Breaking Into the World of Fashion Photography

Many a budding photographer dreams of working in the glamorous and exciting world of fashion photography. They imagine working the catwalks of New York or of being surrounded by beautiful models while they snap pictures that will be on the cover of Vogue or Glamour. While it may seem like an absolute dream to work in this type of environment, in reality fashion photography is a job just like any other and has its drawbacks as well. If you're considering this as a career, what are some things to think about and how can you go about getting your big break?

It's Not All Glamour and Excitement!

When considering fashion photography as a career, remember that it's not all glamour and excitement. You may imagine being surrounded by beautiful models wearing gorgeous clothes while you capture their beauty for the camera, but in reality, the prepping for a fashion shoot and the actual picture taking can be an unbelievably tedious undertaking. There are dozens of adjustments that need to be made to each and every outfit on the model, along with makeup and hair touchups. The photographer can be standing for hours waiting for the model to be ready for just a few minutes of picture taking. And while many think of fashion photography as being those gorgeous shots you see on the cover of those high-end magazines, in reality the photographers who actually get their work on those magazines. Most work for some of the lesser known magazines where you photograph everyday people in not so glamorous settings. There are also clothing catalogs and ads for retail stores, all of which need so-called fashion photography.

While this may seem like a letdown to someone that has his or her heart set on working in a glamorous and beautiful setting, it's actually good news to those who are a bit more realistic. It means that there are more job openings in the world of fashion photography than just those few magazines. It may not be exciting to be shooting pictures of clothing models that will wind up in the Sunday newspaper circular, but it's steady work and typically pays well.

Working Locally

There are also many opportunities for fashion photography outside of the area of New York. Local clothing retailers need photos for their ads, and just about every big city there is has some type of fashion show that goes on at one time or another. There may also be other types of events that involve fashion photography, such as an auto show or other expo. Typically the organizers want their models to be photographed with whatever product is being showcased, whether it's cars or new kitchen appliances or anything else. This may not have been your original idea when you considered fashion photography as a career choice, but it means being able to work locally and to have your name and work credited in the local paper as well, which can increase your business in other areas.