When in Manila, or in any major cities in the world, seldom would we hear about a report on fashion magazine demands reaching rock bottom. My own observation even compelled me to believe that our sense of fashion has been influenced by the likes of Elle, Glamour or Saks Fifth Avenue that, importation of those magazines was succeeded by our publication of Preview, Mega and, Metro.
From influence formed curiosity to compulsion (which reminds me how Nigel, a character from the movie The Devil wears Prada, “would secretly flip through the pages of a fashion magazine inside the locker room while the rest of the boys were out in the field playing soccer or football”, to describe his childhood). As…for myself, it required a typhoon and flood to let go of my treasured monthly subscriptions that dated back to 2 decades and were mostly collected since I was in secondary school. A striking element? The photographs!
Photographs that made it easy for me to silently wish about becoming a fashion model so that I could get to meet the creators of haute-couture clothing until totally forgotten because the dream outlived its time.
Then… days ago, part of the dream came true as I stood shoulder to shoulder with one of the celebrated fashion gurus while, we all smiled back at the same slr at the count of three.
Renowned Filipino Fashion Designer, Mr. Gerry Katigbak, myself, Maverick (fashion/ramp model) and, Karl Villamor
before and after the fashion show
The Fashion Show held at The Heritage Hotel grant me access to be up-close and personal with Mr. Gerry Katigbak and his cast (of ramp/runway models)…
Making use of my so-called “backdoor entry”, almost geeking out inside my head, wide awake at the sight of tall, amiable and gorgeous people (hence, away my reverie went!) I asked the person next to me, “What completes an application to get into a modeling career?” – and, perhaps, have your photos posted in a fashion magazine.
Julien A. Hernan’s reply was simple. ” Have a ‘Modeling Portfolio “.
The person next to me, my official photographer for that evening, Julien A. Hernan
A Budding Expert’s touch on Fashion Photography.
Fashion photography has been an objective reality since late 19th century. For over 100 years now, it opened the door to promote fashion as a fine art. In essence, fashion photography has evolved from merely an advertisement in a common format to an art form making itself accessible to a variety of fashion shots genre. Still life fashion to self-expression in motion.
The Images in a “Modeling Portfolio“. – A model’s need is an agency’s want.
A serious head shot. Try to insert a photo that should likewise, show natural smile and beauty.
Casual fashion shots
Formal fashion shot
Location shots
Studio shot
Modeling portfolio should not be without a full-length shot that would speak of how proportional the feet are to the knees, the thighs emphasizing the waist, moving up to the shoulders being the base of the head.
Full-length shots
A full-length shot for men, in this case, in a Hakama. Although, posing for a fashionable swimwear cannot be considered less decent.
(A Modeling Portfolio…continued on the next page)
