Analysis of Dream Angels Images

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In this post I am going to analyse a few images from my last shoot and discuss the feedback I received from the tutors. By doing this it will enable me to work out what worked and what didn’t work in terms of hair, makeup, styling, poses and lighting and what I can do to improve the images in the next shoot. Below shows two un-retouched images from the dream angels theme.

I feel that the lighting in these images work and create a soft flattering light across the skin, especially across the cheeks. The bra used for this image works well, the colours and pattern on the bra fits in well with the theme and it ties in with the current Victoria’s Secret advertising campaigns, as they all feature the bras. Using the bra’s in the shots was something I was apprehensive about whilst I was planning the shoot, however, reflecting back on these images I feel that the bra is something that worked well and contributed to the Victoria’s Secret aesthetic, without deterring attention away from the face.  Using bra’s in the images is defiantly something I will continue to do throughout all the photo shoots and I will specifically choose bras that match well with the theme of each shoot.

When looking at these images, the hair is noticeably lacking volume and style. It looks very scraggly and lack lustre, which is defiantly not something that would be seen in Victoria’s Secret advertising campaigns. In both these images the hair is something that brings the whole image down, and after speaking to my tutors it is also something that they agree with. Whilst I was styling the hair on this shoot I was finding it hard to get the hair into the condition and style I was aiming for, which was thick, flowing waves. However, I felt this was something that could be amended in postproduction in Photoshop, looking back at the photos now and discussing it with my tutors I have found that this is something that I shouldn’t rely on. For my future shoots I plan to take much more consideration when approaching the hair and if I am finding the particular style hard I will opt for an easier, more achievable style that will look good on camera.

At first glance at these images I liked the makeup I used around the eyes, I felt that the soft blend of lilac and pink worked well for the theme of dream angels and for my idea of pastel colours. When I was planning these looks I looked to the images below for inspiration and an idea of what I planned to do and I felt that I had interpreted the look well. However after discussing the look with my tutors they did not feel that these colours worked well on the eyes .The way I had blended the colour up close to the brow bone created a more dated and eighties look and I have been advised to re shoot the look. 

I found it hard envision how I can re shoot the look without making the same mistake again, so I examined other beauty advertising campaigns that have used pastel colours. --> Below shows beauty advertising campaigns for spring 2013 from Dior, Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent.

Dior Cherie Bow Spring 2013

Chanel Spring 2013











Yves Saint Laurent 2013











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All these campaigns feature pastel colours on they eyes, you can see the application of the makeup has been very softly done and creates a subtle effect that really works when using pastel colours. This is something I did not do when using pastel colours on Diandra, by comparing these it has helped me to see the difference and to understand why my images did not work. I will defiantly be taking a lighter approach with the application of colours when I re shoot this look. In all the images from the advertising campaigns the skin is kept very clean and dewy, this is something that works extremely well as it adds to the fresh spring look. When re shooting this look for dream angels I will also create a clean and dewy base for the skin, as it is something that embodies both the Victoria’s Secret brand and the dream angels theme. My favourite of the three is the Dior Cherie Bow campaign; I love the way they have used the same colours on the lips, eyes, cheeks and nails. This matchy makeup look is on trend and it creates an ultra girly but chic look, as the colours all work harmoniously together it is very pleasing to the eye which is key in any advertising material for a brand. I am going to use this style of matching the makeup on the cheeks, lips and eyes in the reshoot for this look, as I think it will work very well for the portrayal of dream angels because it is soft, feminine with a playful element to it. In both the Chanel and Dior campaigns they have used pink/peach colours on the eyes, this works well and these colours are something I will experiment with before shooting this look again. I think that using pink/peach tones is a good way to use pastel colours and avoid the mistake I have made by making it look dated and eighties. For the dream angel reshoot I am going to use a different model because I feel these colours will look suit someone with fair skin and features rather than someone with darker skin. Below shows the model I propose to use for dream angels, she is a great model I have worked with before and I feel her soft features a light skin tone will be perfect for pastel colours and matching makeup I propose to use.