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Fashion is one of the numerous ways many people choose to express themselves, and when combined with photography, it takes the art of expression up a notch. As a fashion photographer, your primary duty is to capture these emotions, so, it's totally understandable that as a creative who enjoys both fashion and photography, there is an allure towards building a career in this field. The creativity, the colors, the activities, and the models often make people wonder what could be more exciting.
Nevertheless, the precision bar for fashion photography is quite high and this tends to leave a new entrant feeling like they have some pretty big shoes to fill. Yes, it's a brutal industry and the route to becoming critically acclaimed is a dreary one. However, breaking through into the world of fashion photography doesn’t have to be so difficult every single time. Below are four tried and tested ways to make those dreams a reality.
1. Develop an original style
There is a common belief that there is nothing new in fashion, in fact, every new style is simply an evolution of one that already exists. While the same statement may apply to some aspects of photography, resist the urge to copy other artists. Rather, find a niche you are interested in and focus your attention on ways to develop a style from it. In photography, this is often referred to as having an eye.
Contrary to what some people believe, photography is not just about carrying around a camera bag and taking nice photos. It also takes into consideration intricate factors and nuances that make up different images. There's also a deep sense of understanding of how these things work and it's needed to create an outstanding photograph.
Don’t just shoot but also scour through fashion magazines and explore fashion blogs to see what’s new on the scene. Fashion is an ever-changing industry and staying abreast is not an option. Through it all, be patient with yourself and stay consistent as discovering your style is an exceptionally long, but worthy process.
2. Build a portfolio
As a beginner without a reputation, nothing is more important than your portfolio simply because it is 'you' on a platter. A photography portfolio allows you to show off your best works to potential clients. For the most part, one glance at your portfolio should allow people to see the value in you as an artist.
Note that a portfolio is not a history book that shows the evolution of your craft, so as you progress, get rid of the less impressive pieces and keep only the best, high-quality images. It is equally advisable to consider the order of your images when setting up a portfolio because potential clients may never finish looking through it. To that effect, make sure your first and last pages contain amazing photos.
3. Find a photo agent
Once you have built your portfolio, it is time to search for an agent. Most of these agencies are run by professionals not hobby photographers and are there to liaise with clients and sell your work on your behalf. It doesn't matter if you're a newbie or a seasoned professional, you're qualified, in fact strongly advised, to get an agent. Through an agency you can find different ways to promote your career since they are in constant with clients and publications.
Looking for the right agent is not a child's play, and it should be treated with the same urgency as a job interview. Make sure you do your research to know if they represent other artists with styles similar to yours. For the most part try to go somewhere your skillet will be regarded as unique.
4. Invest in a functional camera
You don’t need an expensive camera to break into the world of fashion photography, but what you do need is a functional camera to keep shelling out some quality photos. If you are confident in your skill but do not have the resources to buy a good camera immediately, you can consider turning to Buddy Loans. Best believe that the rewards will exceed the investment if you choose to buy a good and functional camera. So, carry out extensive research on cameras recommended for photographers in your field, and the functionality behind these choices.
5. Network
As a fashion photographer, it is important to network and reach out to people in your field. With the advent of social media, this makes it easy as there are several forums and communities for fashion photographers to share knowledge and experiences. Through networking, you'll be able to learn and gather information about a variety of things. This includes the training you will need to advance as a fashion photographer.
In the course of networking, you may also be offered the opportunity to work with models or partner with other photographers. Skim through these offers carefully so you can pick out the most beneficial to you in terms of exposure and experience. As we all know, free work does not pay bills.
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