From: ehr@ecsvax.uncecs.edu (Ernest H. Robl)
Subject: Re: Fashion Photography -- Going Pro
Summary: promotion
Organization: UNC Educational Computing Service
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1993 14:39:31 GMT

In article <1993Jan6.081352.21283@jarvis.csri.toronto.edu>, acs@csri.toronto.edu (Alvin Chia-Hua Shih) writes:
> In <350@metran.UUCP> jay@metran.UUCP (Jay Ts) writes:
> 
> >Here's one for all of you successful fashion photographers out there...
> 
> 			[...]
> 
> >So, how does one get started professionally as a fashion photographer?  I
> >have been thinking of getting a self-promotional piece together, but who
> >do I send it to?  Modeling agencies?  Ad agencies?  Someone else?  I'm a
> >little confused as to how the fashion industry actually works!
> 
> Actually, how does one get started as an amateur fashion photographer?
> How do you advertize?  Do you *just* take photographs, or do you have
> a whole package with makeup, studio, etc.?  What format are you shooting?


There are a number of books available which cover business aspects of
photography.  One that comes to mind for this particular situation
is called Promoting Yourself as a Photographer.  (Don't have my
copy handy at the moment, so I can't give you further details.  But,
I can look them up later if you need them.)

The key with selling any ty[e of photography is knowing what the 
markets are and what they want.  One thing you would have to face is
that for certain types of photography -- fashion for example -- the
markets (advertising agencies, fashion magazines) are concentrated
in a few big cities.  Many of the people who break into this kind of
photography learn the business and start making contacts by working
as an assistant to an established photographer in this field.

I would also suggest that the only evaluation of your work that 
really counts is by people who are willing to pay money for it.  Yes,
it's nice if others like your work, but they frequently have no
understanding of what the marketplace is looking for.

This includes such things as format.  Some markets are perfectly
happy with 35mm (as long as those photos meet their other needs);
some markets will insist on larger formats.  Without knowing what
markets you are trying to reach, there's no way to tell what will
be acceptable.

One of the things you have to learn very early on wis what kinds of
things you can do with the equipment, resources, and time available
to you.  While I now own enough lighting equipment to fill up the
back of my Jeep, there are still many projects that I wouldn't 
undertake, because my equipment wouldn't be nearly enough -- and
the project would require a crew of several people.

No, I'm not a fashion photographer.  I deal mostly in stock, with
an emphasis on industrial and travel subjects.  But, I do study
the marketplace closely and have done articles for such industry
trade publications as Studio Photography.

-- Ernest

-- 
"My other computers are Nikon N8008s and an SB25." -- Ernest H. Robl
Ernest H. Robl (ehr@ecsvax)  Durham, NC, USA   +1  919   286-3845
                                         FAX:  +1  919   286-1696
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