This is a Guest Post by Kimberly Pace from Kim Pace Photography. You can visit her facebook fansite to see many more photos!
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How to Do a Pin-Up Girl Photoshoot Using Stuff From Your Closet (Or Someone Else’s)
(this was my approach when I first began doing this sort of work)
- Cost: $0 (I had everything we used for these photos already on hand so we just got to it)
- Supplies For Backdrop: .
- White or light colored fabric. We used Fabrics that I had laying around. You can also use white sheets, or anything that will cover up a lot of wall and floor space.
- A clip-on shop light or positionable lamp will work. I had two lights from amazon.com that were 60 bucks for the pair . You can use any kind of light source – the goal is just to be able to point the light where you want it to be (usually on the model’s face) which is important for indoor shooting.
- Thumb tacks or tape to tack up your backdrop to a wall. I used a staple gun.
- Supplies For Costuming/Props: Here’s where you can get really creative. What I did was simply google “pin-up girl photography” where a ton of photos popped up with all kinds of themes and ideas for poses and props. But, just to save you that step, here’s some stuff I like to use the most. You most likely have, can borrow, or at least buy these items at the dollar or thrift store:
- A Cute Bathing Suit. Bonus if you happen to have a vintage inspired suit, lingerie, robes, stockings, garters
- High Heels: This needs no expounding. Stilettos and peep-toes are great. Espadrilles work too.
- Pencil Skirt and White Poplin Shirt: If you don’t happen to have a high waisted black pencil skirt, someone you know does. Or you can just do what I do and hit the local thrift store.
- Big Flower/Cocktail Hats/Feather Fascinators: Or, steal a flower off of one of your home’s arrangements and pin it in the model’s hair.
- Misc. Costuming Ideas: There are SO many! Here are some I like most: trench coats and umbrellas (for that “Singing in the Rain” vibe), feather boas, cat-eye glasses (I just found some yesterday at the dollar store), lots of drapery, jewelry and pearls (raid the little girls dress-up section or your niece’s closet), an American flag towel or blanket (to wrap up in for the “patriotic pin up”), fishnet stockings, knee-highs, plaid skirts, anything else that looks retro or fun to use. And if you want to do something oober-sexy for that special guy, get bold and put on some cute lingerie!
- A Bench/Table/Chair: For a lot of the pin up poses you’ll want to have your model sit on something. Anything works, although simple seating is best since it doesn’t detract from the subject matter.
- Misc. Prop Ideas: Beach bag, books, old telephone, hand held mirror, umbrella, you get the idea.
Questions? Would you like more ideas? Google it! There are SO many fun pin up sites out there that you can borrow ideas from!
So, you have your backdrop pinned up, your lights on, and all the costume stuff piled up and ready to go. Now what? Time to play DRESS UP!! I personally love to experiment with makeup and hair and have taught myself to do some pretty basic pin up styles. But, if you aren’t as confident in you makeover abilities, check youtube tutorials to learn what you need to know quickly and easily.
Once you have your model’s face on and hair done, it’s time to start taking pics! Next, turn on some fun music and get going! Its hard to get started at first, especially if your model is shy. So the best thing to do is find some poses you want to try and have them either printed out or up on the computer screen where you can instruct your model or just show her what you want her to do. Pretty soon you’ll both loosen up and the original ideas will start flowing. Thats it!! Easy breezy and SO MUCH FUN! Your friends and family are going to think you’re a genius and master photographer! But, I do have to say, that in order to REALLY get your photos looking in the pin-up style and professional, some editing is required. I do almost ALL of my photo editing with Photo Scape which you can download free from Cnet.com.
