Say hello to Savitri, the photographer behind the Fiesta shoot!
Savitri has been working with us since the very beginning of June Swimwear in 2009. She was the one who photographed our very first studio photoshoot. This spring, she also directed both the studio and lifestyle photoshoots of the Fiesta collection.
We asked her a few questions for you ...
June Swimwear: How many photoshoots have you done for June?
Savitri: I don't count them anymore (laughs), but I think I'm up to a dozen now. My favorite one was, without a doubt, the Fiesta Collection that we photographed in Mexico. Working in my bathing suit under the sun (despite the incredible humidity) was very pleasant!
June Swimwear: Do you prefer shooting Studio or Lifestyle photos?
Savitri : I am definitely an outdoor photographer. For me, taking pictures outside is pure joy! Nothing is more inspiring than nature and textures.
June Swimwear: What do you like most to photograph for fun?
Savitri: I love to travel, so it goes without saying that landscapes and new places are a great inspiration for me. I really enjoy to walk alone with my camera through new places.
June Swimwear: What was your inspiration by for the photoshoot of the Fiesta collection in Mexico?
Savitri : We were in Mexico during the events of Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) where everything is colorful and festive. It was very easy to find inspiration in the city of Sayulita, even sometimes difficult to choose the perfect place; there were beautiful colors everywhere. I particularly liked the atmosphere of the city during the celebrations, which went perfectly with the energy of our photoshoot.
June Swimwear: Do you improvise when you come to a lifestyle shoot or do you have a definite plan from the start?
Savitri : For most of the shoots, I use a moodboard of poses inspirations and lighting mood to define the style wanted by myself or my client. I always improvise a bit on the spot as well, according to the light and the places that I discover; really small details can inspire me. For me, it's natural to see the final photo in my head before I even create it. The moodboards are there to give us the guideline but then, we have fun.
June Swimwear: Can you tell us about a challenge for you during your photo shoots?
Savitri : I must admit that it is the poses (laughs). It's not the easiest thing for me, since I like my photos to look very fluid and natural. Asking the models to move in a natural way while I shoot helps me a lot. It also brings out their natural smiles and laughs and looks less fixed. Shooting studio, on the other hand, forces me to be more creative about poses ideas than when I'm outside.
June Swimwear: What tips would you give someone who wants to make a perfect lifestyle picture?
Savitri : The first and most important thing is to understand the light.
It seems easy, but you have to know how to read the light to make beautiful pictures. Watch the scene before taking your picture and see how the light falls on your subject. The time of day is also very important. Ideally, the best times for the most beautiful light are at sunrise and sunset.
For the equipment, I'm one of those who believe that any good photographer can do anything beautiful with any type of camera. If you already have a reflex camera (interchangeable lens), I suggest buying a good lens first. This is what will help you to get the desired depth of field (the famous beautiful blurs) and according to your needs (portraits, landscapes etc.). For the rest, be creative and most of all have fun. The secret is no other than the practice in my opinion.
June Swimwear: What type of camera / lens did you use during the studio + lifestyle photoshoot?
Savitri : As a camera I used a CANON 5D MARK III for both studio and lifestyle shoots. For the lenses I used the:
-70-200 mm f 2.8 (Studio and lifestyle)
-50 mm f 1.4 (Lifestyle)
-24-70 mm f 2.8 (Lifestyle)
June Swimwear: What's your favorite style from the Fiesta collection?
Savitri: I fell in love with the Heidi one piece in the Fiesta color, it's A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!
Team June xo
To learn more about Savitri and her amazing work, visit her website here.