"Robert Coppa" New York My Way!
Canberra Australia
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You have been watching and viewing the great work of Robert Coppa! But who is the man behind the moodboards and all the great fashion editorial work? Come on in we are going to tell and show you just what makes him tick!
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Why did you choose to travel to New York from Australia to do a fashion shoot?
New York is one of the fashion hubs of the world. Having worked previously in NYC for 6 weeks and having been away for 8 years I was busting to get back and work there again.
Albeit for a shorter period but it is such a vibrant city bursting with creative talent.
You came to New York with a idea in mind for your fashion shoot, what was that idea and why did you choose it?
I wanted to shoot studio and outdoors while in NYC. I have always been enamored with great
studio B/Ws and I was lucky to shoot in a small studio in the city that provided great facilities
and still retained that NYC feeling. I also wanted to capture the darker/edgier side of the city
and shoot an editorial in the Brooklyn docks area. The studio was based in a 1800's warehouse
and it provided just amazing ambience for the Fashion-Reusability editorial I shot there.
Attention to detail is a common characteristic of high-level photography and hairstyling that is
evident in your images. Aside from the knowledge you gained by observing many great
fashion and commercial photographers at work, how do you think your background gives you
a leg up in creating images that satisfy your clients?
Photography is a business, and as in any business to be successful you need to understand and be able to execute and deliver on your
client's brief. You need to have that business acumen that will drive the creative process that is to follow. I have a strong business
development background and I think this feeds directly into being able to understand and deliver on the brief. It is also important to have
a strong, reliable and creative team that you work with on a consistent basis.
Tell us about one of your favorite photo shoots. Do you get a pretty good idea of how the photos will turn out as you are shooting (digital)
or is it generally a surprise? Do you ever use film?
New York is one of the fashion hubs of the world. Having worked previously in NYC for 6 weeks and having been away for 8 years I was busting to get back and work there again.
Albeit for a shorter period but it is such a vibrant city bursting with creative talent.
You came to New York with a idea in mind for your fashion shoot, what was that idea and why did you choose it?
I wanted to shoot studio and outdoors while in NYC. I have always been enamored with great
studio B/Ws and I was lucky to shoot in a small studio in the city that provided great facilities
and still retained that NYC feeling. I also wanted to capture the darker/edgier side of the city
and shoot an editorial in the Brooklyn docks area. The studio was based in a 1800's warehouse
and it provided just amazing ambience for the Fashion-Reusability editorial I shot there.
Attention to detail is a common characteristic of high-level photography and hairstyling that is
evident in your images. Aside from the knowledge you gained by observing many great
fashion and commercial photographers at work, how do you think your background gives you
a leg up in creating images that satisfy your clients?
Photography is a business, and as in any business to be successful you need to understand and be able to execute and deliver on your
client's brief. You need to have that business acumen that will drive the creative process that is to follow. I have a strong business
development background and I think this feeds directly into being able to understand and deliver on the brief. It is also important to have
a strong, reliable and creative team that you work with on a consistent basis.
Tell us about one of your favorite photo shoots. Do you get a pretty good idea of how the photos will turn out as you are shooting (digital)
or is it generally a surprise? Do you ever use film?
One of my favorite shoots to date was a Time-Capsule shoot that was commissioned by a local magazine in Canberra. Hand picked local photographers were asked to shoot a certain time period and to incorporate makeup/hair and fashion of that period. I opted for the Futuristic Look (others included 60s/70s/80s & 90s). After selecting my creative team and talent we were given free reign and access to various shops within the city's CBD.
It was great fun raiding shops with 'cart blanche' to get access to fashion, jewelry and props. We had to overcome various obstacles on the day, like weather and over zealous security guards, but we shot it within 3 hours and got rave reviews from the editor. It was a great team and super fun brief.
I always have a strong idea and vision for the shoots that I do, often pre-visualizing the final product before and during shooting. I have to admit that even with preparation I do allow a certain amount of 'organic flow' with the shoot but always within the context or brief of the shoot.
I have shot some Polaroids but have not used traditional film for commercial projects as yet.
It was great fun raiding shops with 'cart blanche' to get access to fashion, jewelry and props. We had to overcome various obstacles on the day, like weather and over zealous security guards, but we shot it within 3 hours and got rave reviews from the editor. It was a great team and super fun brief.
