In today’s world we are saturated with images. All around us there are images of thin women dressed in the latest fashion. They are on TV, in magazines and all over the internet. But who brings these images to us? Who captures these photographs that command our attention, these photographs that exude style and character while highlighting the clothing to enhance its elegance? These people spend years practicing the art of capturing light and colour perfectly with a camera. They spend years studying composition to make their images achieve the most impact. These people are fashion photographers.
Names like Michael Muller and Patrick Demarchelier are as famous as super models in the world of fashion. They command a special brand of power in being the arbiters of visual taste and are celebrated accordingly.
The extravagant lifestyle of socializing with the rich and famous is the aspiration of many who came into this business. But the truth is that this is a bleak field to work in if you don’t have complete conviction in what you are doing. This must be your passion, as the path to success will try you without mercy. For every success there are hundreds of failures who never get a glimpse of the fame and money they strive for.
To get started in fashion photography you must study your art. You will never stop learning, so read any fashion magazine you can get your hand on. Check out Amazon.com for high quality fashion books where you can see what other people think of the books before you buy them. To get anywhere in the business you’ll need at least one good camera, a tripod and some basic photography lighting. When shooting make sure you have enough film and lots of batteries for the camera. Research your field as different cameras produce different tones in the final image.
You really need to have a portfolio of your best work on you at all times. If a fashion editor shows any interest in you, they are going to want to see what you can do. Clear, bright photographs give the best impression. 4×5″ is a good format to present your work in, but if your work has been published you can take a copy of that too. If these are not an option then a decent quality 8×10″ will do fine. Make sure you have at least 20 photographs in your portfolio and try to show your grasp of different styles. Provide proof of your skill in capturing full figure shots.
When you apply for a job, you can expect to leave your portfolio there for a few weeks, so make sure you make copies of your portfolio so you don’t have to be idle while hearing back from employers. For a different look try taking partial body shots, for instance photographing watches on wrists. They make a great contrast to the rest of your work.
The internet is becoming a useful portal to display your work. Set up your own website with your portfolio online, and submit your photographs to online competitions. This will help get your work seen and a well-presented web page can bring in a lot of clients.
Fashion editors are looking for character in your photographs. Develop your craft so you have the technical ability to express yourself in your work. There are a lot of great resources online to show you the basics of fashion photography. If this is your passion, don’t give up on it. Success is possible, but you will have to work hard to earn it.
