Rui Marto 
, Mar 16, 2009; 09:34 a.m.
I went to a job enterview meeting today and I don't think I'll make it. The job was to work for a model agency as a fashion photographer, but they said that my work was not quite what they wanted. However, they gave me their personal contact and told me to keep sending pictures, different from the ones I show them, more "fashion-like pictures".
So, my question is: Can someone help me become a better fashion photographer?
Books, videos, websites, exercices, magazines, etc... Anything that you think it might help!
Mike Dixon 
, Mar 16, 2009; 09:40 a.m.
It helps if you are genuinely interested in fashion. I didn't see any evidence of that in your photo.net portfolio. What kinds of images did you show them?
Rui Marto , Mar 16, 2009; 10:24 a.m.
I am interested in fashion. I grew up surrounded by fashion magazines, as my mother is a dressmaker, and I the TV channel I whatch the most is Fashion TV (I guess I should probably know a bit more about fashion photography).
I showed them mostly portaits, because that's what I've been doing for the past couple of years. I don't have "real" fashion photos on my portfólio. Here are some of the pictures I showed them:
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=7744675
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=7744676
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=7744502
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=7744493
(These where the ones that they like the most. The others where some nudes and portaits, also present in my photo.net gallery.)
The thing is, I need to take more pictures. Fashion pictures. So I can have a portfolio that's more into fashion.
That's why I wanted books and stuff, to learn about the concepts behind the pictures. What makes them great fashion pictures, etc, so I can understand them better.
Joe K , Mar 16, 2009; 10:27 a.m.
Matt Laur 
, Mar 16, 2009; 11:05 a.m.
The main thing is to recognize that glamour is about the person, and fashion is about the stuff.
Jeff Spirer , Mar 16, 2009; 11:22 a.m.
The problem is that your photos are "glamor" shots (like the ones in the site referenced above, which are not going to help you) rather than "fashion" shots. Although Matt is right that it's about the stuff, it's sometimes just about selling the stuff, so it isn't necessarily a product shot.
I'd recommend getting a copy of Vogue and going through the photos there, and looking up the photographers online to see their work. You should be able to immediately see the difference between fashion and glamor shots. A good start is the work of Yu Tsa i, who is pretty big right now.
Matt Laur , Mar 16, 2009; 12:12 p.m.
Right. Fashion shots are only glamor shots when the subject - just by being who they are - create a brand affiliation or atmosphere that more indirectly sells the products. This happens a lot in cosmetics advertising.
If you look at, say, some of the stuff done for Ralph Lauren, you'll see some "stuff" fahsion shots, but a whole more of the general lifestyle/mood pieces that he uses to perpetuate the general RL culture and mood. It's a fantasy - but it's not a fantasy about the person pictured (which is what glamor is about). So, those shots are less about "I want that particular dress/suit/hat/boot" but more a matter of "I wish my life were like the life I see portrayed in that photograph..." and connecting that lifestyle and look to RL and his products a bit more indirectly. Different strategies for different purposes, depending on where the client is in the marketplace, and what they're trying to sell.
Rui Marto , Mar 16, 2009; 04:57 p.m.
The kind of picture they want is presentation books for models. That's why I showed them those pictures. Anyway, guess I'm heading for a long long night...
Another thing: What about technique, light and stuff? Anything?
Artur Cansino , Mar 16, 2009; 05:01 p.m.
As a general reference...and I mean a rather broad one at that, perhaps a look at the website Model Mayhem and the wide range of styles there may be of interest.
Jeff Spirer , Mar 16, 2009; 05:24 p.m.
Model Mayhem has a lot of very amateur work. It would be far better to look at Vogue, Cosmo, Marie Clair, etc. etc. and look at professional work. There are other fashion markets, so you could also check out Vibe, motorcyle magazines, even Interview, for other styles. Also, there is a fair amount of trendiness in fashion photography, reflecting the trendiness in the industry, and Model Mayhem has a lot of last year's styles...
Presentation books for models that I have shot for and seen have a lot of different types of photos, reflecting the range of styles that fashion shots take. Indoors, outdoors, formal, playful, etc. The book should show a range of capability for the model. Unless it's a headshot, a glamor shot doesn't really do that.
