A career in photography can be both glamorous and rewarding, but it requires a high amount of dedication and hard work. There is currently a lot of competition in the industry, thus making it a challenge for people to get their foot in the door, but building connections an having the right attitude are key to creating a good reputation in the industry.
The duties of a fashion photographer would obviously include taking pictures of celebrities and models but there are many duties that occur behind the scenes which include collaborating with editors and advertisers to come up with ideas for photo shoots and magazine spreads. Photographer’s photos will appear in magazines and newspapers, catalogs, print ads, and online. It is important to be able to cultivate positive relationships with clients in order to continue getting work in the industry. Photographers have to collaborate with others on nearly every job they take so having good people skills and communication skills are paramount in order to make it in this industry. Since most photographers work on a freelance basis, the relationships they cultivate will be the key factor in continuing to get jobs.
Photographers must have a number of skills which include effective communication, creativity, and efficiency. They must also be able to think on their feet because they may run into a problem on sets such as bad lighting, bad weather, or even a difficult model or celebrity. It is also important that a photographer be personable and approachable because they must make their models feel comfortable so that they can bring out their best personality traits, which will transfer well onto the photo. Since photographers work on a freelance basis they also have to be organized in order to meet their deadlines.
It is not necessary to have a formal education in order to get work in this industry, however, having formal classes or training will set a candidate out from others which may translate into receiving more work. If someone wants to stand out, having an apprenticeship will help. The pay in the fashion photography industry can be quite varied with most experienced photographers making $50,000 annually but famous and well sought out photographers can make in excess over $100,000 annually. In 2014, reports showed that the job market for fashion photographers was growing 17 percent.