Marissa Elman | Fashion & Photography

Marissa Elman is a lifelong lover of fashion and photography.

Fashion Trends for Fall of 2017

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Fall Fashion Trends 2017 - Marissa Elman

 

It’s almost time to put away the flip flops and get ready for Pumpkin Spice Lattes and the cool fashion trends that follow with the autumn season. As we head into fall, it’s time to check your wardrobe and make sure you’re ready to start it off on the right foot with these trends that are sure to be hot this year. Fashion week was held back in February, but the styles seen then help to set the stage for the fall’s trends to follow.

 

Denim

A timeless classic for anyone’s wardrobe is denim, and for the past few years, skinny jean denim has been the go-to style for many women. This fall, designers and trendsetters have decided to take a more structured take on this classic by creating more structured separate pieces like tailored jackets and skirts with clean lines. For jeans, we’re looking at high waisted and looser on the leg pants, rather than tight skinny jean styles we’ve seen over the years.

 

We’re also seeing more denim on denim looks for this season, allowing you to pair your favorite pair of jeans with an always-comfortable jean jacket.

 

Subdued floral prints

Florals for spring are typically a given, but florals rarely make waves in the fall. Rather than bright, colorful floral prints, we’re seeing flowers in subdued or even neutral shades. For this trend, aim for dark colored floral prints that are the opposite of pastel.

 

Trumpet sleeves

Shirts with sleeves that flared out made waves in the 70s and it seems like they are right on trend again. This look can be achieved with neutral colored shirts and dresses as it adds some fun to a simple garment. Or, go bold with a strong pattern or rich colored dress for some drama. This nod to the era of disco will add some flair to your fall wardrobe.

 

Glittery shoes

Last year, nude heels were all the rage as they were a way to elongate your legs and went with absolutely every outfit. This fall season, consider going on the opposite end of the spectrum by adding some sparkle to your shoe collection by investing in a pair of glittery shoes. While they still are likely to pair with multiple outfits, sparkly shoes will add some panache to your wardrobe.

 

Most Instagrammable Spots in Manhattan

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Are you planning to travel to the “Big Apple” in the near future? New York City is filled with incredible spots that are sure to make anyone’s Instagram account shine.  Make sure you have Instagram uploaded onto your phone, grab your camera, and plan out your trip to include these locations so can snap some awesome pictures of this iconic city.

 

Manhattanhenge

The phrase was originally coined by astrophysicist, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and it is the event when the sun sets between the buildings that run east to west. This will require a little bit of planning beforehand to make sure you’re there whenever this happens, but the photos are worth the extra bit of planning you have to do. This phenomenon takes place because New York City is set up as a grid, allowing the sun to perfectly rise or set between the buildings during the winter or summer solstices.

 

Flatiron Building

The Flatiron Building, located at 175 5th Avenue, is definitely one of the most iconic buildings of Manhattan. This triangular-shaped skyscraper stands out on the street and is easy to photograph from practically any angle be it ground-level or aerial. The building gets its name from it’s shape, as an iron is of a similar shape.

 

Central Park

This large park in the center of Manhattan gives its visitors beautiful glimpses of the city from a lovely landscape. The park itself has so many lovely features like sprawling fields, lakes, and sculptures. An afternoon in Central Park, regardless of what time of year you visit, is sure to bring about some Instaworthy shots.

 

Helicopter Rides

Viewing New York from a helicopter is a fantastic way to get a new perspective of its majestic features, while also giving you the opportunity to snap some one-of-a-kind shots. A short ride will certainly make you fill up the memory in your camera and will definitely be an unforgettable experience. It can be costly, but if you’re able to save up, it’s worth it to take the ride at least once.

 

Highline

Originally a part of the New York City Railroad, this elevated park is located on the west end of the city. Walking along the old railroad bridge will allow you to spot various New York City structures and take pictures of the iconic skyline.

’90s Fashion Trends That are Making a Comeback

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Marissa Elman - 90s fashion

Fashion trends from the 1990’s are anything but boring. From bright colors to muted plaid, the ‘90s showed us a variety of trends that have largely remained dormant until just recently. The following trends are now back on the fashion scene for those of us who are willing to relive that decade.

