Chicago: The Hidden Gem for Fashion Photography
Is Chicago the hidden gem for fashion photography? Hello, I’m Daria Koso, a fashion photographer with more than a decade of experience, and I believe so.
It has fashion, sports, city and nature, and I recently visited the Windy City to see if it could actually combine those four completely different styles effectively.
So, I did photo shoots from backdrops as beautiful and as varied as Chicago’s incredible downtown skyline and a wild forested area that’s also in this amazing city.
Creativity Comes From Adaptation
Before I visited Chicago, I thought that creativity only came from inspiration. I’ve now realized that it also comes from adaptation, from how effectively and quickly we can adapt to the different surroundings and varying circumstances that we’re working with.
Whenever you have new locations with new lighting and, perhaps most significantly, new energy, you’re naturally forced to think differently as you adapt to those changes. This is exactly what will help keep your work evolving.
Chicago: In the Studio
The first photo shoot that I did on my visit to Chicago was in the studio, but it wasn’t an ordinary fashion session. This one, which was with Marianna Fedchuk, had a cinematic feel to it, like I was photographing a movie scene.
Soon after starting, I realized that I had to adapt from what had been on the mood board. More to the point, I realized that I wanted, I needed, to not only take beautiful photos but to also think of this experience like I was capturing frames from a film. To help me get that cinematic touch, I shot wide and horizontal.
I also felt like this cinematic feeling that was coming from these photos was enhanced when she looked away. During those times, it was even more like I was watching and sharing the unfolding of a story.
But in the end, the most important part of this photo shoot was that my model and I felt the same energy, and Marianna and I did. We were perfectly in sync, and that showed in the photos that we created on this incredible day.
Chicago: City Skyline
After a delicious lunch break, the next shoot that was waiting for me in Chicago was completely different from the last one and not just because we were now outdoors on this beautiful day.
This time, I was shooting at vibrant and iconic Navy Pier with a stunning view of the glowing downtown Chicago skyline in the background. My model for this shoot, Caitlin Simpson, and I focused on a mix of two styles, sporty and fashion, during our time here.
She wanted to update her portfolio with athletic-inspired images, so we focused on strong, confident poses that had a Victoria’s Secret energy, powerful yet feminine. I really loved playing with the movements that she did here as I took walking shots while adding a little attitude to the shoot. In the end, I felt like we really brought the sporty vibe to life while keeping the imagery fashion-forward.
We wrapped up the session with a few strong head shots, a perfect final touch to complete her updated portfolio.
After we finished, Caitlin said that she loved the Catwoman vibe that we’d created during our city-sport type of shoot. The experience, which had her in an all-black outfit with the skyline behind her, made her feel like a Victoria’s Secret Angel.
Caitlin really enjoyed our photo-shooting experience in Chicago, and I did too.
Chicago: Downtown Setting
As I made my way to my next photo shoot, I realized that Chicago really is the Windy City. That’s not just a saying. It’s very true; I had my hair flying into my face so much!
But navigating that wind to get to the next shoot was well worth it.
This time, I was working with Anokhi Patel. We focused more on street-style vibes and fashion, and we did so right in the heart of downtown. Stunning buildings were all around us, and the Chicago River was behind her in many of the beautiful shots that were taken.
We were shooting at around sunset on this day, so I took full advantage of the changing light and even took a few shots after it got dark to bring about that moody night-photography look that I love to capture. In the end, my model’s portfolio felt complete as it had so much variety and included images that were shot in not only golden light but also glowing city lights, including artistic shots that were taken in front of bright theatre marquees.
Anokhi wore three different outfits during this shoot, each of them showing a different side of her style.
Chicago: Dreamy Forest
My last photo shoot in Chicago was completely different from the first three. It was in a forest, and it was magical.
Honestly, I’d never shot in a forest before, and everything felt so natural and effortless there. And as we went deeper into the forest, the mood changed even more. It started to feel like we were in a fairy tale.
During this time, I took images of my model, Elena, in a white dress with a bow by some breathtaking water. A soft, romantic look was the intent of this nature-based shoot, and that’s exactly what we got. It felt so dreamy and peaceful while we were there.
At the end of this shoot, we added a little bit of an edgier vibe to the mood and to the images while still keeping everything feminine and elegant. Those photos turned out so well.
This was the perfect way to end my visit to Chicago, a mix of calm, creativity and pure inspiration.
I Loved the Windy City
Chicago and its unique rhythms surprised me in the best way possible. It gave me every light and every mood that I could imagine, and I loved the time that I spent there finding beauty in its dynamic chaos.
My Other Travels
Even though I’m based in Miami, as a traveling fashion photographer, I regularly visit and shoot in other locations with Chicago being just one of those, and I really enjoy the variety that they all offer and add to my shots.
I recently took some images in a few stunning settings in the southwest U.S.
Included was a five-day span doing non-stop fashion photo shoots in Las Vegas. It had its challenges, for sure, but the experience was so fulfilling.
While in that region, I had an unforgettable experience on Death Valley’s sand dunes. That was a dream come true for me.
I also enjoyed my time dodging the waves while taking photos on the beach in Malibu.
Another amazing place where I’ve done fashion photography shoots is New York.
I’m so grateful to have shot in so many different locations, and, while embracing all of those different environments, I’ve learned a lot, including fine-tuning my ability to adapt.
Mentorships, Portfolio Reviews and Workshops
If you’re potentially interested in services that I offer photographers, consider taking advantage of my 1-on-1 Mentorships, my Portfolio Review and Photo Critique Service and my workshops.
