Fitness with Erica

Bilsen · October 28, 2014

This weekend I did a fitness shoot with Erica in a workout room with all natural light from floor to ceiling windows. As usual with me, no flash, no reflectors (and no assistants LOL). If Erica was 5'11" instead of 5'1" she'd be signed in NYC in a NY minute.

2.

3.

4.

5. Not sure what this does for Erica but, as a photographer, I like the "infinity" mirrors

6.

7.

8.
and, of course,

D3Sshooter · October 28, 2014

Nice set and you were able to stay out of the mirrors

Foques · October 28, 2014

No, no he wasn't. I see his leg in #5

#8 needs to be either airbrushed or cropped; belly doesn't look good.
#4 is superb.

what was the story / target behind the shoot?

Bilsen · October 28, 2014

That's not my leg Foques. That's an equipment bag.

You're right about #8. Will go back and fix it up a bit.

Concept was exactly that, Fitness shoot in a gym setting.

Thanks D3. Believe me, with 3 walls of mirrors it was not easy.

Hackbone · October 28, 2014

Esp love 4 thru 8. Great captures.

Bilsen · October 29, 2014

Thanks Hack.

Finding a gym with floor to ceiling windows was a truly lucky find. Of course, so was Erica.

divamum · October 29, 2014

#4 is outstanding. #2 is too busy (c'mon, if your eye goes to the cubbies before the girl, it's distracting lol), but this is overall a strong set.

Bilsen · October 29, 2014

Thanks Diva. I am relieved you could find ONE you don't like. The inverse proportion is more normal.

Sam · October 29, 2014

Overall very nice!

Reading your comment about her height and modeling got me to thinking......................

While I don't know about the stats I do think from observation, that there are a lot of short folks in the world. Someone in the fashion world should put together a program, magazine, modeling agency, etc to fill the unaddressed needs of this demographics group.

There's a fortune to be made.

Sam

jonh68 · October 29, 2014

Sam wrote: »

Overall very nice!

Reading your comment about her height and modeling got me to thinking......................

While I don't know about the stats I do think from observation, that there are a lot of short folks in the world. Someone in the fashion world should put together a program, magazine, modeling agency, etc to fill the unaddressed needs of this demographics group.

There's a fortune to be made.

Sam

Not really. There is a specific reason why fashion models are in the 5'8" and up category and it has to do with how designers like to have their clothes appear on models. There just isn't a demand for fashion models below 5'8".

However, lifestyle, fitness, editorial and swimsuit modeling are not as stringent on height but it does help. People have tried to do as you suggest but there just isn't a demand for short models in the fashion industry.

Sam · October 29, 2014

jonh68 wrote: »

Not really. There is a specific reason why fashion models are in the 5'8" and up category and it has to do with how designers like to have their clothes appear on models. There just isn't a demand for fashion models below 5'8".

However, lifestyle, fitness, editorial and swimsuit modeling are not as stringent on height but it does help. People have tried to do as you suggest but there just isn't a demand for short models in the fashion industry.

I had no idea that fashion designers were so limited in their capabilities they can't design clothes for actual people.

Also have difficulty in understanding why they only design clothes for six foot tall 100 pound women when the purchasers are a smidgen shorter and a few pounds heavier.

So sad.

Sam

Bilsen · October 30, 2014

jonh68 wrote: »

Not really. There is a specific reason why fashion models are in the 5'8" and up category and it has to do with how designers like to have their clothes appear on models. There just isn't a demand for fashion models below 5'8".

However, lifestyle, fitness, editorial and swimsuit modeling are not as stringent on height but it does help. People have tried to do as you suggest but there just isn't a demand for short models in the fashion industry.

Being in NY and having two actual fashion photographers as friends (one in "Vogue" type and one in catalogs) I have to sadly admit that this is dead on. I have had several STUNNING models who I discussed with each of them and the short story is 5'11 minimum for "High Fashion" and 5'8" or taller for catalog.

In High Fashion (ie: Runaway) the designer makes one sample outfit and the model is hired to fit the clothes, not the other way around. This lady was a NY Elite Agency model (5'11, size 2, 118 lbs)

She did runaway and couture and in 3 of 4 castings she heard "too short and don't fit the clothes" which is industry code for too short/too fat. It's really demented but there it is.

Catalog has a bit more relaxed requirements but 5'8" is still the minimum standard. Even then, a model better have great proportions (usually meaning no silicone, no big butt and perfect teeth). They also need to be "the look" that the art director is seeking. It's a huge crapshoot.

jonh68 · October 30, 2014

Sam wrote: »

I had no idea that fashion designers were so limited in their capabilities they can't design clothes for actual people.

Also have difficulty in understanding why they only design clothes for six foot tall 100 pound women when the purchasers are a smidgen shorter and a few pounds heavier.

So sad.

Sam

I'm assuming you are joking but as Bilsen pointed out designers usually make one set of sizes for fashion shows and model shoots.

Movie stars will get exceptions but then the popularity of their name is worth designers giving them clothes that are below the norm for high fashion.

Designers and manufactueres do make clothes for "actual" people, but when it comes to marketing, photography sessions, and fashion shows they want exceptional models and that is models over 5'8".

Also, I thought fashion models were "actual" people too.

Sam · October 30, 2014

jonh68 wrote: »

I'm assuming you are joking but as Bilsen pointed out designers usually make one set of sizes for fashion shows and model shoots.

Movie stars will get exceptions but then the popularity of their name is worth designers giving them clothes that are below the norm for high fashion.

Designers and manufactueres do make clothes for "actual" people, but when it comes to marketing, photography sessions, and fashion shows they want exceptional models and that is models over 5'8".

Also, I thought fashion models were "actual" people too.

Only half kidding.

The number of woman in the US 5' 10" and taller is 0.07% If you up that to 5' 11" or 6' the number is smaller. Now if you then factor in they have not only be beautiful, but be thin enough to walk in a rain storm and not get wet the number is even smaller. Then factor in age...many agencies will not accept new models 21 or older. The average fashion model will only work in to her early twenties.

So the term "actual" was a creative euphemism for very rare group of people way out side the norm.

Below is a chart representing some of the pitfalls of this non existent ideal.

Disclaimer: I am not anywhere close to PC nor do I want any laws prohibiting the use of very tall and thin models I just think it would be nice if there were some reality put into play.

jmphotocraft · October 30, 2014

Nice job. I'd have preferred 7 taken on her level. Maybe add a vignette to all of these?

Bilsen · October 30, 2014

Understood JM. I was sitting or lying on the floor all day so I took a few from a half crouch just to vary the POVs.

jmphotocraft · October 31, 2014

Gotcha. I think 5 might have been a home run if she and her reflections could have been equally spaced in the depth of the photo, and closer together in the width. Know what I mean?

Reading back through the height/size requirements for models, I no longer have any doubt that that industry is 100% insane. I think I've known only one women in my life who would qualify.

alaios · November 1, 2014

very good work thanks for sharing

Bilsen · November 1, 2014

I agree about #5 JM. I suppose I could crop out the last 2 reflections and bring her more central but the whole infinity thing was intriguing.

Thanks alaois.

Fitness with Erica

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