I always have a strong idea and vision for the shoots that I do, often pre-visualizing the final product before and during shooting. I have to admit that even with preparation I do allow a certain amount of 'organic flow' with the shoot but always within the context or brief of the shoot.
I have shot some Polaroids but have not used traditional film for commercial projects as yet.
You used a story board for the New York shoot, where did you get those ideas and explain how that helped your decision in the style you chose to photograph.
I used more of a moodboard for the NYC shoots, it is a more loose way to define a theme/vision or direction that shoot should take.
Apart from the shoots where the client had a firm brief that I had to follow I used moodboards to invoke a general feel that helped me better describe it to the crew and talent team. The B/W studio shoot we did was very organic in nature. I wanted to capture clean sharp B/Ws with strong poses and contrast. But I also wanted the models to bring some of their own elements to it based on the boards.
Inspiration for the boards were based on my ideas of what I would generalize as the NY fashion style. As I said before: clean, sharp B/Ws with angular poses and strong contrast.
What equipment did you use to create your photos and what software did you make use of in your work flow?
I shoot Canon and used a combo of Profoto and Elinchrom equipment. The lenses I used were the 50mm f1.4, 85mm f1.2, 135mm f2, 70-200mm f2.8 and 24-70 mm f2.8. Also used photoshop for the post-production workflow.
What is the best thing about digital photography for you?
It gives me and my client immediate feedback. It also helps me make quick tweaks to the lighting, hair or makeup to ensure we stay on track with the vision of the shoot.
What is your workflow like in your digital darkroom?
It is quite simple most of the time. I always shoot RAW as it gives me greater flexibility. Here is a quick outline for my basic workflow.
What is most important to you, technique or vision?
Vision and Content, by far. As you become more proficient technique becomes muscle-memory. Vision and content is always changing.
How many people usually make up your team on shoots?
I try to keep the number down as much as practicle. The fewer the people the easier it is to ensure everyone is on the same page. I usually have a HMUA and stylist onboard. If I am doing a big production I may have 1 or more assists and multiple HMUA if there are a large number of models involved.
You've been working with some high profile girls, and you also work with a lot of unknowns. What defines a girl 'making it' in the model industry?
I would say it is his or her ability to deliver on the direction of the photographer and brief of the client and is his or her ability to effectively portray emotion and expression and posing skills. These would be my primaries, anything else is secondary!
What tips do you have for posing models?
I do a 1-on-1 modeling workshops and the number 1 thing I teach is to avoid static and contrived posing. Be fluid and dynamic, some amazing shots cannot be achieved if you are standing still holding a pose and a personal peeve of mine, don't count models down to a frame ( eg. Ready? 1,2,3 and click ) nothing stifles creative and flow more than doing that.
How many shots on average do you shoot during a session?
It can vary widly, it epends on the brief and what we are trying to achieve given the constrains and limitations of budgets and locations.
I have done shoots with as little as 20 frames and as many as 800.
Do you have any secret technique to create great shots?
Absolutely. Practice your craft and keep learning and evolving yourself. There are no short-cuts!
Robert Coppa Photographer
www.robertcoppa.com
rob@robertcoppa.com
Fb/www.facebook.com/robert.coppa
Tel. / (int) +61 400 531000 (USA) 641 715-3800 ext 46306
(INTERVIEW BY: Barbara Owen World Fashion Media News Fashion Editor for World Fashion Media News)
I used more of a moodboard for the NYC shoots, it is a more loose way to define a theme/vision or direction that shoot should take.
Apart from the shoots where the client had a firm brief that I had to follow I used moodboards to invoke a general feel that helped me better describe it to the crew and talent team. The B/W studio shoot we did was very organic in nature. I wanted to capture clean sharp B/Ws with strong poses and contrast. But I also wanted the models to bring some of their own elements to it based on the boards.
Inspiration for the boards were based on my ideas of what I would generalize as the NY fashion style. As I said before: clean, sharp B/Ws with angular poses and strong contrast.
What equipment did you use to create your photos and what software did you make use of in your work flow?
