorite NY Mag writer, Amy Odell (also pictured above) wrote, titled, "Ten Rules for Getting Shot by Street Style Photographers." As a fashion blogger, I don't really feel comfortable taking photos of myself and my personal style for several reasons: 1. I don't have a designated photographer/friend to take photos of my everyday to day ensembles. 2. I work FULLTIME, so I don't have time 3. I feel like I don't have a lot of pieces in my closet yet photo worthy even though I am running out of closet space. Anyways, I do have this hidden desire/dream to be stopped on the street and to be photographed by a famous street-photog like Tommy Ton, Hanneli, Scott, http://streetfsn.blogspot.com/ or Guerre. Although I do live in small Santa Barbara, it would feel nice to have someone photograph my outfit and say it's inspiring. I do take a lot of consideration in what I way, making sure it's classic, yet eclectic, and always fun or fashion forward. Hmmm maybe I should follow these rules, and perhaps move to a real city like San Francisco or New York City. Here's the rules to be photographed:
1. More is more.

The runways love minimalism right now, but no one ever got attention by being minimal (see: Lady Gaga, John Galliano, Anna Dello Russo). So pile on the accessories. Stack bracelets up to your armpit. Make sure they sparkle. Even connect them to your necklace — which you also need and which also must sparkle — with a leopard Roberto Cavalli dog leash. If you are not five pounds heavier from all your jewelry, go back, and add more jewelry. The borrowed Danni Jo choker I wore and the stack of bangles that were mostly borrowed (and included a big sparkly Juicy Couture piece, so there) were photographed up close just as much as my borrowed Miu Miu booties.
2. Wear designer.

KMart has billboards around the city that say, "Money can't buy style." Money may not buy class, but it can definitely buy you style. I had two very recognizable and expensive designer items: the Chanel bag and the Miu Miu glitter pumps. The glitter pumps we borrowed from Miu Miu, which I’m in a privileged position to do, but the bag was courtesy of The Cut boss lady Stephanie Trong, who is the bag addict to my shoe addict. The designer items make you look expensive, and everyone knows people who look expensive are likely to be someone. If in doubt, wear Prada (the provenance of my shades), because that's what the devil wears.
3. Don't wear all designer.

Clothes look more interesting when taken out of context. My magical outfit included jeans by Kasil and a white shirt by +J — both very affordable items. That is not to say that you should wear your side-slit chiffon evening gown to the shows in February with your metallic open-toed sandals — a look I saw photographed last Fashion Week when there was snow on the ground. But we are in that recessionary age of closet shopping, where the cool thing to do is wear whatever you have lying around. So: worn jeans, your boyfriend’s shirt, your ex-boyfriend’s shirt, that snarling wolf T-shirt you stole from you 9-year-old Star Wars–obsessed male cousin. Doing something special with your look is as easy as pairing a Chanel bag with something like that.
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4. Don't want to be photographed.

Well, of course you want to be photographed, but if you make yourself too available, there’s no thrill in the chase for the photographers. Walk swiftly, with purpose: You have a fashion show to go to!!! This is your serious job career thing that you do very seriously! And you don’t have time to preen for someone with a camera who — oh me? Stop for just a moment? Oh, okay. Oh, the necklace? Danni Jo, thanks. No, I can’t remember where the bangle is from. Another shot of the shoes? Walk back and toward you again? Okay, but that’s the last time! So so busy with this fashion show stuff! You get the idea.
5. Pose. At all times.

Not just when someone is taking your picture. Some of the best street style shots from Fashion Week are of people walking that aren’t posed posed, but are still posed, because anyone getting photographed by someone knows it’s happening and is going to try to look a certain way while it does. And if a photographer asks you to stop or walk toward them or jump, do it! Just don't do it for so long that you seem desperate. Here, outside the Marchesa show at the Plaza, Marie Claire's photographer used 30 seconds and a red traffic light to turn his back to oncoming traffic, crouch in the middle of the street, and photograph me standing in the middle of the street as I searched for my car.

Check out the last 5 rules here: NY Mag .

I also thought the video below was interesting. A great perspective from the guys behind the lens.

Photos from: Citizen Couture.

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