Fashion Photography

What the job entails:

Fashion photographers work in both studios and on locations. It is their job to photograph the garments and incorporated ideas of clients and influences from the seasons. They have to be able to understand the client's brand image and produce unique and interesting shots to fulfil their brief.  High fashion photographers and magazine photographers often work within their own studios or in studios supplied by clients. They must be innovative and creative and be constantly refreshing their style to keep up to date. Mail-order catalogue photographers usually work with an array of models in various situations photographing a single range of clothing over a few days or weeks producing enough photographs to fill a catalogue. These photographers have the security of regular employment but rarely earn as much as high fashion and magazine photographers. 

Career routes:

Many fashion photographers will start out in the business as an assistant to a more established photographer and will learn on the job. This provides the photographer with experience and contacts such as various art directors, clients and models. 

Training, skills and qualifications:

Various colleges and universities offer courses in photography and more specifically fashion photography. These give a wide knowledge of the fashion industry however it would be more valuable and helpful to start as an assistant to another photographer.  You need to have a wide interest in the whole fashion industry, not just photography, and be creative and innovative with your techniques. As photographers will be meeting clients and working with models and art directors they need to have good interpersonal skills, and be able to source accessories and props. 

Typical salaries: 

Most fashion photographer’s work on a freelance basis and starting salaries are often low. A day shooting for a magazine may start at around £150 rising to around £600 for someone with more experience. In other areas of fashion photography the more experience photography can command around £3,000 for a days work.


Examples of fashion photography: