Poster Photoshoot

An analysis of the various types of shots I used when taking pictures for

my poster.

Before starting the photoshoot, I knew that I wanted the image to be in either black and white or a similar effect. I could either have taken the photo in black and white or edited it after in photoshop. I decided that the easier option was to take the pictures using the effect on the camera itself.

I needed to have both of the actors that would feature in my trailer in the photo. I had to think about positioning and poses that would reflect their individual characters and the storyline. Esther would have to come across as the main protagonist whilst being able to tell that Maisie was the antagonist of the story.

I tried to choose clothing for the actors that fitted around their characters. By having Maisie wear dark clothing and Esther wear lighter, more girly clothing it would be easier for the audience to know the roles of the characters (and actors) in the film.

I had to consider the lighting I was going to use. I needed to have the light mainly focused on Esther, and Maisie in the dark/shadow to reflect the kind of character they are playing. I didn’t have any kind of special lighting equipment, so I had to use what I had and do the rest in photoshop/fireworks afterwards.

I wanted to take lots of photos using different kinds of camera shots and angles, and having the actors in various poses and positions. This then gave me a choice of what image I wanted to use on my poster. Different camera shots and angles can also add to building the character of the profile.

Photos I didn’t use:

I used a range of different camera angles and shots, including medium shots, close ups, high angles and low angles. Although I liked some of these images, I didn’t think that they were suitable for my poster for many different reasons- the lighting wasn’t right, I didn’t like the positioning/poses of the actors, you couldn’t see the actors faces.

Favourite Photos

After looking through all of the shots I had taken on my poster photoshoot, I chose 3 that I thought would be suitable for my poster. I then asked people for feedback on which they liked the most and which they didn’t like.

Majority of the people asked preferred the top picture. The reasons given included that they like the pose/positioning of the actors, it was a good camera angle, it clearly represented the characters and the storyline.

Final PhotoI looked at all the photographs I had taken and took into consideration the feedback I got, and decided that this was the photo that I would use on my poster. I think that the lighting here is good as it highlights Esther’s (the protagonist) face and leaves Maisie’s (the antagonist) face in the dark/shadow. This clearly reflects the personalities of the characters they are playing, and gives the audience an insight into what the characters might be like.

I like the slight use of a high angle here because it makes the shot more interesting, but isn’t too obvious. I also like that it is a mid shot and not a long shot or close-up. I think that it is the most appropriate shot length as it allows the audience to see the body language and clothing of the actors as well as their faces. The way that the actors are positioned within the shot will also benefit the poster as it suggests that Maisie is watching Esther without her knowing