Explore a Professional Career in Model Photography!

One of the most glamorous niches you can pursue is fashion and model photography. It’s not just difficult to rise to the top as a photographer. It might be tough to break into the industry. Nothing is impossible if you work hard and have the correct mindset. Some photographers enrol themselves at professional photography schools to master skills such as lighting and film processing. But, the question is – what does it take to be a good model photographer in the first place? Let’s find out in this blog about a career in model photography.

What is Model Photography?

In the fashion business, model photography shoots are very basic and common, where a model poses for a photographer in the studio or at a shooting site. It may also refer to a photographer clicking for marketed items for a magazine or a catalogue shoot. A photographer and a shoot location are always required for such photography shoots. The photographer or the photoshoot coordinator instructs the models on how to pose for the camera.

Eligibility Criteria for Model Photography

Aspirants who want to pursue a profession in model photography must first meet the eligibility requirements. Brands and industries prefer to hire people who can demonstrate their educational and academic qualifications in related fields since it guarantees that they have received adequate training and awareness of the job’s requirements. The following are the requirements for becoming a model photographer:

• The candidate must have finished his or her upper secondary education at a school affiliated with a recognised educational board.

• The applicant must have an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in fashion photography, model photography, photography or one of the related fields. Candidates who have completed fashion photography courses at the diploma or certificate level are also eligible for the position.

• If a candidate has past work experience in the field of fashion photography, such as an internship or former employment, his or her chances of landing a better job improve dramatically.

• The candidate must have prepared a portfolio of his or her work, which he or she will be able to exhibit as required.

Skills Required for Model Photography

A career in fashion or model photography requires a thorough understanding of technical elements of photography, such as lighting, sharpness, and composition, as well as an understanding of current fashion and photographic trends. Outside of that, it also requires some technical skills related to camera settings, lenses, photo development, photo editing, etc. Photographers working in the fashion industry must be able to put their aesthetic concepts into photos. Because fashion photographers sometimes manage teams of stylists, make-up artists, and other fashion experts, they must also have good interpersonal skills. Hence, a modelling photographer must have the following skillset:

• Eye for detail
• Technical skills 
• Interpersonal and communication skills
• Creative headspace 
• Flexibility 
• Networking skills
• Patience 
• Critical thinking

How to Start Your Career in Model Photography?

It’s all about building your network and speciality, as it is with most sorts of photography. Look at some steps that can help kick-start your career in model photography:

Start Practicing with Your Friends

Let’s admit it: if you don’t have any modelling or fashion items in your portfolio, hardly a model or agency would hire you. You have to start somewhere, so find some people who are willing to model for you and practise with them. When you’re just starting out, you’ll probably do a lot of free shoots, but focus on getting in as much solid work as possible; it’ll pay off in the long run. If your friends enjoy your photographs, they’ll probably show them to their friends and post them on Facebook and other social media sites, which will only help you get visibility.

Time to Practice with Some Real Models

After working with a few friends and improving your skills, it’s time to move on to working with actual models and designers. Log on to several model agency websites, where you’ll see that each user has a portfolio of their work, and you can quickly find models and designers in your area. Create an account and only upload your best photographs. You may respond to casting calls posted by models, agencies, and newspapers, and you can even make your own casting calls to find individuals in your area.

Compile Your Work into a Portfolio

People will start approaching you after you have an excellent portfolio and have worked with numerous models and designers. When someone sees that their friend has something wonderful, they will desire it too. Start sharing your shoot pictures on social media handles like Instagram and Facebook. You can also share your shoot photographs in various fashion magazines and catalogues. Ask your models to write reviews about you and their photographs as well. Make it easy for individuals who want to work with you to discover your work and profile by having an online portfolio on different social media accounts.

Keep Building Your Portfolio and Choose Your Way of Working

You now have a fantastic portfolio, models and designers would now want to collaborate with you. You may next choose whether to work freelance or present your portfolio to agencies, magazines, designers, studios, and other organisations. Always keep shooting, no matter what you decide. A stagnant portfolio isn’t enticing to anyone, so keep adding to it and expanding it as you expand your network.

Top Recruiting Firms for Model Photography

Since advertising and marketing are so important in today’s digital era, nearly every fashion business is looking for great model Photographers to help them expand their reach. The following is a list of some of the most well-known and prominent recruiting agencies for Fashion Photographers. The firm or organisation that employs a candidate is also determined by his or her experience.

• Myntra
• Amazon
• Nykaa 
• Femina
• Elle
• Verve
• Grazia
• Lakme
• Femina
• Vogue India
• Tanishq
• Harper’s Bazaar

Top Photography Colleges Abroad

Let’s look at some of the finest colleges abroad that offer courses in photography and related fields:

College	Location
Vevey School of Photography	Vevey, Switzerland
Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts	Prague, Czech Republic
Ryerson University	Toronto, Canada
Köln International School of Design	Köln, Germany
Istituto Europeo di Design	Rome, Italy and Madrid, Spain
Tokyo Zokei University	Tokyo, Japan
Kent State School	Kent, UK

Top Colleges in India

Let’s look at some of the finest colleges in India that offer courses in photography and related fields:

College	Location
Delhi School of Photography	Delhi
Sir J. J. Institute of Applied Arts	Mumbai
Light and Life Academy	Ooty
The One School Goa	Goa
Asian Academy of Film and Television	Noida
National Institute of Photography	Mumbai
Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University	Hyderabad

List of Photography Courses

Here are few courses related to model photography and other popular photography courses that you must consider:

• Diploma in Photography
• Diploma in Digital Photography & Imaging
• Associate Degree in Photography
• BFA in Photography
• Bachelor’s in Photography
• BA/BA (Hons) in Photography
• BA/BA (Hons) in Fashion Photography
• BA/BA (Hons) in Photojournalism
• Bachelor’s in Image Arts – Photography Studies
• Masters in Fashion Photography & Film
• MFA in Studio Arts – Photography
• MA Photography

Model Photography: Pay Scale

A model photographer’s salary is determined by a number of factors including his or her experience, the field of work, the organisation for which he or she works, and the sort of assignments or projects assigned. A model photographer’s pay scale varies depending on whether the person is a senior or junior photographer. Photographers’ salaries are difficult to compare purely on the basis of seniority levels, unlike other occupations.

A model photographer’s typical pay range varies depending on the city in which he or she works. A fashion/model photographer’s starting pay is usually Rs. 5 lakh per year, but it can rise to Rs. 15 lakhs per year if the candidate lands at a position with a top fashion company or magazine. With more expertise or experience in the industry, the candidate’s salary at the senior level may reach Rs. 30 – 40 lakhs per year. Some firms pay their fashion or model photographers on a project-by-project basis. The applicant gets rewarded in accordance with the kind of project and its duration.

Pros and Cons of Becoming a Photographer

If you are eagerly prepping for a career in model photography as your full-time job, then, here are some pros of working in this field:

• Pursuing a career in photography helps one enhance their creativity skills.
• A certified and highly skilled photographer is well paid as compared to the other professions.
• A career in this field will enable you to stay updated with the latest trends.

Here are some cons of pursuing a career in this field: 

• Often photographers are asked to work at odd hours. (please keep this point in cons)
• The competition in this industry is increasing day by day

Having a natural talent for photography may not be enough to win you the big assignments and launch your model photography career. It’s far more essential to polish your skills and learn more about your expertise by taking a photography class or enrolling in a fine arts institution. Living in a generation where everyone is interested in photographs, develop your career in photography with us at Leverage Edu to not just kickstart your career but also accelerate it.