Top Tips To Make It To The Top As A Fashion Photographer

Getting ahead as a fashion photographer is no easy task. Here is some advice from three different fashion photographers; Lauren Ford, Natalia Borecka and Adriana Curcio, on how to succeed as a fashion photographer.

Lauren Ford is the photographic director of Dazed Digital. Here are her tips:

Stand out from the crowd
Ford recommends that you send your best pictures to people you want to work for with some information about yourself that grabs people’s attention.

Be Original
Ford says it is the most common mistake for young photographers to copy the style of work already out there. She encourages photographers to find their own style.

“you can’t be afraid to do your own thing, even if you think it’s not cool and no one else is doing it right now. That’s just because it hasn’t happened yet” says Lauren Ford.

Show Enthusiasm
When you are starting out you need to be enthusiastic, energetic and willing to collaborate as well as open minded and willing to work with others and experiment.

Be selective
Although you have to make money, Ford says you should be careful of what you say yes to at the beginning, to make sure that it represents who you are and that it makes sense for you.

Collaborate
As a fashion photographer, Ford says it is important to build relationships with stylists and other teams especially if you work very well together as these relationships can last a career and the creative force behind a good team can create great work.

Don’t do it for the Money
There is no money to be had, especially when you are starting out. You need to build a portfolio and buy equipment. It can be a decade before you are really making money as a fashion photographer, so this really should not be your motivation.

Natalia Borecka is a fashion photographer and editor-in-chief of Lone Wolf Magazine. Here is her advice for up and coming fashion photographers:

Earn your Big Break
No one will give you a break if you have no experience. No one will give you a fashion photography shoot with no portfolio or experience on the back of enthusiasm, confidence and promises.

“If “just trust me” is all you have to go on, you really don’t have much. When hundreds of competitors are applying for the same jobs as you with polished portfolios of work that really highlight what they’re capable of, you better have more than just promises and passion to go on” says Natalie Borecka.

The Key is Consistency
Clients and agents want to see that you are not a one hit wonder, but can consistently produce brilliant and beautiful fashion photography in your portfolio.

“How long did it take you to get that perfect shot? Can you do it again? Was it just blind luck? If you can prove to a client that you can consistently reproduce your best quality work, you’re in” says Natalia Borecka

You’re Never Hired for the Obvious Reasons
A fashion photographer needs to handle the logistics of the shoot and keep a cool head ready to solve any problem that arises

Get into Social Media
Social Media is the best and quickest way to get your photography work seen by as many people as possible.

“Marketing should take up about 75% of everything you do, with social media being the most important of these. There’s simply no better way to become insanely successful than to use your social networks” says Natalia Borecka

Work for free to get practice
Although many in the fashion industry may take advantage of working for free. You can gain valuable experience and add to your portfolio by working for free.

“Starting out, working for free allows you to be as creative as you wish and to pour your passion into a dream project. When you’re working for a paying client they hold all the creative control, which often translates to work that is less than you’re capable of” says Borecka

Adriana Curcio is a fashion and editorial photographer and here are her suggestions for getting ahead as a fashion photographer.

Preparation

“I never walk on to a set without having a concrete idea of what I’m looking to achieve. I have books, and books of tear sheets of images of lighting, makeup, hair, styling, posing, editing, etc.” says Curcio

Be a Director
Curcio insists you have to find and create your shot, direct the model to create what image you want

Never Stop Shooting
This keeps the creative energy alive.

“The second you stop shooting, is the second your “photographic brain” starts slowly disappearing and getting lazy” says Curcio

 

Break the Rules
Play around with the lighting and traditional sets and poses.

This advice from these photographers emphasise the point that it is not easy to get ahead as a fashion photographer and that experience and a good portfolio proving your talent is essential. You need to be many things to make it as a fashion photographer showing only the passionate and brilliant succeed.