Not everyone can do steezy jumps with grabs and inverted rotations, so that looks like you are about to die, but everyone can ride left and right and are capable to do produce an awesome shot to make your friends jealous of your amazing holiday and show off on Instagram!
But of course it’s not as easy as it seems to make a perfect effortless look while kiting. But there are a few tips to making it look good.
PREPARATION
Outfit.
You should wear something bright for the photoshoot so that it is easier for the camera to focus and you will look bright.
However always make sure that your outfit is in place before coming close to the camera! You might be wearing an unreliable bikini to make this shot but you need to make sure that all of it is in the right place! I personally prefer to kite in a one-piece. It’s more comfortable to have protection against the harness and you have more chance that it stays on you and you won’t have the ridiculous harness tan lines!
Hair and make up.
As for the hair for sure it looks the best when it is loose and you can play with the wind like if you are on the cover of Cosmo magazine.
Hair looks best in a photo if it is dry, so try not to crash. I personally don’t use make up while riding, I think it’s not really good looking to have mascara under your eyes probably it makes your look more dramatic but I think is better to keep the natural look, maybe add some lipstick with SPF, and don’t forget to put a sunscreen! Just make sure that your face is not white from the cream.
SHOOTING
Photographer.
I prefer when photographer is upwind from me, so that I’m not afraid to come close and spray an expensive camera. Of course you can also go upwind from photographer just be careful with spray! Don’t edge to hard and don’t stop all of a sudden just in front of the cameraman!
Time and sun.
Remember that your face should be turned towards the sun. If it’s in the shadow you can still try to do something with it in photoshop, but for sure colors won’t be that good.
The best time for shoots are usually before 11 am and 3 pm. So that there would be less shadows on your face. Also check the background, maybe first you should check the background and then decide what time to go and where to place the photographer.
Riding.
It’s better to go slow and pass cameraman slowly so that it would be easier to pose for you and easier to focus for cameraman.
Look at the camera and smile like you mean it. Make sure that your face is relaxed and you are radiant like the sun. Keep your back straight, front leg straight and back knee should go a bit inside.
Normally it’s not good for your knees but it looks good on the photo. Lean along the water, you can release one of the hand and touch water. It’s better if the arm is straight and relaxed. The overall look should be very relaxed and comfy. If you want to have the kite in the shot then keep it low and find the angle where it is in line with you from the photographers perspective.
Heelside.
If you ride heel-side it looks better if you go towards the photographer a little bit downwind. Release your front hand, lean along the water. Don’t bend in the hips try to create a straight line starting from your hand to the board. Do your best to look relaxed and like if your are always ride like that!
Toeside.
It’s a bit harder than heelside, but also very simple. You have to go downwind from photographer. Change stance a bit earlier but don’t ride in it for too long as you might loose speed or go too much downwind.
When you ride release the former front arm touch the water. Your back should be straight. Front leg should be straight and the back knee should be turned a bit inside so that your legs are closer to each other and you don’t touch the water with your back knee. Try to create a straight line starting from your front leg and going along your body.
Carving.
To have more spray you can make a turn around photographer. You can do it unhooked or hooked in. If you do it unhooked then turn kite first and than make a carve.
Take your time to make a shot, most likely it’s not gonna happen after the first try, just try more and more I’m sure you will have a good laugh. I always do. You can see it in the pictures. Not to metion how much my photographer Ann Shahova laughs at me everytime!
Written by Victoria Soloveykina
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Photos: Ann Shahova
