The idea behind urban photography basically captures the styles, culture, surroundings and trends of urban areas.
This makes an ideal setting for fashion photography for those who don’t want to be confined to shooting their images inside of a studio.
Urban fashion photography enables you to take your photos while surrounded by the natural beauty of metro and urban areas.
Taking your photo shoots in outdoor areas is a good idea for those of you just starting out in fashion photography, because you don’t need to have the financial resources for a studio and studio equipment etc.
Photo by Daniel A.V.
This type of photography is taken on location and uses the city as the background. It can be performed in natural light during the daytime as well as during the night with flash and/or a fast lens that can produce an aperture of at least f/2.8.
Fashion photography in an urban setting gives you the chance of taking street photography shots as well as more glamorous cinematic photos.
One of the fundamental ideas behind urban photography is that you can be as creative as you like and use models for your poses or simply shoot people on the street who you feel display a sense of fashion.
Photo by Espionage Photo
Of course, you’re not tied to shooting in the streets. You can also utilize many other venues for backdrops such as train stations, parks, public buildings, cafes, hotels, restaurants, etc. There are literally hundreds of locations that make ideal backgrounds for urban fashion photography.
You might want to use short to medium length telephoto lenses in your shoots.
Overcast days can be ideal for contrast control and good color saturation and fill flash should be able to create some dramatic effects, particularly at twilight.
Light effects can be created with a reflector and this may really be the only accessory you need if you really want to go “bare bones” with your outdoor photo shoot. However, if possible its always a good idea to have someone along to help you out as a sort of assistant.
In addition you can always use friends and acquaintances if you prefer not to hire or utilize professional models. It’s usually a more relaxed atmosphere and a better shoot if you look upon it as collaboration between you and your model instead of ruling with an iron fist. You’ll also be surprised how many great photography ideas they may come up with to help you out.
Photo by torbakhopper
The main thing is to have fun and don’t be afraid to experiment and get creative as there aren’t really any rules you have to follow.
Fashion magazines are a great place for ideas and inspiration. If your urban photo shoot is to focus on a certain product or article of clothing don’t forget that you will need to accentuate it rather than the model. In fact, some photographers feel that the face of a model is actually just an option when it comes to fashion photography. But to each their own is the best way to look at it.
What’s Next?
We hope you enjoyed urban fashion photography tips. Now that you’re finished reading, leave a comment below telling us which tip was your favorite and share any experiences you’ve had taking these types of photos.
Then, check out our related posts to learn even more ways to improve your photography.
Like what you read?
Then join 10,000+ other photographers who have downloaded our best-selling Mastering Photography Book Series on Amazon.com
Each book is jam packed with tips and tricks that'll teach you how to become a better photographer, fast. With hundreds of positive reviews already from photographers just like yourself, you'll find it to be a great resource.
Just click the button below to find out more about it.