The thing about photographing a campaign with real people—meaning they’re not actors, models, musicians, etc., and thus used to the camera—is that you’ve got to be particularly good at figuring out what your subjects need and what will make them happy in front of the camera. Melanie Acevedo has got the process down pat. She recently shot an employment branding campaign for Ann Inc. that featured actual employees, and every one of them looks terrific and totally natural.
“We just treated them in such a way that first of all, they felt special and taken care of,” Melanie explains. “I try and use very talented hair/makeup/stylists, but ESPECIALLY super-warm and fun and sweet people as well. That way, as soon as the person to be photographed comes into the environment, they feel at ease and comfortable.
“Then I do the best I can to continue that process on set, with establishing a rapport that I would with anyone I was chatting with in any social situation,” she continues, “’cause really, having your picture taken can and should be a very positive social interaction.”
Here’s a selection of her Ann Inc. images…
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Photo by Melanie Acevedo for Ann Inc.
Photo by Melanie Acevedo for Ann Inc.
Photo by Melanie Acevedo for Ann Inc.
Photo by Melanie Acevedo for Ann Inc.
Photo by Melanie Acevedo for Ann Inc.
Photo by Melanie Acevedo for Ann Inc.
Photo by Melanie Acevedo for Ann Inc. Click to view larger.
Photo by Melanie Acevedo for Ann Inc.
Photo by Melanie Acevedo for Ann Inc.
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