4 Essentials Qualities To Becoming a Successful Professional Fashion Photographer

Over my career as a professional fashion photographer I often stop and wonder to myself, how am I different? What qualities do I have that are conveyed through my images. Is just having a good eye enough? No! It’s more than that. Below I list, some of the main qualities that you bring to a shoot that will make you a real fashion photography success. .

1 Don’t Act Sleazy

When asking the average person on the street about being a professional fashion photographer, somehow one of the top reactions that comes up is ‘someone sleazy’ (maybe Terry Richardson has something to do with it). So it might sound obvious, but when it comes to working with models, you can’t be sleazy.

Once on a fashion shoot I knew the fashion model was a bit modest and did not want to show too much skin. There was one outfit that showed a bit of nipple and I knew it would bother the model. I could see all the guys around getting excited, and being, well, a bit sleazy. I told the model and I showed her one shot because I didn’t want her to see it later and get upset. She appreciated this and we dealt with the issue. We got a band-aid and covered her nipples. She was so thankful that the rest of the day we actually made jokes about her boob boo.

We are all in the studio for the same reason - to get the job done. Fashion models have their job to do and they deserve our respect. Maybe some models are less than modest but that does not mean you can be unprofessional.

2 Be A Good Listener

You want to get the most out of the model on a fashion shoot. So there needs to be a connection, something that me as the photographer can evoke from the model. So, I enjoy sharing a coffee at the start of the day with the model and talking with them as a person and not just treating them as an object or another prop. I always try to give the model a glimpse of who I am and in return (most of the time) they share back with me. This makes the day much more comfortable for both of us. It can be a fine line when being a bit personal with the model, but I have always achieved better results doing this. My clients can definitely see it in my images.

3 Have A Sense Of Humor

Making images is not only work but, as professional photographers, it also something that we love to do. Some days are harder than others but keeping a sense of humor can turn a bad day in the studio into something magical. I have seen this time and time again. As the fashion photographer, whether for editorial or advertising, it is my responsibility to set the mood. Why not laugh and smile all day, it’s better than being a tight ass. As a professional photographer, I am thrown into a new situation everyday, with a new cast of characters and nothing breaks the ice better than a good laugh or an endearing smile. I love working with people and the ability to make people comfortable with a laugh or a smile is just as important as the camera or other equipment that I choose.

4 Be Honest And Ethical

I cannot count how many times my honesty and strong sense of ethics has lead to a great portrait or outstanding image. If I think something is not right, it’s my responsibility to make it right. I have seen so many people be rude or disrespectful on a photo shoot and I just can’t ignore it.

A client once asked me if I could make the fan blow so the model’s skirt would go up just a bit more. I thought to myself ‘now why would he want that?’ and I quickly realized that the model was not wearing any underwear. I really felt bad for her because she had no idea what was going on. She was doing her job and was making sure that there were no panty lines. To say the least, the client was so far from being professional at that point that I stopped and walked over to the model, and asked her to put something on. Then spoke with the client and I told him that if he wanted a strip club I knew a great one that was just down the street and we could go after the shoot. Everyone was happy the model had panties and I paid for the beers.

It might seem hard to do, but trust me the final product, the image, will be so much stronger and so much more believable when your integrity is upheld and you focus on the image with a clear head.

Your Turn!

What qualities do you bring to the a fashion photography shoot and how have they made an impact on your shots?