Meet our latest 500px Prime Creator and be taught extra about how Licensing is making a extra inclusive world by way of visible storytelling.
Initially from Russia, Natalie Zotova is at the moment primarily based in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Natalie shoots numerous genres of pictures, starting from wedding ceremony pictures to meals, product, and way of life content material. With over 18 years of expertise, Natalie’s Licensing content material stands out for its technical and artistic method. As a Licensing Contributor and business photographer, Natalie understands the significance of speaking to numerous client markets. Her Portfolio illustrates quite a lot of demographics and themes that fill gaps inside business promoting.
500px is thrilled to have Natalie as a 500px Prime Creator, and be capable to acknowledge her as an exemplary content material creator for the 500px Licensing Assortment.
Q: Hi there! Are you able to inform us a bit about your self?
A: I’m Natalie. I like to journey, meet new folks, and, after all, I like pictures. I take advantage of pictures as a strategy to specific myself and to create magnificence. In my follow, I do business shoots, inventory pictures, tutorials, and run my very own weblog on Instagram. I like to assist folks be taught new pictures abilities and develop their follow.
Q: We’re excited to have you ever as a 500px Prime Creator. Your Licensing Portfolio has a powerful 2,700+ photographs. Are you able to share your expertise with 500px Licensing and the way it started?
A: It began when my boyfriend advised me about Grants on 500px. The primary Grant I participated in was the Intersectional Variety Grant. He steered that I submit a few of my work. The prize was a $1000 Grant to develop a bigger shoot to be a part of the 500px Licensing assortment. I made a decision to offer it a go! At the moment, I already had an account on 500px.com, however simply a few photographs had been uploaded. It was a nice shock after I came upon that I used to be chosen to obtain the Grant cash. Since then, I’ve turn out to be extra concerned in Grants and Quests, and proceed to submit extra photographs to Licensing.
Q: You’ve gotten produced quite a few beautiful business photoshoots for 500px Licensing. Are you able to share with us the place you draw your inspiration on your way of life shoots?
A: Often, the 500px Quest themes give me inspiration. Typically there are subjects that I’ve by no means thought-about taking pictures earlier than, and it turns into a enjoyable problem for me. I begin planning the best folks and the best location. Nevertheless, individuals are additionally my inspiration. Typically I simply know when somebody I meet can be excellent for a 500px Quest photoshoot. I get excited, and I hope that, with their participation, I might win the Quest. Then I ask these folks to be my fashions.
Q: Industrial promoting is continually evolving. Customers right now are advocating for content material that promotes range and authenticity. What are your ideas on these adjustments and the way do they have an effect on you as a photographer?
A: I actually like this type of content material as a result of it’s true, it’s actual, it’s not embellished. We’re who we’re, cease sporting masks and impersonating another person. This idea may be very near me. I like naturalness, actual faces, actual feelings, actual life. However nonetheless, we’re used to taking a look at magnificence pictures and are interested in perfection. Due to this fact, one should be capable to present range and authenticity, in a balanced method, from the usually magnificence pushed cinematic facet.
Q: We really feel that your Portfolio is a wonderful instance of intentional casting that feels genuine and real. The picture above was submitted as a part of the 500px Intersectional Variety Grant collection you shot. Are you able to inform us about your creative imaginative and prescient for this shoot?
A: The picture is of my pal Julia. I like the style of boudoir pictures—that is the inventive a part of my work, usually non-commercial. I steered a photoshoot to my pal as a result of her pores and skin is exclusive. She was a bit uncomfortable with the concept at first, however I needed to point out her how lovely she is. I did this by focusing and drawing consideration to her distinctive options.
Lately, I met with one other pal of mine, and he advised me that the way in which I seize folks in my photographs is exclusive, and he needed to know the way I do it. My secret is displaying an individual as is, and to not intervene with them being themselves. With my fashions, I discover one thing that I can admire, and I seize it. Each individual is exclusive and delightful—my aim is to point out this.
Q: The photographer and mannequin relationship is essential. Are you able to share any recommendations on the way you make your fashions really feel comfy whereas on a shoot?
