How to become a fashion photographer

Taking beautiful inspiring fashion photos is something really exciting : the set, the models, the locations . For someone is even more than exciting. There are different famous fashion photographers who work for brands, editorials or both . Each photographer has his own aestethic and each of them looks through the lenses in different ways .

If you dream to become a fashion photographer you’re in the right place . In this post I’ll tell you how to become a fashion photographer with the advices and the stories of the most famous fashion photographers .

1. Take a Photography or art course

The first main advice is to take a course where you can learn the techniques and where you can have the opportunity to interact with professional teachers and to compare yourself with other students . Lots of fashion photographers started out with a degree in art. Anyway, if are already enrolled at a college and you’re studying something else don’t worry about it . The famous photographer Mario Testino didn’t major in an art-related field during his college years, when he studied economics, law, and international relations. He began training to become a photographer later and you can do this too .

2.Intern at photography studios

Being a photographer’s assistant can really help you to learn every aspect of the industry and to further honed your craft . Assist a lot of people so you can learn as much as possible. You want to be as skilled as you can be before you go out on your own.

3. Check out photographer’s books

Books with photos of the most famous photographers can really inspire you and can help you to understand your own style, what you prefer of an image, what you’d do better and what you don’t like.

Bruce Weber has been one of the most influential photographers in the world, working for magazines like Vogue, GQ and Vanity Fair and creating advertising images for clients like Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren .His photography secrets are the books : ” I read a lot of books. I believe that words open your world and help you to see each day as if you’ve never seen anything before.”

4. Practice, practice, practice .

Practice makes perfect . The more photos you will take, the better they will be .Daniel Jackson started with a traditional career path : a fine arts degree in sculpture in London . Today his client list glistens with a host of luxury brands from Barneys New York, Louis Vuitton ,Chanel Cosmetics , Miss Dior and Tommy Hilfiger  . His main advice is :” Take photographs. I know that sounds obvious, but some people think you can get good at this by wanting to do it , but not actually doing anything. Work hard, get a camera, and take as many pictures as you can.”

The world-renowned photographer Patrick Demarchelier who worked for Vogue, Vanity Fair , Dior, Chanel, L’Oreal and Louis Vuitton has a big advice for everyone who wants to become a fashion photographer :

“Take pictures all the time. Don’t worry if you take a bad photograph; you learn more by taking a bad picture than a good one. If you don’t like it, study it and figure out why you don’t like it. You’ll learn from your mistake.”

5. If you’re good in the hardest situation you’ll succeed

At the beginning of a career as photographer you don’t have to possibilities to work with the best models, the best stylists , to fly to the best locations and to use the best camera so begin with a start camera and take photos of your friends of family . If you’ll be good with the hardest situation you’ll succeed with the best . Arthur Elgort’s main advice for beginners is :

“When you’re starting out, you’re not able to work with the best models or hair and makeup people, so you need to invent those people among your friends. “

What do you think about? Do you have any other advices on how to become a fashion photographer?

Photo by me