Okay, so I’ve been obsessed with Richard Avedon’s fashion photography lately. I mean, the guy was a legend, right? His work is so iconic, so dramatic. I really wanted to try and capture a little bit of that magic myself, so I decided to do a little photoshoot inspired by him.
First, I spent hours just looking at his photos. I mean, really looking. Noticing the way he used light, the stark backgrounds, the poses, the expressions… everything. I created a mood board filled with my favorite Avedon shots, mainly focusing on his work for Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue.
Getting the Setup Right
- Found a model: Luckily, my friend Sarah is totally game for anything, and she has this amazing, classic look. She was totally on board.
- Kept it simple background: I didn’t have access to a fancy studio, so I just used a plain white wall in my apartment. The key is to make sure it’s completely clean and evenly lit.
- Used natural light at first: I started by shooting near a large window, using a reflector to bounce the light and fill in any harsh shadows. Avedon often used natural light, especially early in his career.
- Added artificial later: The natural light was beautiful, so I used a single softbox to mimic that look, placing it slightly to the side and above Sarah.
Directing the Shoot
This was the fun part! I showed Sarah the mood board and we talked about the kind of energy we wanted to create. It’s all about that intense gaze, that slight tension in the pose. I kept reminding her to think “strong,” “confident,” “a little bit aloof.”
I started with some simple, full-length shots, focusing on her posture and the lines of her body. Then I moved in closer, experimenting with different angles and crops. I encouraged Sarah to move slowly and deliberately, changing her expression and pose slightly with each click of the shutter.
Post-Processing
I shot everything in RAW, of course. This gave me a lot more flexibility in post-processing. I converted most of the photos to black and white, because, well, Avedon!
I adjusted the contrast and clarity to give the images that sharp, crisp look.
I use Camera Raw and Photoshop.
Finally, I added a tiny bit of grain to give it a slightly vintage feel.
The results? I’m pretty happy with them! They’re definitely not Avedon, but I think I managed to capture a little bit of that spirit. It was such a fun learning experience, and it definitely made me appreciate his work even more. I’m already planning my next shoot!
