FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY

Although fashion photograpphy has the glamour, the razzmatazz and is thought of by the layman as the most that the photographer can become involved in, it is really much nearer to the common than most aspects of photography. Think about all of those history books that you at school. They were full of fashion drawings and etchings.

I quite a few asking me to some articles about fashion photography. Unfortunately this is one of the fields that I know least about. Some of my friends would say that knowing nothing about a subject has never ever stopped me from giving an opinion, so why stop now.

Although fashion photography has the glamour, the razzmatazz and is thought of by the layman as the most exciting field that the photographer can become involved in, it is really much nearer to the common experience than most aspects of photography. Think about all of those history books that you read at school. They were full of fashion drawings and etchings. A fashion picture is is a certain style of dressing at one particular time in history. It is therefore a study of how society thought at that time.

I don’t want to downgrade or deglamourize fashion photography, it is far too much hard work for that, but let’s not forget that the main reason for its being is to show what a garment looks like, to show it off in glossy magazines and catalogues in order that the readers will spend a lot of money buying it. A fashion photographer is judged not only on his photographic ability, but how good he is at shifting dresses off the rails. In fashion photography the client always calls the tune.

Having said that the best fashion photographers have always had their own trademarks. Among the best fashion photographers it is always possible to distinguish one from another. The best assignments go to the fashion photographer that stands out and is able to come up with ideas that differ from the norm.

Any competent photographer could make a decent and competent job of photographing a woman’s catalogue or even the fashion page of a popular newspaper, but on a higher level of doing a fashion shoot for “Vogue” a more creative level of thought is needed. Top end magazines, such as “Vogue” etc will only employ fashion photographers that have built up a reputation forever coming up with new ideas in their photography, for looking for new scenarios and different props in their pictures, and for a consistency that puts the photographer under a load of pressure.

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