Job Description of Fashion Photographers

Fashion photographers have jobs that sound glamorous to people who want to work with the in crowd.

Fashion photographers are trained in the craft of photography and specialize in capturing fashion images for advertisements. They use models and celebrities to express an idea or a trend that ideally makes an important impression on the fashion industry. The job description of fashion photographers includes details of responsibilities, qualifications, job outlook, income and job security.

Job Details

Translate a solid understanding of concepts and composition into an image that will make fashion appealing to the public eye. According to fashion schools.org, "basically, fashion photography aims to properly represent the works of fashion designers to the public. Fashion photographer professionals are hired to produce photos that will most likely be used for marketing and advertising fashion products." Fashion photographers must also be outspoken to direct famous models and celebrities to get them to pose and be comfortable on camera. They should have a certain degree of athleticism because a photo shoot may last twelve hours, and they might be on their feet during the whole shoot.

Training

Take classes in photography, or intern with a professional fashion photographer. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, "freelance and portrait photographers need technical proficiency, gained through a degree, training program, or experience. Many fashion photographers work freelance, which means that they are hired for a job and not on a continuing basis. Freelance fashion photographers must have proof that they are successful at their work by having a book of tearsheets (published photographs) to appear professional. Their work speaks for them and secures them additional jobs, which means that a degree is not necessarily required if they have enough on the job experience to teach them the craft of photography.

Job Outlook

Be prepared for cutthroat competition for jobs. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that 152,000 photographers were employed in 2008. By 2018, 169,500 photographers will potentially be employed. Although there will be a twelve per cent increase in employment for photographers, only a part of the employed photographers will be fashion photographers. There might not be a significant increase in employment for fashion photographers, which means that entry level positions will be hard to find.

Income

Consider finding a second job if a fashion photography career is not established. According to Photo Laureates, "when you get your first job doing a fashion shoot, if the magazine pays your expenses, consider yourself lucky. The competition is fierce, and there are thousands of other photographers out there who want to be doing exactly what you are doing--so much so that they are willing to do it for free". Making a name in the fashion photography industry is important because people will remember a talented photographer for many years to come. A lot of aspiring fashion photographers will work for no or low pay to get their name to become recognizable, which lowers the pay standards for all entry level fashion photographers. Although the work is meant to be a reward in itself, some people cannot afford to make ends meet if they use fashion photography as a primary source of income.

Job Security

Work paycheck to paycheck, and find work through self promotion. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, "photographers held about 152,000 jobs in 2008. More than half were self-employed, a much higher proportion than for most occupations". Self-employment is important for fashion photographers because they have a job that is less stable than careers that are always in high demand and offer benefits. Self-employment requires a fashion photographer to find benefits from a significant other or a second job. Fashion photographers do not have job security because they never know where their next paycheck will come from or if they will get a paycheck ever again.

References

• Fashion Schools: Fashion Photographers
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Photographers
• Photo Laureates: Career in Fashion Photography

Resources

• International Center of Photography: Avedon Fashion