A Career In Fashion Photography

 A Career in Fashion Photography

 We see them everywhere—in magazines, on runways, and in TV ads. They are the slim women who strut their stuff or the extraordinary Beauties who flaunt their pearly whites in the most recent styles from the most popular designers. The fashion models of today, yesterday, and tomorrow are the subject of our discussion. We see them everywhere, but who brought them to us? Their photographs are taken with care and precision, patience, and a particular eye for style, color, and lighting. I'm referring to fashion photographers.

• Famous people in the fashion industry like Mario Testino, who is easily one of the hottest people in the world, and Eva Mueller, who is a photographer for the fashion magazine Allure, are just as sought after, if not more so, than people who sneak into our consciousness.

• The glamorous lifestyle of hobnobbing with the rich and famous and earning high salaries may be the aspiration of many young photographers, but climbing the famed fashion houses' golden staircases is difficult. There are hundreds of talented photographers out there, panting on the sidewalk and daydreaming about the day their picture will be chosen.

• To get started in fashion photography, the novice and dreamer of dreams should follow these a few pointers. Examine your topic. There is never enough to learn. Take a look at and read any fashion magazine you can find. There are excellent books available on fashion and fashion photography. There is a real treasure trove on Amazon.com.

• A tripod, a couple of good cameras, and a lighting system are all you need. Make certain that you always have plenty of film and batteries on hand. Digital and SLR cameras take different pictures, so choose the one that is best for your job.

• If the editor of the fashion magazine would like to see examples of your work, you should bring a portfolio with you when you submit your work in the hopes of getting a chance. I can assure you that if they decide to work with you, that will be the case.

• A 4X5" transparency's bright, sharp images demonstrate your best efforts. A tear sheet—literally a sheet you tore out of the magazine—works well if you have already published something, whether it was a small neighborhood paper or a contest. A high-quality 8 X 10 "is also acceptable if neither is available. Your portfolio should contain at least 20 images, with a preference for a variety of styles. You want to demonstrate your proficiency with the entire figure or just certain body parts.

• Keep in mind that jewelry and accessories are part of fashion. It's sometimes a good fashion photo to show a famous watch on the wrist of a beautiful woman. If you're applying for the position, you'll need to leave your Portfolio behind for a while, sometimes even a few weeks. I would suggest making copies and keeping several on hand. This is helpful when showing your work to a lot of people for fashion work consideration.

It's good to show off your skills as a fashion photographer online now that technology is so advanced. Create a website; enter your pictures into contests. Send them to a fashion gallery online. This makes it easier for people to see your work and what you actually do and can do for them.

The majority of editors are looking for your personality in your pictures. The soul of the fashion and its model is captured differently by each fashion photographer. There are a few excellent online resources for "how to get started" websites. Start by reading http://www.fashion.net/howto/photography/ or http://www.stylecarrer.com/fashion_photographer.shtml.Most importantly, don't give up if this is your dream. I hope to see your images on the cover of my next hot fashion magazine if you keep trying.