I shoot Canon and used a combo of Profoto and Elinchrom equipment. The lenses I used were the 50mm f1.4, 85mm f1.2, 135mm f2, 70-200mm f2.8 and 24-70 mm f2.8. Also used photoshop for the post-production workflow.
What is the best thing about digital photography for you?
It gives me and my client immediate feedback. It also helps me make quick tweaks to the lighting, hair or makeup to ensure we stay on track with the vision of the shoot.
What is your workflow like in your digital darkroom?
It is quite simple most of the time. I always shoot RAW as it gives me greater flexibility. Here is a quick outline for my basic workflow.
- Backup images
- Load into Bridge
- Generate proofs, if needed
- Image selection
- Ajust into Camera Raw as needed
- Adjust, Grade, Retouch and Crop in Photoshop
What is most important to you, technique or vision?
Vision and Content, by far. As you become more proficient technique becomes muscle-memory. Vision and content is always changing.
How many people usually make up your team on shoots?
I try to keep the number down as much as practicle. The fewer the people the easier it is to ensure everyone is on the same page. I usually have a HMUA and stylist onboard. If I am doing a big production I may have 1 or more assists and multiple HMUA if there are a large number of models involved.
You've been working with some high profile girls, and you also work with a lot of unknowns. What defines a girl 'making it' in the model industry?
I would say it is his or her ability to deliver on the direction of the photographer and brief of the client and is his or her ability to effectively portray emotion and expression and posing skills. These would be my primaries, anything else is secondary!
What tips do you have for posing models?
I do a 1-on-1 modeling workshops and the number 1 thing I teach is to avoid static and contrived posing. Be fluid and dynamic, some amazing shots cannot be achieved if you are standing still holding a pose and a personal peeve of mine, don't count models down to a frame ( eg. Ready? 1,2,3 and click ) nothing stifles creative and flow more than doing that.
How many shots on average do you shoot during a session?
It can vary widly, it epends on the brief and what we are trying to achieve given the constrains and limitations of budgets and locations.
I have done shoots with as little as 20 frames and as many as 800.
Do you have any secret technique to create great shots?
Absolutely. Practice your craft and keep learning and evolving yourself. There are no short-cuts!
Robert Coppa Photographer
www.robertcoppa.com
rob@robertcoppa.com
Fb/www.facebook.com/robert.coppa
Tel. / (int) +61 400 531000 (USA) 641 715-3800 ext 46306
(INTERVIEW BY: Barbara Owen World Fashion Media News Fashion Editor for World Fashion Media News)
CREDITS - NYC - MODELS
Click on Models "You Tube" below!
CREDITS - NYC - TALENTED TEAM
Tim Pearson
BeauT for ALL Occassions! http://timpearson.weebly.com Tim Pearson Master Artist Mobile 205.747.6082 timpearsonmakeup@gmail.com |
Dnicole
Specializing in the Art of Make up www.missdnicole.com For bookings call 917.526.0569 dnicolebookings@gmail.com |
BEAUTIFUL FREAK
Beautiful Freak MAKE-UP FOR ALL OCASSIONS Karolina M. Tyszkowska 718.697.1976 katyszkaka@yahoo.com www.bfmakeup.com |
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Gillian Becker
Makeup Artist Hair Stylist Tri-State Area 908-759-0667 https://www.facebook.com/gillian.r.becker gillian.becker@ymail.com |
AMY SHERYAK
ILLAMASQUA COLOR CREATIVE Make Up Artist Nail Art 212.705.3551 https://www.facebook.com/amysheryak |
Barbara Owen - Fashion Designer for Vert Closet -
Fashion Editor for World Fashion Media News -
Gabriella Kazkurkin - Model for Vert's Closet
NEXT: Behind the Scenes! - CLICK - YOU TUBE!
Robert Coppa Photographer - Fairway Studios NYC - Producer: World Fashion Media News
Behind the Scene Photographs By: Barbara Owen
Thank you Bill Maxwell at Chicago3Media for making the great You Tubes!
www.chicago3media.com
THANK YOU ALL!
Robert Coppa Photographer - Fairway Studios NYC - Producer: World Fashion Media News
Behind the Scene Photographs By: Barbara Owen
Thank you Bill Maxwell at Chicago3Media for making the great You Tubes!
www.chicago3media.com
THANK YOU ALL!
