My Photoshoot with Pamela Anderson

As with any career, it’s important to take a moment to recognize the big milestones and personal achievements. When the opportunity to shoot Pamela Anderson arose, I jumped on it. If you’d told me 12 years ago when I first started playing around with a digital camera that I’d be asked to capture one of the most prolifically photographed icons of my teen years, I’d never have believed you - and yet here we are! These moments are special as they affirm that you’re on the right path and keep you hungry for the next one. On the day of the shoot, I wanted to arrive prepared for just about any possibility so I pretty much brought my entire studio including 3 backdrop options in two sizes and an array of lights and modifiers and an assistant to help me set up, take down and light test. I wasn’t familiar with the location and the shoot was super fast paced so having a test model to sit in while I figured out my lighting was life-saving. My Profoto D2 1000 was what I ended up using for the most of the day as it is powerful enough to bounce off of walls and ceilings while maintaining a wider depth of field and keeping a dynamic subject in focus - Pamela is one of the best posers in the business if you can keep up with her!

Below are some of my favourite images from the day!

 
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Model - Pamela Anderson @pamelaanderson Produced by Vernard @vernardluvngrace Photography assistant Kelly Sherstobitoff @kell_sher Hair by Stacy Minkova @hair_issues  Makeup by Allison Giroday @allisongirodaymakeup  Styling by Janet Adrienne Ross @j…

Model - Pamela Anderson @pamelaanderson
Produced by Vernard @vernardluvngrace
Photography assistant Kelly Sherstobitoff @kell_sher
Hair by Stacy Minkova @hair_issues
Makeup by Allison Giroday @allisongirodaymakeup
Styling by Janet Adrienne Ross @janetadrienne and assisted by Georgia Primar @georgiahassler72

 

5 Beauty Photography Tips

Keep it simple

When you’re getting into beauty photography, it’s easy to want to do THE MOST. The hair, the lips, the lashes, the gem stone appliqués. I get it, it’s fun to experiment and create something kinda out there, but I encourage you to dial it back. If you want to play up a specific feature, stick to that. If you’re dying to do a rhinestone studded winged liner, maybe skip the metallic blue lip and pink wig. Keeping it simple helps give your images a polished and sophisticated look, but once you’re confident with your skills and aesthetic, by all means go nuts!


Make sure your models are well hydrated and have good skin

Since beauty photography is so up close and personal, it’s important to work with models who have a naturally glowing complexion. This isn’t quite as important if you are going for a poreless, super airbrushed vibe, but if you want to showcase natural skin texture like I try to, it’s crucial to start with relatively clear skin. A few blemishes won’t affect the end product but sadly overall uneven, and textured skin will. 


Work with skilled make up artists

When you’re looking for a make up artist, look for someone who has strong "no-make-up" looks in their portfolio. I try to find artists who appreciate the natural texture of skin and don’t cover it up with too much foundation. Follow high end make up brands on instagram to keep track of what is on trend.

Make up guru Rio Translado offered this advice for MUAs hoping to get more into beauty work.

“I know makeup can be very intimidating to many of us and going shopping for makeup is even worse. There are many brands and countless  products are launched everyday, but just know that makeup is just pigment and it comes in many different textures. 

They can be in powders, creams, liquids, gels...with different labels on them to dictate us what they are for and how to use them and where to put them...
My advice to you is, just treat them as multi-purpose and use them whatever ways you want as long as it works for you. Be playful and just go for it. Forget about what they are for.
And don’t forget, less is always more.”


Beauty light set ups don’t have to be complicated

I know it’s so easy to get intimidated by the range of options out there - the gels, the snoots the hair lights etc. I think because I come from a natural light background, single light set ups are the most appealing to me. You can achieve a variety of different looks using only one light in combination with reflectors and v-flats. Beauty dishes, umbrellas and soft boxes will all give you different effects so study the catchlights in your favourite images and see if you can work out what the photographer was using. I tend to prefer either 5’ diffused umbrellas for soft light or beauty dishes for more drama.

Don’t create highlights where highlights don’t exist

I see this a lot with beauty photography post production. The retoucher will paint highlights in, down the nose, on the cheekbones etc and it always ends up looking a bit artificial. This is why it’s so important to have a make up artist who understands reflective pigments and can be on set to amp up the gloss or tone it down in areas that you don’t want reflection in real time. Part of the fun for me is emphasizing highlights and shadows using dodge and burn but I stick to the ones that exist already, rather than creating new ones.

I’m always posting new work at @katewhytephoto so feel free to follow along!

Jessica of Lizbell Agency with make up by Rio Translado

Jessica of Lizbell Agency with make up by Rio Translado

Alakiir with make up by Rio Translado and styling by Marchel

Alakiir with make up by Rio Translado and styling by Marchel

Danielle Cordick with Hair and Make Up by Rio Translado

Danielle Cordick with Hair and Make Up by Rio Translado

Retouching Guide - Kate Whyte Photography 2020 (price in USD)
Sale Price:$35.00 Original Price:$49.00