Faking it
Long ago I saw a site that used mannequins to display their wares beautifully. So while I was planning my little sock site I went out and found myself some mannequin legs and did a test role only to discover that mannequin feet do not fill out socks very well and looked terribly fake besides. For lack of a better model I tried taking pictures of socks on my own feet and the rest, as they say, is history. I never thought about using fake feet again… til I got some new mannequins and a few legs for our shop and discovered that there are actually some times when it nearly works. Sock garters look great on my mannequin and while I don’t have plans to use them extensively, it is a nice option for some reshoots of older items like our K. Bell striped OTKs…
I have reshot all but one (fuchsia to be reshot when I remember) using the girl who sits patiently waiting in my office for her next shoot.
They work super well for close ups of fishnets and I had a lot of fun with some new leg warmers that will be up soon…
So yes, here and there, throughout the site, there are images of fake legs but I will always prefer working with real legs so fear not, mannequins are not taking over!
June 20th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Heehee, I wonder if anyone could tell the difference between your lovely slender legs and the mannequins’ in shots like the K. Bell stripes! With the exception of that crossed-leg angle that would no doubt be awkward to attain in real life, I could have almost guessed those stems were yours! ;)
Those leg warmers look adorable!
June 20th, 2008 at 10:27 am
i 2nd that Shelleopard…thought the orange/black stripes pic was Niq until i read the post!
and i love that her/the mannequin toes accomodate thong style shoes!
June 20th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
I’ve always wanted a mannequin. I saw a photo essay of the trunk of a male mannequin (with head) where the photog placed it in all these surreal places. It was a great series!
June 20th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
I love mine, but wish they had bendy legs like a barbie. I was amazed when I started working with the new ones and found I could get some decent shots. Sadly, her little sandal toes did not look good in tabi socks.
June 20th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Only when I went back and looked did I realize that, in those fishnet pictures, the legs were actually in the same position every time, and I still can’t believe they are fake. Those are really good mannequins! I can’t wait to see those leg warmers, either!
June 21st, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Only one of the fishnet shots has fake legs ~;)
June 22nd, 2008 at 5:25 pm
I love how you guys use real feet instead of the fake.It gives your site a more comfy feeling,and makes you more unique because not everyone has perfect toes or feet!That is why socks help to be stylish yet cover-up like make-up:)No mannequin could do that,though her weird sandel-y toes are unque!Might i say that the first pic(the one with the red shoes and the b&w socks remind me alot of alice in wonderland:)
love your sock-y friend
ryce
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:15 am
lovely miss red shoes up there reminds me of the wicked witch of the east, though she doesn’t strike me as particularly wicked. She always makes me smile and want to glitter her shoes. :)