With Paris Fashion Week in full swing, we’re thinking about all things a la mode here at the Parrot Print headquarters. Whether you’re a fashion obsessive or have a friend or family member who is a model in the making, fashion photography offers a great opportunity to get creative and create stunning canvas prints. And, by setting up your own fashion shoot and doing the photography yourself you can create on-trend wall art for a fraction of the cost of prints in the shops. Check out our fashion photography ideas.

Here’s our introductory guide to fashion photography ideas

Let the clothes speak

The idea of fashion photography is of course to showcase the clothes themselves. With this in mind, consider shooting in black and white against a very simple background. Emphasise the lines and fall of the clothes or the textures of the fabric and truly make the clothes the star of the show.

Prep your set for fashion photography

Setting up a fashion shoot needn’t require lots of expensive props or add ons. You’ll often read a line in fashion magazines that describes a lipstick, handbag or umbrella as ‘the model’s own’ or indeed ‘the stylist’s own. So, whether you’re heading indoors or out, make sure you raid your own and the model's accessories collection.  Your setting will be highly influenced by the clothes you are shooting and also whether you want to create a realistic or more fantasy-based feel. Forests, woods, lakes and seaside locations can add lots of drama to your shoot and if you time it right you’ll benefit from good lighting conditions too. If you want to shoot inside you’ll have the advantage of gaining a little more control of your surroundings and you can still be creative, take a look at our photo booth post for a little inspiration.

Direct your gaze

As a photographer, you’re also a director and this is perhaps even more important to remember for fashion photography where you’re likely to want to tell a story. Don’t be afraid to position your model and have planned poses in mind before you get started. The manual mode on your camera will give you a little more control and you should also shoot from different angles – not just to catch their best side but also that of the clothes. Fashion photography doesn’t necessarily need to be a static affair – photograph your model walking, running or being otherwise active. Don’t forget to involve the model in the story – get them to act out the scenario and reflect the mood of the shoot.

Putting your customised fashion canvas prints to good use

Once you’ve selected the best photographs from your shoot it’s time to transfer your images to canvas. If your subject happens to be a budding model, why not give them a custom canvas print as a gift or present them to friends and family members? If you’re the owner of a fashion boutique, a set of customised fashion canvases adds a personalised touch to your store interior and could help you maximise the value of any professional shoots. If you’ve paid for a fashion shoot as part of a print advertising campaign and own the resulting photos, why not have the photos transferred to canvas to display in your shop?