 

Doc Martens

These chunky boots have definitely made a comeback. This staple shoe was found in most teenager’s closets in the 1990s. Today, this versatile footwear can be dressed up with a cute frock or dressed down with jeans.

 

Plaid

During the 1990s, grunge was in the music scene and oversized plaid was all the rage. It started making an appearance on skirts, blazers, hats, etc once Clueless hit theaters. In today’s fashion, plaid has made a serious comeback and can be seen in some of the most high-end retailers.

 

Jelly Sandals

Children of the ‘80s and ‘90s will remember the plastic sandals called “jellies.” These sandals often came in a wide assortment of colors and are a throwback to the carefree days of childhood. Now, jelly sandals are seen on the runway and in fashion magazines, once again, in every color under the sun.

 

High-waisted jeans

A decade ago, ultra low rise jeans were popular, but we’re now starting to see high-rise make its way back into fashion. Once declared “mom jeans” are now seen on runway models during fashion week. To wear this look, find good-fitting jeans that hug your curves and pair them with a fitted shirt or crop top.

 

Neon

In the 1990s, neon was typically paired with more neon, and the wearer sometimes looked like a rainbow color explosion. Nowadays, the neon trend is back in fashion but the bright colors are typically paired with a neutral color. If you want to try this look, make the neon a statement piece and wear neutral colors as well, especially black.

 

Choker Necklaces

The majority of girls of the ‘90s wore choker necklaces almost every day, especially the tattoo style choker. Now, these necklaces that sit tighter on the neck are even hotter than ever this year.

Easing Your Clients’ Nerves During a Photo Shoot

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Making Your Clients At Ease - Marissa Elman

 

When clients go to a professional photo shoot, especially for the first time, there is usually a sense of anxiety associated with that for most people. Being the center of focus and putting yourself on display can be difficult for some clients, so as a photographer, it’s important to be ready for their clients to be uncomfortable and to take active steps to ensure their ease. Not only will this help them to appear more natural in the photos, it will also make the entire experience more positive and enjoyable. To make your client’s a feel at ease, follow these tips that professional photographers have been using for years.

 

Be open from the start

 

Before the photo shoot even starts, it’s a good idea to take some time to talk to your client about himself or herself. People are normally receptive to questions about their likes and dislikes, and this should help them feel more at ease. This will also give you a better understanding of what their personality is and what they might like to see as an end result from the photo shoot.

 

Another way to be open with them is to let them know that you’ll be giving them tips and instructions throughout the process. This will make them feel more at ease during the photo shoot when you’re giving them instructions so they don’t feel criticized.

 

Give Direction

 

If the client is new to getting their photo taken professionally, chances are they won’t know exactly what to do. Give your clients easy to follow directions that won’t confuse or frustrate them. Let them know some general poses before the shoot starts so they know how to position their body during the shoot.

 

Give positive feedback

 

While you’re taking photos if one looks great then tell them about it. This positive feedback will let your client know that they’re doing a good job and will reinforce some of their confidence. Along those same lines, try to downplay any negative emotions that you have with the photos. Instead, actively find ways to improve the photo shoot and continue to give direction.

 

Be Prepared

Being prepared for a client to be nervous before the shoot is very important but so is having a clear vision for the photo shoot. Have a plan in mind and a direction for the shoot, make sure you’re on time and have everything setup prior to your client arriving. Not only will you look more like a professional, but there will be a lack of general confusion on what the plan is for the shoot.

Tips for Amateur Photographers

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Point. Snap. Capture. That’s basically how taking a picture goes. Whether you just bought your camera or you’ve dipped your toes in the world of photography, learning and acquiring professional skills takes time. As you grow through the different levels of photography, you’ll want to follow these tips and you’ll be shooting like a pro before you know it.

 

Lighting is Everything

 

Light is your best friend when it comes to capturing every shot. You either use it to your advantage, or avoid it when necessary. For example, high contrast photos show the different rages between strong blacks and whites, with little grays hues in the shot.

 

Natural lighting is a great factor to utilize when taking pictures. To start out, place the subject of your shot in direct natural lighting and try to point the camera facing in the same direction of the lighting pointing at your subject. You’ll have a naturally highlighted photo, even before edits.

