Derek Heisler - Direct Your Models, Don't Pose Them

Creative Director and Conceptual photographer Derek Heisler talks about the benefits of directing your models rather than just posing them during your shoot.
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Calgary's Derek Heisler, is a seasoned conceptual photographer and creative director, and when you hand him a camera, any camera at all, the results are just... well, to put it simply, remarkable.
Derek puts that skill to good use, routinely capturing a certain look or unusual pose that you just don't seem to see from other fashion/lifestyle photographers.
Derek's images have also been featured in National Geographic, Sports Illustrated, NASA and TED.
A big thanks to our Sponsor Canon Canada, as well as Elinchrom and Profoto Canada.
This video contains footage from Derek's seminar at Astrolab Studios in Toronto as part of the 2017 Scotiabank Contact Photography Festival.
Derek Heisler - www.derekheisler.com (warning: may contain images that are considered NSFW)
Astrolab Studios - astrolab.studio/
Scotiabank Contact Photography Festival - scotiabankcontactphoto.com/
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#vistek #derekheisler #photography #elinchrom #profoto #astrolabstudios #contactphotographyfestival #canoncanada

[@jianbinhuang]

Rest pose and action pose. Back and forth. No more freezing up. Create a little tiny backstory. What a genius idea.

[@ArepasforDinner]

Great tip that one of creating like a mental short film for the model to be more of an actor... Great tip!

[@SkeleMusic]

This is what i struggle with most as a photographer and this video is a gold mine for tips for me :)

[@vistek]

Thanks for your comment SkeleMusic. I'm happy that Derek's message resonated with you!

[@shayanthis]

Solid advice I could have used last night before the shoot

[@brucesmithphoto2007]

Very good instruction. 0 cliche ❤

[@vistek]

Thank you!

[@brucesmithphoto2007]

@@vistek you are more than welcome. Although retired now, I have taught fashion, portraiture and fine art nude photography since 2022 and know the value of the story behind an image and how to achieve this. Some that is missing in these genre of photography today. Teaching people to understand why they need to create images is primary important along with developing their openness to have your subject be willingly empowered by you, direction to add a story with many words of narrative, communication with your clients and team and last but also important, controlling all aspects of a shoot from camera settings to understanding the textures of light to work with or to create artificially. I have loved every moment of time spent teaching. I will visit Uganda next year to teach young people how to shoot so maybe they will find inspiration to become a great photographer and hopefully earn a living. Regards. Bruce Smith Photographer Author Educator.

[@AvanPatel]

loved the event! Derek was excellent!

[@vistek]

Thanks the comment and for attending the event, Avan!

[@mercury_rises]

Thank you for this.

[@vistek]

Thank you for the nice comment!

[@paintedportraits3037]

Nice tips well done

[@vistek]

Thanks!