A: Sure, I do know a couple of tips.
1. You should reward your fashions. Contemplate saying “tremendous, properly executed, excellent” These phrases will give them confidence.
2. You should give validation. Say issues like “you might be very lovely / you might be very photogenic / you might be such an attractive couple / you progress very properly within the body” This can assist the individual calm down and loosen up.
3. Clearly talk what you need your fashions to do. Do not forget that not all of your fashions will probably be comfy in entrance of the digicam and instinctively know what to do and the place to place their arms or how one can pose. Provide you with a shot listing and a plan prematurely—write down in your notes the actions that you’ll ask your mannequin to do and exhibit it if want be.
4. Discover reference photographs to point out your fashions—level out particular poses and what facial expressions to make.
5. Specify the temper that you really want evoked in your shoots. For instance, in my previous couple photoshoots, I requested the girl to think about that she was a princess main her prince by way of her backyard of roses. She instantly modified her facial features, turned extra assured, extra lovely, straightened her posture and walked with an attractive gait.
6. If you’re filming a household, I discover that it’s higher to solely intervene when essential. Direct the overarching thought and state what you need them to do, however then watch their relationship by way of the digicam.
Q: We admire what number of of your Licensing photoshoots characteristic numerous industries and office settings. Such a content material is tough to plan and execute. Are you able to describe the method of planning and discovering these places and fashions?
A: These sorts of photoshoots are greatest executed if you find yourself acquaintances with somebody in a sure area. Companies often want photographs for his or her web sites and social media accounts. Usually it’s doable to cooperate on a barter foundation. I simply give them photographs.
I shot a marijuana plantation just lately. I discover that it’s harder for a foreigner to get entry to this manufacturing sort the place I’m positioned in Thailand. Due to this fact, I requested my Thai pal to assist me discover this plantation. I paid her for her work, and I additionally paid the farmer.
Q: How do you go about scheduling and dealing round a enterprise’ schedule?
A: It’s usually completely different each time. Within the case of taking pictures the plantation, my pal, as an agent, organized all the things.
For a cosmetology shoot I did just lately, the cosmetologist first looked for a shopper to be the mannequin. She then adjusted her schedule in order that it was handy for each of us and her.
Q: When you affirm a enterprise/service to shoot, are there any necessities or restrictions you require?
A: My necessities are that I can erase any recognized branding inside the body. Often, I stick the inscriptions myself or take away them in Photoshop. The enterprise usually asks for the photographs as-is, with no branding erased, and perhaps some further footage they want for promoting.
Q: How do you method the topic of Licensing along with your fashions?
A: How do I discover fashions? The strategies are completely different. Typically I textual content a sure individual, and typically I search for folks in chats or teams.
First, I textual content somebody who suits what I’m searching for. Then I clarify the logistics such because the photographs being taken for 500px. I clarify all the things intimately—the place these photographs will probably be positioned, and the place they can be utilized sooner or later. It does occur that individuals refuse—they are not looking for their photographs to be publicly accessible on the Web.
Then, I simply search for different folks. Typically I ask my acquaintances what they’re most involved about and their cause for refusal. I discuss them by way of their fears and considerations and assist them perceive the character of Licensing higher.
Q: How do you method storytelling as a photographer?
A: Telling a narrative can not occur and not using a script. Due to this fact, I at all times work off of a script. I make certain it’s logical and practical. I positively use completely different angles—extensive, medium, and close-up pictures. My fashions are usually not actors, so these eventualities are so simple as doable.
Q: What’s the strangest factor you’ve ever needed to do to get the proper shot?
A: I didn’t do something significantly unusual. After I {photograph} landscapes and nature pictures, I typically climb excessive rocks to get one of the best angle. I typically stroll into the water or into the mud, so, I make it possible for I’m sporting work garments. I had a case after I was taking pictures a lady on a destroyed dam and the stones on which I stood started to maneuver down—I fell and hit myself and hit the digicam. However all the things labored out. Now I stroll extra rigorously on the stones.
Sustain with extra work by Natalie Zotova:
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