 

Another tip when it comes to lighting is to practice shooting during the golden hour. Give or take, it’s known as the first and last hour of natural daylight. Guaranteed, some of the best photos you will ever take are captured during this “hour”.

 

Get Comfortable with Different Settings

 

You’ll have to learn photography phrases like “depth of field” (DoF) and “shutter speed”. Two common photography skills to utilize in every shot. The DoF is how close or how far the background of your photo is.

 

For a shallow DoF you can blur the background for a more dramatic focus on your subject. To do this, you’ll want your camera in Aperture mode (A or AV in camera settings) so you can control the DoF to get the blurred background.

 

Shooting in manual will give you more control over the quality of your photos. The best way to control the ISO, shutter speed, aperture and other camera settings is simply to get out there and practice.

 

Use a Tripod

 

Amerature hands and sometimes even experienced hands need something to keep the camera steady. This is where tripods come in. Unsteady hands will only lower the quality of the photos you take. When you’re starting out, a tripod will help you gain better control of the photos. Of course you don’t always need a tripod but it’s highly suggested.

 

The best times to have a tripod are if you’re taking close up images, sunset/night images, moving/action images or trying to frame an image. A tripod will help you slow down to focus on each shot, especially if the camera or lense get heavy. It’s best to keep your camera on the tripod when learning the ins and outs of photography.

 

Photography is great because it allows for creative freedom. You get to decide what kind of photo you want to capture. You can play with settings to get different pictures yet of the same subject. Although you may feel like an amerature now, you’ll feel like a professional once you practice and learn key settings of your camera.

 

3 Secret Cheats for Powerful Fashion Photography

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Marissa Elman: Fashion Photography

3 Secret Cheats for Powerful Fashion Photography

If you’ve ever tried your hand at fashion photography, you’ve probably discovered that it’s not quite as easy and intuitive as you might have thought. Anyone can dress up and have their picture taken, but fashion photography is about something more — capturing the drama and movement, the mood and impression, of a wearable art form in a static image. That’s not easy, especially when beautiful clothes are made to interact with the wearer as they move about their daily lives. To produce an image that is true to the spirit of the clothes and therefore makes them interesting and desirable to the viewer, you’re going to need to think creatively and pull out all your best tricks. Here are a few simple tips that have served me well:

1. Eye Contact

The model doesn’t need to be sustaining eye contact with the viewer, but they do need to be making eye contact with something. Think about the emotional reaction you want to elicit. A model looking straight into the camera is arresting because it creates an engagement between them and the viewer. Powerful eye contact almost breaks the “fourth wall” and connects the viewer directly with the image, drawing them in.

You can also have your model look off screen, focused on something in the distance. Make sure, however, that they are actually focusing on something, no matter what it is. Viewers can tell the difference between a meaningful look and unfocused, bored eyes. Looking out of the shot creates a sense of mystery and intrigue, forcing the viewer to wonder what they see.

You can also have two models look at each other. This creates a story inside the image, and the viewer feels they are witnessing an interaction in process and must read the emotions passing between the models. It can even be somewhat voyeuristic, but it’s certainly engaging.

2. Play with the Angle

The classic fashion shot puts the photographer on a lower level, looking up at the model. This elongates the model’s body, slimming and lengthening her. It’s a great go-to shot, and a good one to have in your back pocket. Still, rules are made to be broken. The shot works well, but that means we’re also used to seeing it. Don’t be afraid to switch it up and experiment a little. Shoot from a side angle, or get up above your model on a ladder. Try having them on the edge of the shot, almost out of the frame. It’s always worth it to try, you may just hit on something great!

3. Get Moving

Remember what I said about clothes interacting with your daily movements? The best shots manage to capture that interaction in a static image. Try having your model move. They can walk, run, jump around, or just change positions and let you catch them in the act. There will be a lot of duds, but the shots that work will be much more engaging than those of a posed model. Even if you are doing a posed shot, have the model constantly shift slightly, turning their head or moving their arms and changing their expression. The viewer will get a sense of that movement, and since the model is less able to control their pose at all times, there will be a touch of candidness to the shot.

 
To keep learning how to take beautiful fashion photos, check out this 101 resource.

Welcome

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Welcome to Marissa Elman’s fashion and photography blog, where she will cover news and updates from the industry. Check back soon to learn more.