Fashion Photography
By TJ Tierney
Do you want to be a fashion photographer? Fashion
photography is an extremely tough market to break into, but
if you are willing to work hard, have a good imagination
and hold the ability to take perfect images you are off to
a good start.
A fashion photographer must be good in two photography
disciplines. First, you need to be a great portrait
photographer - second, you need to be able to create images
for the advertisement market. You must be able to combine
the two if you are going to succeed.
To be a successful fashion photographer you must also have
a love of fine design clothes - without it you will never
achieve the heights that bring success. A fashion
photographer must stay up to date with all the latest
fashion and have the ability to use his/her imagination to
sell new designs.
Selling is the key - the fashion photographer must be able
to sell his images to the fashion editor. Fashion
photography is advertising and selling clothes.
To establish a reputation in fashion photography, the first
thing you must do is set up a portfolio. Your portfolio
should display your best work and be your first selling
point. The second, and equally as important as the first,
is to set up an online portfolio - your own personal
Website.
To set up a portfolio you first must hire a model.
Contacting your local modelling agencies can do this. You
don’t need to hire a well-known model for your fashion
portfolio - you need someone who will act well in front of
the camera.
To be very successful you need to build a good relationship
with models. Some models can be tough to work with so
people psychology will play an important part. If you
intend to shoot from your home studio supply a changing
room for them.
If a model becomes unhappy for any reason the photo session
will be a waste of time. Allow your model to make their own
suggestions - regardless of how trivial it may be, it will
help to keep them relaxed and you may get results that may
be useful.
Once your portfolio is created you need to get exposure for
it. If you have previously published work - use them as a
statement with the picture editors. You need to establish a
good working relationship with all fashion editors that
you’ll be working with. So be professional.
Fashion photo editors are looking for concise images that
clearly communicate an idea. You must, as a fashion
photographer, have the ability to create unique settings.
When you do gather a large amount of fashion images, submit
them to a fashion agency: Women's magazines all over the
world buy hundreds of stock shots every month. Photo
agencies exist to sell photographers images - some of the
larger fashion agencies have buyers all over the world.
Some agencies can also re-sell your work in several
different markets, and others will give you great career
advice.
Keep up to date with fashion magazines, study the market
and always be on the lookout for changing trends.
Don’t be afraid to take the first step. If a fashion editor
has no interest in your work - don’t worry - try contacting
different magazines or agencies - most great photographers
have their work rejected some time during their career.
TJ Tierney is an award winning Irish Landscape photographer
and a freelance writer. He frequently writes for the
http://www.goldprints.com/ Art site Goldprints.com and the
http://www.shop-4us.com/ Gift ideas site shop-4us.com
To view or buy some of his images visit his on-line gallery
of - http://www.goldenirishlight.com/ Pictures of Ireland
and flower pictures