About Fashion Photo Stylists

Not all stylists are dedicated to the pursuit of primping hair. Fashion photo stylists work in the photography industry and are in charge of making sure the models, clothing and set come together to create a perfect picture. Their jobs often involve shopping for props and wardrobe, dressing models, arranging sets and ensuring the product advertised is well-represented. The information below is intended to be an introductory overview about fashion photo stylists.

Function

You may not know it, but the work of fashion photo stylists is represented all around you. A photo stylist's eye for fashion is mainly used by the advertising industry, meaning their work is plastered on billboards, in magazines and on TV. Retail catalogs are another place where a fashion photo stylist's talents are on display. Still other fashion stylists work directly with celebrities to help them stay fashionable for red-carpet events or photo shoots.

Geography

Fashion photo stylists are mainly found in large cities that boast large advertising industries. For the most part, New York City and Los Angeles are the primary places to find fashion styling jobs in the United States. However, cities such as Miami, Dallas and San Francisco also have relatively healthy photo industries.

The Facts

The majority of fashion photo stylists are freelancers who that work on a project-to-project basis. For the benefit of finding steady work, many stylists choose to be represented by a stylist agency. Some fashion magazines and other places of employment offer full-time salary positions for photo fashion stylists.

Risk Factors

As with most fashion-oriented jobs, breaking into the industry can be a tough nut to crack. Competition is fierce and it sometimes takes years for individuals to build the right combination of experience and connections to land fashion styling jobs. Perhaps the best way to break into the business is to start out as a stylist assistant. Assistants are hired by photo stylists to help out with shopping and other tasks. Though assistants are largely responsible for grunt work such as running wardrobe returns and building sets, the on-the-job training is invaluable.

Expert Insight

Ultimately, getting hired for that first photo styling job requires putting together a fashion portfolio. For newcomers, this typically involves "testing" with up-and-coming photographers and makeup artists. A test is essentially a mock advertisement or photo shoot in which you display your conception and styling prowess. Once the stylist-to-be creates the perfect portfolio, she can either show it to agencies in an attempt to acquire representation or present it to clients directly.