Thus far I can say this much about what I’ve learned about fashion photography, it is nothing like it looks. You have no idea what it requires just to put together one shoot, or maybe that’s just me. There are so many small details involved in the whole process and if one goes wrong it’s a near guarantee the rest will follow suit. So many schedules to coordinate, but I’m stepping ahead of myself. That’s to say you have already reached the point where someone is available, interested and you are talking about booking and confirming. It is only once you have reached that point that you can begin to discuss their schedule and when is a convenient time for them (while still being reasonable for you and of course the photographer).

Now this is not to say that the world of Fashion Photography is not glamorous, it certainly is, but you must also realize that it is not all glitz and glamour. This is generally a point that is left out in classroom settings, or at least I’ve noticed that. Everyone says that if you have the know how and are able to create a great photo, than you are set, but that is not true! They forget about the whole other side to photography.

Someone has to be booking and confirming with the agencies/models, hair artists, make-up artists, wardrobe stylists, etc, managing the finances, pushing the marketing, following through with the final images once they have been captured, all the while maintaining some sort of sanity throughout it all. It is the whole other side to photography that somehow my teachers seem to leave out of their lectures. The day before the shoot when the makeup artist falls ill and your model is stuck in Paris because her flight got delayed, How do you fix it?

Good facts for a “creative” photographer who simply seeks to capture great images to remember. Never forget the “business”, photography is a business afterall. If all you aspire to is to create great images for your own personal satisfaction, them by all means carry on. My point is meant for those who seek to not only capture a great image, but also then share that image with others in the hope of instilling within them that same passion which you felt when you created it. It is for this reason we endure the craziness which is this business and still yearn to press on. Press on my friend.

– Lauren, the intern

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