Fashion Shoot: Tips from a Pro

I just do not see the bitterness in this review as claimed by some and the tips are useful to the wise. I also moved to London age 27 to assist some of the best advertising, still life, editorial and car photographers in Europe on major campaigns. Freelance opportunities also gained with some fashion photographers though over time the still life and commercial work became more prominent.

If this article is read appropriately it will be found very useful though to add; success is usually down to how likeable people find each other and want want to continue a working relationship. Personality counts for a lot, possibly the reason I am a downright failure! Arf! Just kiddin! or am I ?

Thanks for sharing Martin, all the best!

Reading the comments below, I notice a curious pattern that seems to plague the community. Some people are absolute c*nts when it comes to commenting or providing feedback.

Maybe it is a reality that the industry imposes on a daily basis to all of the participants from models to stylists and to photographers, and is then naturally carried forward in daily interactions. Or maybe it is the sweet comfort of internet anonymity that allows comments such as by Phototrobe.

Whatever it is, I would think a few seconds longer (e.g. the target audience of the post, for example, I found this text very interesting as a quick intro to the world of fashion shoots)

If you expected to discover deep industry wisdoms from this, are now bitterly disappointed and insist on insulting everything around you for this, maybe this is an opportunity for self-reflection and development. It is never too late.

Thank you for a well balanced 'telling it like it is' perspective of fashion photography.

I must say I am quite amazed at how many people had a raw nerve touched by it, maybe there is jealousy, or possibly they just don't want to face the reality!

@waky
I'm been doing this for almost 30 years for some of the best mag in the world.
90% of the photographer's carrier work is done outside the set.
Fact is that also 90% of the work for a shooting is done before the day of the photo shoot and after. as the article says, taking the photos is the easiest part.
it is more about what it is in the picture and how to get it on front of the camera. that is the most difficult part of the job.
Getting the right people to work with you, is the more important thing than anything. Knowing the best editor, hair and make up and having the best relationship with model agencies, once you have got that, you got 90% of the job done.
if you work with the best in the industry, you can take bad picture and will not matter because " they will be so bad that they become good".
There is a lot more to say and it is not technical, but I'll stop here because I have to go back to work. :-)
take care.

nice top level generalities and anecdotes s but nothing of any educational use. Walking us through an actual shoot would be of more value.

Thanks to Martin Evening for these general pointers. They are a little too vague to be much use, but this is not the writer's fault; how can you condense decades of experience meaningfully in a few hundred words?

I hope Mr Evening takes another swing, this time perhaps for real beginners, i.e., not technical dummies but photographers venturing into fashion photography (not necessarily on a full-time professional basis).

I don't think the article is bitter or disparaging. I *do* think we all learn more from our mistakes than our successes and if someone wants to share his, so much the better.

A pessimistic and bitter article that contains few real tips, if any. What this article is really about is summed up in the first three words: "My photographic career".
Yes, the game has changed, and yes photographers entering the industry now need very different skills (other than the technical ones of how to use a camera, of course). The fact that the requisite skills have changed is clearly making the author bitter. This doesn't mean that young photographers should be cautioned away. In fact, I know some great "old-time" professionals who are aware of this and manage successfully to infuse their students with enthusiasm rather than fear and nostalgia.
As for the pictures, if these are the best he could do over a thirty year career, well no wonder he's bitter.
Sorry if that sounds harsh, but if an author lays out his opinions as "the Truth", he should be prepared to get a whole bunch of Truth thrown back at him.

I believe that someone would take as much time and puts as much effort into educating us if he were trying to keep wannabe photographers out of his business. I have not seen anything condescending in any of his books or writing. This article does an excellent job of emphasizing the a lot of the skills needed to be a professional photographer. Those skills are especially important in such a people oriented business as photography.

Martin is one of the best for sure.
Enjoyed the article quite much. Talking straight to my heart.
I'm fighting equivalent difficulties in my service area.

And for the ones who feel themselves insulted by some of his sentences.
I assume with "fashion-wannabees" he is referring to the ones who are threatening his business with dumping prices.

I'm not native English speaker, so I'm not sure what author wanted to tell us with this sentence:
"I don’t know about other countries, but here in London, model tardiness is a constant problem and one that’s not helped by the model agencies, who seem to take the view 'heads we win, tails you lose' when it comes to their services."
I understand every word, but... Can somebody clarify this a little bit for me, please? :)
Thanks!

great article...people think it's just photography sometimes when it's really the team and marketing that makes people stand out..

Very interesting, but it highlights the gulf between high-end and the majority!

I always try to impress upon clients the need for preparation and the benefits of a reasonable investment, but the majority expect it all to be done on the spur of the moment and get the models free! I've had so many suggest that such-and-such's daughter/girlfriend is very pretty so they'll be perfect...

Once you get to a level where a client will pay £100+ per hour for each model, plus sensible photography fees and studio rates, only the photographer has themselves to blame if it goes pear-shaped. If, however, they want a whole day's shoot and a full portfolio of shots for £200 in total (believe me I am asked all the time and say no!) then it doesn't matter how talented the photographer is, but they'd still take the flak!

Bravo to Mr. Evening and DPR for this article. We need more original, creative and informative content like this!

Interesting, much appreciated!

I too appreciate the time and effort devoted to this posting and I actually learn a lot. Thanks!
Dan

Really interesting, and I agree with the recurring problem of models being late (or even don't come at all). If you plan a shoot with, says, 5 models, take 6 models, just to be sure ;)

Interesting reading and thanks for sharing.

I sort of got a chuckle out of the models not working until midday or later, aside from the $10K to even get out of bed. An 8AM makeup and hairstylist call is way more than some can handle. Waking up at the crack of noon is more like it. Some seem to change agencies almost weekly. Maybe they flake out as "No shows" and get let go. Worse is some agencies do not update their online talent folios, but leave what they have online "forever" and keep adding to it even though some have long since left. Looks good to have 100 models verses maybe 6.

I do wonder how much longer the fashion photographer will be around though without branching out into teaching, blogging, writing books, weddings, or whatever. I find more magazines are paying less, or none at all, for any model fees and doing more CGI and computerized art stuff instead. Paying much less for articles as well since "free blogs" are prolific too. Sign of the times I guess.

Mack

Nice read and should be mandatory for all who want to hire a photographer, not just those who want to use the camera. The reason being, too many people out there think that all you have to do is use the right settings on a camera and you get great shots. Whether it's fashion, wedding, pj or most any field involving a camera, it's virtually everything but pointing the camera that's the bulk of the real work. And of course, that too involves real skill and that's what you're paying for.

Very interesting, thank you.

I like the poto's but model photography is not my thing

and others do it better ;)

kind reg.

Every professional photographer who "shares" his or hers knowledge about photography to amateurs takes part in the killing of photography as profession. For some odd reason some pros do not understand that.
That is probably cause they have a firm position in the business and cannot see the problems of those who do not and specially young pros who are just starting business.
It is very sad that dpreview takes part in killing of profession but giving advice to amateurs how to shoot. The amateurs shoot for free or minimum prize. In Finland where I live professional photography is almost dead and amateurs have taken over cause those who buy pictures do not anymore see the difference of quality but consider only the money. This is why I see this kind of sharing knowledge extremely hazardous for the industry.

Not my kind of photography, but very interesting to read. Thanks for writing this.

Thank you very much. Very interesting to read.

Most excellent - thank you for for helping me dream a little bit!