My first photoshoot experience
By Lauren Wells

Observing beautifully buff men model dress shirts is not a bad way to spend an afternoon. I had the pleasure of helping out at the Fashion Denver / Bradley Allen Valentine’s Day photo shoot this week. It was my first behind-the-scenes shoot experience and I was very excited. Pro tip: if you ever get lost looking for a photo shoot location, follow the pretty people. I had been searching for the building for a few unsuccessful minutes when a stunning couple emerged from their car, greeting me with a magnificent combination of muscles, luscious locks, and pearly whites.

Following them inside, I was impressed by the obvious amount of effort that went into planning the shoot. The makeup and apparel had to be pristine, the props laid out just so, and the equipment fine-tuned. Models not only had to perfect a variety poses but make them look natural and effortless as well. The attention to detail that went into creating entrancing, realistic scenes for these shirts was remarkable.

I can’t imagine the pressure on the models to look realistically intimate (sometimes with strangers) in front of a bunch of people staring at you and criticizing your every move. But the atmosphere of this shoot was filled with funny faces, giggles, and teamwork. The team worked seamlessly, offering suggestions, fixing props/clothes and repositioning models while sharing laughs and stories. Perhaps the coolest thing about observing this shoot, though, was the fact that these models volunteered their time to be photographed in the product. Seeing how passionate people are about the brand and how willing they are to help increase brand awareness was a marvelous experience.

>> Read Lauren’s first blog entry on Bradley Allen and get the inside scoop on what to get your man for Valentine’s Day >>