Sunday, July 29, 2012

Job Opportunities - Becoming a Fashion Photographer

By Dan Feildman




Everywhere we look we see images of beautiful women wearing the latest fashion, dressed from head to toe in the hottest looks from the catwalks of the world. These are the fashion models of today and tomorrow. These slick images surround us, but who creates these lasting impressions of cool? Who takes the time to study the art of capturing style and depth to produce a completely unique look with every image? Who else, but the fashion photographer.

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 glamorous lifestyle may be the outsider's perception of fashion photography, but reaching success is a truly testing process. This profession is ruthless, and without the focus of strength to persist, the competition will throw you to the side. With every famous photographer there are thousands of others earning nothing from their trade.

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.

Having a great portfolio to show off your work is vital to success. Have at least 20 photos in it to give you room to show off your skill in producing a range of styles. Developing photographs in the 4x5" format is the best way to display your work. If your work is in a publication, use that as well. If you are having trouble getting any of these, a good quality 8x10" will suffice. Make sure you show your ability to take photographs of different aspects of the human figure. A full figure photo with character will take you a long way.

It is important to remember that jewelery is a part of fashion, so a partial body shot, for example a shot of a wrist watch on a well-formed wrist can be a good photograph to have. Make several copies of your portfolio and always have a few with you. When applying for a job, this will allow you to leave your portfolio behind without hindering you.

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.



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