How to pursue a career in photography

 How to pursue a career in photography

We see them everywhere, in Magazines, on the Run Way, in commercials on TV. They are slender women who accentuate their stuff or outstanding beauty with their sultry appearance that exudes pearl white while wearing the latest styles from the hottest Designers. We are talking about fashion models today, yesterday and tomorrow. 

They are everywhere we look, but who brings them to us? Their images are captured with care and precision, with patience and a special look for the composition of styles, colors, and lighting. I'm talking about fashion photographers.

In fashion circles, famous names like Mario Testino (one of the hottest names out there) and Eva Mueller (photographer for Fashion Magazine Allure) are as sought-after if not more than men and women taking a stroll into our subconscious.

High salaries and the glamorous lifestyle of the hobbies who mix it with the rich and famous may be the dream of many young photographers, but it is not easy to get to the golden Stairs of famous fashion houses and magazines. For every talented photographer, hundreds of people are left panting on the sidewalk, dreaming only of the moments their photos will be selected.

Here are some tips for beginners and dreamers of starting fashion photography. Study your subject. You can never learn enough. Read and check out any fashion magazine you can handle. There are fantastic books on Fashion and fashion photography available. Amazon.com has a true treasure trove available.

You need a good camera or two, a tripod and a lighting system.

 Always make sure that you have plenty of film and battery available. SLR and digital cameras take different photos, so make sure you find the best for your field.

When submitting your work, hopefully, it gives you the opportunity to have a portfolio on hand, just in case fashion magazine editors want to see samples of your work. I assure you if they consider working with you, it will become a fact.

A sharp, bright image with 4X5 inch transparency shows you your work at its best. 

If you already have a publication, no matter whether it's a small neighborhood magazine/newspaper or a contest, a tear-off (literally the one you tore from the magazine) works fine. If none is available, high-quality 8 X 10 "is also acceptable. You want to make sure that you have a minimum of 20 photos in your portfolio and a different style preferably. You want to show your skills in full or only part of the body.

Remember, fashion includes jewelry and accessories. Sometimes a watch from a well-known maker on the slender wrist of a beautiful woman is a great fashion photoshoot. If you're applying for a job, be prepared to leave your Portfolio for a long period of time, sometimes up to several weeks. I would advise you to make copies and have some on hand. 

This is especially useful when showing your work to lots of different people to take into consideration for fashion work.

In the age of modern technology, it's also a good thing to showcase your talents as a fashion photographer online. Prepare a website; submit your photos to the contest. Submit to online mode gallery. It helps to get your work seen and people see what kind of work you actually do and can do for them.

Most editors look for your personality in the photos you take. Every fashion photographer captures the soul of fashion and models differently. There are several excellent "how to get started" sites on the internet. 

You may want to start with http://www.fashion.net/howto/photography/ or http://www.stylecarrer.com/fashion_photographer.shtml. Most importantly, if this is your dream, don't give up. 

Keep trying and I look forward to seeing your photos on the cover of my next hot fashion magazine.