Tips for Taking High Fashion Photos

The aforementioned photographers were able to score huge paychecks from fashion magazines and designers who hired them to shoot their runway shows. Despite the success of these chosen few, the road to stardom in the fashion photography industry is challenging. It takes hard work, determination and a keen eye to succeed at taking high fashion photos.

By learning a few tips you may be able to follow in the footsteps of famous fashion photographers.

Know Before You Go

Before you show up to a fashion shoot, it’s a good idea to do your homework. Head to the bookstore and look through current issues of high fashion magazines. Study the lighting, angles, hair, make-up and locations. Then, try to recreate the look in your own shots. 

Make Connections

It’s not easy getting your foot into the world of high fashion photography. In order to break into the highly competitive field, consider making connections with others in the industry. For example, by befriending budding hairstylists, makeup artists, models, and stylists you may be able work out an agreement with them, which includes trading their services for prints or digital images you take for their portfolios. This partnership can raise the quality of your final product and provide you with outstanding photos for your portfolio.

Network

There’s always a chance that the young designer who asked to team up with you will become the next Marc Jacobs. Never turn down a chance to network with others in the field of high fashion. In addition, keep your eyes peeled for opportunities to score inexpensive studio space or photo equipment. Peruse bulletin boards at photo labs or join an online photo club and start networking.

Keep it Simple

If you are just starting out taking high fashion photos, then consider streamlining your equipment. Less experienced models can be intimidated by bulky equipment, multiple lights, and complicated setups. Stick with the basics, such as high quality digital SLR or film camera, a tripod, and a reflector disk. You can also keep it simple by employing as much natural light as possible in your shoots. Aim to shoot at dawn and dusk when the sunlight casts a flattering golden glow on your subjects and avoid shooting during the midday hours when the sun produces harsh facial shadows and flat light.

Tell a Story

Tell a story with your shots to help set your portfolio apart from the competition. To create a compelling narrative with your pictures, weed out the images that illustrate a single technique. Then, gather five to seven inspirational shots that speak volumes for your skills.