A Good Lookin’ Lookbook

Some of the biggest names in fashion photography, including Chiun-Kai Shih, are turning to Hipstamatic to shoot lookbooks for top designers.

Professional photographer Chiun-Kai Shih (aka “Chunky’) has taken the fashion world by storm, shooting for such lauded publications as GQ, Harper’s Bizarre, Vogue, and Snap, among many others. With over 15 years in the business, he knows his way around a fashion set, and how to use every expensive camera known to man. However, the camera that’s captured his heart is Hipstamatic.

Chunky has increasingly turned to Hipstamatic to shoot all of his behind the scenes photos, and most recently used it to shoot the highly anticipated Fall 2013 lookbook for Todd Snyder—the former J. Crew menswear designer who branched out with his own line.

If you’re looking to give your professional repertoire an edge, check out Chunky’s 5 tips for getting the perfect lookbook shots, and get to snappin’!—MS Do your homework Shooting a lookbook requires preperation. What is the mood of the collection, and what are the predominant colors and themes? From there, open Hipstamatic, look at the different lenses and films, and choose combinations that best matches the collection’s aesthetic.

Keep it cohesive It’s extremely important all of the photos have a similar look and feel, so be sure to pick only one lens that you’ll use throughout shooting. To add variety, experiment with switching films, which add moments of playfulness without differentiating from the consistent look of shooting with one lens.

Keep in mind that color film is great for showcasing a designer’s more vibrant, colorful pieces. However, don’t shy away from black and white film—this is a great option for pieces that are black, white, or grey-toned.

Hit Your angles A lookbook should showcase a designer’s collection from a fashion point of view, so be sure to focus on three angles that editors and designers need:

a) closeup to the face b) 3/4 shot c) full length

Scout the location Natural light is always best, so go for that when available. However, when that’s out of your control, be ready to experiment with a few backup lenses that could work in lower light situations.

Experiment with movement Help the models experiment with movement to make sure they’re highlighting each garment correctly. Remember, they are there to show off the clothes, so help them “work it” in every shot. The key is to have a beautiful lookbook that makes every buyer snatch up the entire collection!

The following pages are the results of the new Todd Snyder Fall/Winter 2013 lookbook shot with the Tinto 1884 lens and D-Type Plate film.