Master of Beauty and Fashion- Adorama

It used to be that an aspiring fashion/beauty photographer would have to hungrily scour fashion magazines for ideas or apprentice with a master to learn tips of the trade. Luckily, today, we have YouTube! Inside Fashion and Beauty Photography with Lindsay Adler on AdoramaTV is a fantastic way to learn the ins and outs of fashion photography from a working professional. Let’s take a look at some video highlights from the program so that you can see just how much you can learn about dynamic, creative, high-quality editorial photo shoots.

Who Is Lindsay Adler?

Known for her bold and graphic style, Lindsay Adler is a professional photographer, educator, and author. She is a Canon Explorer of Light, a Profoto Legend of Light, and in 2020 became the first woman to win the Rangefinder Icon of the Year. Lindsay has come a long way since selling her first photograph at the age of 14. At 16, she started her first portrait photography business. Now, she works with top brands on their advertising campaigns, including Aveeno, Allergan Aesthetics, and Lord Jones.

Based in New York, Lindsay has a large social media following and is regarded as a leading influencer in the photography education landscape. On Lindsay’s show Inside Fashion and Beauty Photography on AdoramaTV, you can benefit from her years of experience in the photo industry.

Fashion Editorial Tips From a Master

Lindsay’s fashion editorials have appeared in many major publications. Including Marie Claire, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, and Vanity Fair. In this video, she gives you her main tips for shooting your own first fashion editorial. Lindsay spells out why concept and story are so important. As well as how using a mood board can pull it all together. While she touches on how to create a mood board in this episode, there is a much more detailed video dedicated to this topic here:

Lindsay also mentions the importance of a really good creative team. Finding hair, makeup, wardrobe and other experts can only make your shoots better, and she gives her thoughts on how to find other creative people in your area.

Lastly, Lindsay talks about the need to create cohesion and variety in your editorial spreads. The approaches she discusses here will go a long way towards helping you publish your first fashion editorial!

Creative Effects: Beauty is in the Stars

Lindsay is known for her graphic and creative images. One way she achieves these looks is by using tools such as the one spotlighted in this video: the star filter. Star filters come in all different sizes and shapes. For this beauty shoot, she uses the 4 Point Cross Star Filter. You can get your own star filter for this item to try out these cool techniques. You have your filter, watch this episode to get a great rundown on what a star filter is and how it can be used to create interesting in-camera effects or give an image that “nostalgic vintage feel.” Lindsay goes over makeup and lighting techniques you can use to create specular highlights that really make your images pop. The end results that Lindsay demonstrates are astonishingly beautiful and will encourage you to try for creative effects in your own beauty and fashion work!

Valentine’s Magic: Lindsay Loves Red

Lindsay Adler loves working with red. In this Dramatic Valentine’s Day Shoot, the viewer can learn how to use controlled pockets of light and various gear and techniques to achieve an image dripping with drama. Just look at the heart-shaped dress on the model! Lindsay talks about the importance of the set and background on a fashion photo shoot. She uses Savage Universal Primary Red for her background here. Lindsay gives great lighting tips while using the Profoto D2 and the Westcott Optical Spot. Modifiers are also mentioned, specifically the Rosco Color Effects Filter Kit (using the red gel, naturally.) Have you ever wanted to use Haze in a Can? Lindsay demonstrates how it can add depth and visual interest to your fashion shoots. Want more holiday fashion tips? Check out these videos as well:

More Color, No Problems: Gradient Backgrounds

If you want to learn how to incorporate colored gels and gradient backgrounds into your fashion and beauty work, Lindsay has you covered! Specifically, orange and magenta colored gels are used with 3 strobe lights to add beautiful color, depth, and dimension to your images. In addition to detailed lighting and gel use instructions, Lindsay also discusses why styling choices are just as important as the choice of color and light. Once again, she uses Profoto D2 lights with the Westcott Optical Spot. The example images are stunning and arresting. It will inspire you to experiment with different color combinations and color gradients in your own beauty shoots.

Conclusion

Whether you are a working fashion photographer, own your own portrait studio, or are just looking to add to your arsenal of beauty tools, Lindsay Adler has you covered. Her videos give clear, detailed explanations of ways to really add drama and creative techniques to your images. Her show is also great for practical tips and tricks for those just starting their photo careers. Check out Inside Fashion and Beauty Photography on AdoramaTV to take your work to some new, interesting places! Oh, and while you are there, why not have a look at the many other creators on AdoramaTV?

Nicky Haller

Nicky Haller is a writer, gamer, and fitness enthusiast living in New York. She enjoys hiking, running, and is an avid reader. A lifelong learner, her varied career paths have given her lots of different experiences that inform her work.