In any genre of photography where commercialization is involved you must realize that any slip up could cost your client lots of money and hence, it requires all your capabilities, creativity, professionalism, technical skills and leadership abilities to do justice to your responsibilities.

Fashion photography is adrenaline-charging, creative and a medium that gets extensive exposure. But it is also very competitive and to be successful you must be totally involved in your work 24×7 and constantly assess your work and the work of other more successful fashion photographers and constantly seek to improve and develop.

Assuming that you are just getting started let’s start with the basics. To be a good fashion photographer you must have a creative imagination that can envisage captivating images that will hold a viewer’s attention. But to bring your imagination to life you should have the requisite skills, so it is vital that you study lighting and composition, camera settings and other basic skills.

New photographers tend to pack too many things at the same time, which can obfuscate your message and make it hard for the audience to decipher what you are trying to tell them. Don’t complicate things and keep it simple. Visual elements should be kept as natural and unassuming as possible to make them more meaningful and logical. The complexity can come later, when you become more dexterous and when you have mastered the fundamentals and really understand the medium thoroughly.

Stay upgraded with latest photographic clothing trends. Know what is in fashion and what is passé. Imagine your models wearing those clothes and visualize how you would photograph them. Technical aspects are important but also use your creativity to think of ways of how and where the subject can be brought to life.

Normally your client will provide a specific list of what he wants and in many cases how he wants it. But you should have your own detailed plan in mind – plan your poses, keep your props handy and think of all angles possible. Preparation is central but at times acting on the impulse can produce unanticipated but outstanding results. So be prepared for the unexpected.

Anticipate and be prepared for things that could go wrong. It could rain on an outdoor shoot, the celebrity model may not turn up, or turn up very late, rendering the natural light ineffective. Don’t panic but have a backup plan. Sometimes, things done because you had no other choice turn out to be better because they do not follow a beaten track and are original in content.

Don’t impose yourself on the others. Just as a singer is the most important part of the orchestra, he’s there because of the musicians. Fashion photography also brings together  multiple talents, apart from the designers and the models, there are the make-up artists, technicians, hair stylists and others who contribute to the ultimate results and it would be in your larger interests to work in collaboration with them, respect their talents, remember they contribute to building your image so acknowledge their contributions.

Tell them what you need from them. Be firm but also be sociable. Don’t try to hog all the credit but show it for what it is – a unified effort. Motivate team members to give insights. You will be amazed at what they have to offer.

Fashion photography is one of the world’s most in-demand careers. It pays well; it is a world of glamor and high profile. But it is also very hard to break into and only the best survive. Unless you really create a niche for yourself, it is a cruel world and you could find yourself out before you can say ‘smile.’

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