9 Success Steps for Every Aspiring Fashion Photographer
- Fashion Photography: A Complete Guide to the Tools and Techniques of the Trade
- Fashion Photography 101
- Light and Shoot 50 Fashion Photos
- Fashion Photography Course: Principles, Practice, and Techniques: An Essential Guide
- Unseen Vogue: The Secret History of Fashion Photography
- Speedliter's Handbook: Learning to Craft Light with Canon Speedlites
- Understanding Flash Photography: How to Shoot Great Photographs Using Electronic Flash
- The Hot Shoe Diaries: Big Light from Small Flashes
- Mastering Studio Strobe Lighitng: Beginning to Advanced Photography Instruction by Jay P. Morgan
- 75 Portraits: Lighting and Posing Techniques for Portrait Photographers
- Master Lighting Guide for Portrait Photographers
- 500 Poses for Photographing Women
- 500 Poses for Photographing Men
- Light It, Shoot It, Retouch It: Learn Step by Step How to Go from Empty Studio to Finished Image
- Secrets of Great Portrait Photography: Photographs of the Famous and Infamous
- Shooting in Sh*tty Light: The Top Ten Worst Photography Lighting Situations and How to Conquer Them
1. You’re a photography student or hobbyist and you’ve decided you want to pursue fashion photography as a career, or as an added-income opportunity. You enjoy working with and photographing people and maybe you’ve experimented with deliberately posing your subjects and/or using studio lighting equipment.
Before you run from your hometown “to join the circus,” there are a number of steps you should take to prepare you to act and think like a fashion photographer. You may not be able to hide your inexperience when you approach your first magazine photo editors, but you can be better prepared to take advantage of the opportunities.
2. It’s easy to think that fashion photographers are snobbish and self-absorbed, since they are so often portrayed that way in movies and TV programming. Some probably are, but what the best ones will tell you is that it is the quality of a fashion photographer’s character that may be the most important step toward success.
The character components are rather simple and universal: professionalism, respect, honesty and reliability. Know your job and do it; respect the models, designers and editors with whom you work; be honest in your business dealings; and be ready to shoot before any session is scheduled to begin.
Recommended Cameras:
Nikon D500 | Nikon D3300 | Canon EOS Rebel T5 | Sony A7RII | Canon 7D Mark II
3. As you continue to develop the mindset of integrity of a fashion photographer, you can take the practical step of learning and acquiring the equipment you’ll need.
Fashion photography is professional photography, so you’ll require professional-grade equipment. You’ll find many equipment articles at PhotographyTalk.com that present information about specific camera bodies, lenses and accessories.
4. The most important tip when selecting a DSLR camera body is how well it fits your hand, not necessarily the brand name. If a body feels uncomfortable in your hand, then it will often interfere with the creativity in your brain.
5. Many beginners think it is counter-intuitive, but you want to buy the best lens you can afford, not the best camera. The magic focal length for fashion photography, as it is for portraits, is approximately 70mm. Just a slight bit of telephoto eliminates unflattering distortions that can occur if you shoot at the “normal” focal length of approximately 50mm. Pros would recommend a 70–200mm f/2.8 lens as an excellent first choice.
6. Because of the size of your investment in fashion photography equipment, you may want to rent various camera bodies and lenses for a series of weekends to help you determine which combination is best for you.
7. To gain experience with your camera and lens, and shooting fashion-type photography, you may also need home studio space and lighting equipment. Read the PhotographyTalk.com article, 12 Tips To Create a Photographer’s First Home Studio, and refer to the studio lighting equipment from Photoflex at photoflex.com.
8. When you’ve decided on the right fashion photography gear, you want to spend plenty of time shooting with it; so you are able to reach for the right positions on the camera and lens and change settings quickly, and without checking your choices.
9. Before shooting any models to build a portfolio, practice with family member and friends; however, don’t pose them, instead learn how to compose in the fashion style, with people in motion. You’re looking to accomplish two compositional goals: your practice subjects should fill at least 80% of the frame and the primary focus point is their eyes, which should appear sharp.
Also Read: How to spot the beginner photographer. Some funny mistakes rookies make.
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Photo by PhotographyTalk Member Elsida