Fashion Photography
Find glamour as a fashion photographer
A career in fashion photography offers excitement, glamour and, potentially, a large paycheck. A fashion photographer uses modern equipment and technology to take pictures of people modeling the latest hairstyles, clothing, accessories and makeup. The pictures are then used in advertisements, magazine articles, catalogs, books and other media to entice consumers to buy in to the world of fashion.
Training for Photography in Fashion
While a degree is not required for a career in photography for fashion, the knowledge you’ll gain through college-level courses in photography, art and fashion design can be enormously advantageous to the aspiring fashion photographer. The most important training is practice; take as many pictures as you can and build up a portfolio of strong work. A strong portfolio consists of photos that demonstrate your creativity, imagination, technical skill, sense of style, versatility and eye for talent.
Acquiring some knowledge of the business side of fashion and photography is also helpful. Courses and training in merchandising and digital photographic technologies can help make your fashion photography skill set more marketable. In addition to taking courses at a college, university or vocational school, an apprenticeship with an established fashion photographer is an excellent way to gain valuable job skills.
How to Find a Job in Photography of Fashion
The types of careers available in the high fashion photography industry are divided into freelance and salaried positions. Freelance fashion photographers are self-employed and work on a project-by-project basis; salaried positions, such as those with fashion publications, advertising and modeling agencies, upscale clothing retailers, fashion product manufacturers and direct mail businesses are harder to land but offer more security.
The competition for entry-level positions in the fashion photography field is fierce, so a strong portfolio and relevant training are the keys to getting your foot in the door. Most newcomers to the industry start out as a photographer's assistant, then gradually work their way up to a position as a freelance or staff photographer. The most successful fashion photographers possess a wide range of skills, including:
- Artistic perceptiveness which transcends the ability to simply photograph models; you’ll need to have a demonstrated ability to capture a mood.
- Technical proficiency, which enables a fashion photographer to use modern digital photo manipulation software effectively.
- Teamwork skills; a fashion photographer must communicate with and motivate models, stylists, and agency clients.
- Organizational abilities, especially in the case of a freelance fashion photographer; this entails being a self-starter and maintaining focus, even in situations involving high levels of stress and long working hours.
