It's a mixed topic, business, and overall photography but decided to put it in this group cause fashion is what I want to do primarily. Problem is even finding great talent willing to collaborate their time and skills to a project, the project can still cost such and X number enough to discourage myself, and others from doing it. Such as props, rental equipment (for certain concepts) and some talent that I could not get with collaboration.
What I want to do is impactful real world fashion images, somewhat similar to Von Wong's style just without the intense editing. So to save time in photoshop I'd have to invest more in everything else. That is the type of fashion photos I want to create but reality is starting to set in where big impactful ideas cost money, or cost more time in editing to increase that wow/impact factor. Sadly I loath editing, I put in the best to my abilities and time my sanity allows, which is again minimal.
The only option is doing less expensive fashion photo projects, such as buying cheap but great looking clothing for a model, and have local MUA/Hair and other creative talent interested in joining to ensure the direct costs are minimal as humanly possible. Which even this is still hard with lack of creatives interested in any fashion photography in my region, especially models lacking that fashion look I'm trying to achieve (taller).
I know to network, network, network, which is great do and have just everyone I could network with are outside of my easy to travel area unless its a trip I plan 1+ years in advance.
I've done a decent size fashion shoot in NYC (my personal biggest) back in new years. I've attempted to arrange another impactful type fashion shoot but lack of designers able and willing to do the concept is really discouraging and may even force myself to be a fashion designer for a shoot I have in mind since the new year started. Same goes for a body painter, I'll have to teach myself to DIY that part of the concept in this specific shoot I have in mind.
What's discouraging me from overall fashion is not just the above but seeing a lot of the most successful fashion photogs with such high end gear, and with agencies they pay such a large amount of cash I wish I could do. At best if I were to look at succeeding in fashion is just keep going until I get lucky and hit 1 big shoot to maybe get enough exposure or/and pay for a rep to rep me to snowball me. This is discouraging relying only on luck, but its sadly the only choice I can afford, sit back and wait while I do as much networking, shooting, learning, etc. as humanly possible and on pennies of a dollar too. At best I could be something in 20 years...
Other than what I've mentioned, I'm I missing something or is there anything else I can do that doesn't require more cash investment?
Hey man,
First and foremost I want you to know that you are NOT alone. There are a lot of us, at every level in this profession, that face road blocks when it comes to bringing our ideas to life. I love the work of Kristian Schuller for example. Yet some of the sets he has at his disposal are FAR beyond my means.
It is very easy to look at the amazing work that some of these top photographers are making and feel discouraged. It would be so easy if we had the best locations, models, and equipment at our disposal right?
What I want you to remember is that these things dont happen over night. Not for most of us. Look, I consider myself fairly successful. I have a studio, I have access to all the local agencies, I have some top notch clients......and guess what.....I'm still not where I need to be to create what I see in my mind. But what I do know is that slowly and surely I am putting together all the pieces that need to be in place for me to create what I want.
So that is the best advice I can give you. Dont chase the picture. Build the foundation that will allow you to take those pictures. For myself I needed a studio, so I made that happen. I needed models, so I made that happen. Next step for me is to find a good set builder.....and guess what.....I'll make that happen. Step by step. Its all a journey. Learn to enjoy the process and you will be much happier with your work.
The other piece of advice I can give you is to be creative. What I mean is, learn to fake the funk. Scale down your concepts to simple ideas that can be executed EFFECTIVELY on a small budget. Instead of shooting large scale environmental productions, maybe start with portraits that incorporate some creative ideas. And build on that over time.
Hope that helps man. Dont give up. We have all been there, and keep going back there. Chin up. :)
Also, as far as equipment, dont stress. Its such a pissing contest out there in terms of equipment. You can go mad comparing yourself to all these sponsored cats, and gear whores. If I told you what I shoot with, you would laugh.
Thanks Peter that was very inspiring! I've done some great shots I'd admit even with my entry level equipment. I even did great stuff presently with current gear while I have a little higher level gear than my entry level equipment I am doing great stuff. I agree building up to what I want, which will take some time, maybe even years sadly, I just have to stay patient, persistent, and encouraged.. My current equipment isn't great but for what I'd love to do for my fashion specialty is try to shoot more low key lighting pieces of art, such as 3-4 strobes with softboxes with grids for maximum control of soft light, would make my style stand much more out there, at least for fashion work. And hopefully be known for fashion low key work, known as that low key fashion photog nationally or internationally even. I can work with my current lenses which aren't the best but have gotten some great sharp images, would I prefer higher end lenses? Hell yea, such as either canon or sigma ART lenses as sharpness is not just important for me but as my audience as they are experts at finding the best possible images (advertising directors).
But I am looking for DIY alternatives to my lighting needs to really standout too so its not a total lose just taking the extra time to build DIY items.