this question is for fashion photographers

[o snap!]

Hello friends

I have been becoming more and more interested in fashion photography. I was wondering if any “professional” fashion photographers would mind telling me how they came about becoming a fashion photographer (what did you have to go through to become a fashion photographer?). I would be very interested in hearing any stories you have about becoming a fashion photographer.

thanks,
@lex

[Mike Panic]

being a pro fashion photographer can mean many differant things... at this point id consider myself an advanced amature at it - even though i do a fair amount of magazine work

first and foremost - you will go the farthest if you live in a big city... you are more likely to get jobs and make money living in la, nyc, paris, etc then you would in nebraska - but thats not to say there isnt money there

your best bet is to start off doing tfp w/ daym near anyone you can. get a studio, work on lighting, build a porfolio, get on onemodelplace.com and start to shop your work around to local ad agency's. the agency's then can use you as a freelancer for when they put together ad campaigns for clients and need specific work done

get out and meet & greet - one of the most overlooked things. get business cards made, go to bars, clubs, art shows, fashion shows, any kind of function where you think there may be a potential client

[Avalonthas]

start small think big. Get a studio, i prefer @ home studio's and do some general modelling, once u get some good clients and make some nice shots you will start to get contacts in that business that will lead to fashion, thats how it worked out for me anyways.

[sGu]

Learn how to light face, body, colour, hair and background.

Lighting a model is the most important thing in fashion, good set up can deliver extrordinary results and average/bad lighting set up won't do models, makeup artist, costume any justice. Equipment doesn't come cheap, but as long as you know lighting at back of your head, you can always rent everything whenever you need to with fraction of the cost.

Don't restrict yourself inside studios, use locations as well as indoor studios, open your eyes, let vision lead the way :)

Good luck!

[o snap!]

thanks a lot for the information guys, it was very helpful. i was wondering how old you guys were when you started fashion photography. im only 17 and im planing to go to a four year college. ( is a four year college helpful towards becoming a "proffesional" fashion photographer?) thanks again for taking the time to give me some advice:lol:


@lex

[sGu]

To me, there isn't so much principle difference across various platforms of photography. It's simply control of lighting, composition and press shutter at the right time.

I'm not a fashion photographer, but I did fashion before and I would shoot it again whenever I am assigned to.

I would strongly recommend you to spend 4 years in college regardless what you would be studying. It might not be helpful for you to become a fashion photographer, however, your interests of photography might just be slightly different from today, or even not in photography at all! I guess all I'm trying to say is don't restrict yourself to something too specific too early, keep option open, see the world, then you'll know which direction to go when time comes.

Read this story (http://www.sportsshooter.com/news/1333) if above isn't convincing enough. :)

[johnellisphotography]

"I wanna be a fashion photographer" is the same as "I wanna be a rockstar".

If you are #1. outstandingly awesome and above the ordinary and #2. able to eat, sleep, and breathe nothing but fashion and photography for the next 10 years or so, then you might make it. You might also have wasted those ten years. Fashion photography is way more than photography. Technical excellence is of course required but unfortunately only a shred of what is important. The top photogs in that business have a damn keen sense of fashion and what looks good and what is currently in vogue. Mediocrity will kill you as fast as just flat out sucking. If you are in the US, watch that show American Idol and then change the whole scenario into photos and not singing. Editors see piles and piles of stuff and it takes alot of vision and talent and risk to stick out. Also, you need to look "correct" and have the "correct" attitide. Non-professionalism of any sort will kill you quick, you are an expendable item, not a Claudia Schiffer. It would help alot to take any job in the corporate world for a few years to learn the subtlties of work life and politics in general. It's very darwinistic.

On a lighter note, just remember that for every rock star, there are hundreds if not thosands that make a good living in the music business. Same for photography. You probably wont be a Patrick Demarchelier, but you could at least be Joe Photo that makes a living in the industry. Or then again you might. Just have to find out. If you still love shooting fashion after being told you are a worthless piece of poo by the very people who could hire you.... then you might have the skin to do it. As far as college, a degree in accounting or business management would serve you well if you plan to be a freelance photographer. Good Luck.

PS: you also need to live in NY, LA or Paris. If you at least live in a second market, like Dallas, Miami, Chicago or London; Then you can probably get a start there.