Fashion Photography 101

Shoot 8

This is the last shoot in Hartbeespoort, with my girl Gcebile.

This is really South African, so I hope you like what we came up with.

Enjoy the last shoot :)

Photo credit: Gcebile Matsimbe

Location: Hartbeespoort South Africa

Quick tip:

This is a pencil dress with a coat over, so this outfit, as is can be worn by all body types, as nothing is being emphasised, so everything is hidden.

If you were to wear the dress alone, I would recommend an hourglass, inverted-triangle and rectangular shaped figure would best suit this type of dress as is a body fitted dress.

My experience:

So as this is was the final shoot, I obviously found this shoot the prettiest, because of the colours. When we found this place we were so excited, so this was perfect. We didn't know what to expect when we came to this village, in the middle of nowhere, so we had nothing in mind. I just brought all the outfits I had left and this is the outcome :)

Fashion Photography 101

Shoot7

This we had to do, so we entered the village and this was the entrance, we knew from the start that we had to use the accessories that the people were selling, so I placed myself between them and this is the result ;)

Photo credit: Gcebile Matsimbe

Location: Cultural village, Hartbeespoort South Africa

Quick tip:

Pencil skirt: suitable for an hourglass, inverted-triangle and rectangular shaped figure. As mentioned in my previous post, the tips are the same.

My experience:

I had such an awkward experience in this place but was happy with the results of the pictures in this market. The ladies were too cute and made it even more enjoyable. 

This is Africa alright, really had the real South African cultural experience at this village.

Fashion Photography 101

Shoot6

So Gcebile found this amazing cultural village, when we arrived :O we decided to take 3 different shoots there, so we'll have variety of different outfits just because we wanted to shoot everything in this village.
Here's a look at the 1st one ;)

Photo credit: Gcebile Matsimbe
Location: Lesedi Cultural Village (a few kilometres out, but still in Hartbeespoort South Africa)

Quick tip:

Pencil skirts, as in my previous post are suitable to an hourglass, inverted-triangle and rectangular shaped figure. An apple figure can wear this outfit if the waistline of the skirt is at the smallest part of the torso, pulling attention away from the bigger waistline.

My experience:

As you might remember this skirt from Bali, I literally just threw it in my bag, just in case I needed another outfit, so I clearly needed it :D

This was real South African, everything in this village was really just straight from way back when. Very down to earth, so no stress in shooting ;)

Fashion vs Nature

Day 1

On my way to Ondangwa for shoot number one.

Had a great experience culture-wise and Namibian tradition is quite evident in the North.

The fabric used for the dress made in Ondangwa is called, Odelela. It's original colour is red and creme, dyed a lot of different colours.

The fabric was used many years ago in tradition, used by Oshiwambo's, used for weddings, all traditional occasions (being made head of a village or made a king), when a baby is born & when the baby also leaves the house for the first time and Oshiwambo's value tradition as this was dated back a few years ago.

When it's Independence Day, Oshiwambo ladies love to wear this fabric too.

When a girl becomes a woman, this fabric was also worn, so this fabric must be owned by an Oshiwambo lady.

All accessories worn are sponsored by NamCrafts

Quick tip:

 Empire waist dresses are flattering for apple & pear shaped ladies, the stomach and hip areas are fully disguised.

The dress has a fitted bodice ending just below the bust, giving a high-waisted appearance. The shape of the dress also helps to lengthen the body.

My experience:

The North, a mixture of traditional culture and modern civilization is a fast growing economic zone creating vast opportunities for entrepreneurs in all spheres of life. As a fashion designer, the cultural diversity embodied in the people, the way of life, traditions, language, colours and the environment, my horizons broadened and will impact the way I look at designs for this area. 

Culturally, the North is where Namibian tradition is still very active and people are proud of their cultural heritage.

Day 2 coming soon:)