This is the first test attempt at doing an actual “shoe promotion shoot” in the style that we will actual do when we promote shoes given to us by our partner sites.

But since I’m as green as they come – or as the shoes on Sugar’s feet – when it comes to taking the fashion photographs (rather than just making designs or just critiquing them), I was happy for the practice. Sugar and I decided to go ahead and do a test series, both so she and I could get some practice taking a particular shoe and making it look good.

We wanted to try with a summer shoe, so since most stores have stopped carrying summer styles, we opted for a 15,000 won “test shoe” a cheap pair of sandals that we found in a size 245. of which there were very, very few left. “Beggars can’t be choosers,” as they say, so we went with the lime-green, strappy sandals.

Sugar was a good sport about it, and took to the shoes eagerly. The shoes leave the feet pretty bare, so we thought it would be the perfect challenge to model, especially what with the fact that Sugar had injured her foot the day before and was wearing two band-aids on her left foot, in addition to having not received a pedicure for months. Yet, she still handled those shoes with aplomb, like a true foot model should.

We also wanted to try for a photo story that would allow us to start getting some fashion photography-like shots, while remembering to highlight the shoe, all while trying to make the shoe look pretty in context, just like in real life. So we got the shoes and decided to make the street change of shoes part of a the story.

I had Sugar change on some steps that were backlit with some colorful signage and which also provided me with a lower angle from which to take as flattering pictures as possible.

It was the first proper model shoot for me, as well as the first one of any kind for Sugar, but our first-time-out results were surprisingly decent.

This shot is both a success and failure. It’s the type of shot I like and tend to get, but which I sort of messed up that night because I wasn’t careful about checking the individual shots before moving on to the next part of the shooting. But it’s a good mental “bookmark” and reminder of what kind of shots I need to make sure I get in the future.

The following shot worked well, and is another example of the usefulness of picturing shoes in context and in motion, as they would actually appear in real life, albeit in as stylized a version of reality you could imagine.

Sugar moved right into some othe interesting angles and poses that reflected her keen observation of what I might want to see. She simply got it, and figured it out fast.

Very smart, very iconic. very Carrie from Sex in the City. It’s a bit cliche, but it shoes off the shoe. When we have the model in some nice clothes that match the scene as well as the shoes we’re given to stylize, I think we’ll be well on our way.

A couple more attempts at the same look, except that this one came out with the leg way over-exposed, but the shoe emphasized quite nicely.

Here’s one that’s a bit more contrived than I’d like, but it still works for me. You’re an intrepid poser, Sugar, dear!

Ah, the classic getting-in-the-car shot. I’m not happy with this shot, but I know what to do in the future. At least the shoe is getting some real action shots, though.

Here, trying a different angle in quite close quarters. Sugar suggested that I needed to get more angle on the shoe – I agree. It’s just tough in this tight space, although worth the effort. It’s an interesting shot – and now, a mental bookmark to remind me to try to improve on it in the future, while trying other shots like it.

A variation, as well as a good example of why this kind of photography and promotion requires foot models. Not too many body parts can stand up to this close scrutiny – Sugar and the others will definitely need pedicures for actual photo shoots.

Another variation. Next time, I might try a call van so I can get more room and angle choices.

The shots were sometimes a bit overexposed or ill-cropped, but I actually consider this quite a successful first test shoot, as were were 1) in a rush, 2) weren’t working with a real client’s shoes, and 3) didn’t take as many safety shots as we will make sure to do in the future.

Arrival!

By this time, both Sugar and I were pretty hungry, so we were happy to ditch the shooting and get some food. We had fun on the shoot and gained some really helpful experience.

Look forward to more, better stuff in the very near future.