Fashion photography pertains to all types of image production and post-production which is intended for use by or promotion of the fashion industry. These images are usually used in magazines, newspapers, advertising campaigns, books and occasionally exhibitions (if the photographer reaches a certain level of fame).

Becoming a fashion photographer is certainly perceived as a glamorous career, featuring models, money and glitzy parties, along with creating some of the most sumptuous images in the business. However, it also takes a huge amount of technical skill – equipment, lighting, computer software, etc. – a strong creative instinct and plenty of determination to succeed.

Photography was first developed in the 1830s but it was not until significant improvement in “halftone printing” – a reprographic process that uses evenly spaced dots to create a tone – that fashion photography was able to appear in magazines. Popular early titles, such as Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, then pushed the medium to the next level.

In modern times, photography for fashion is a global industry, with reams of magazines, corporate companies and even charities using it for promotion. Photographers such as Mario Testino, Steven Meisel and Patrick Demarchelier are now global stars, mirroring the success of Herb Ritts and Richard Avedon before them.

Those looking to follow in these illustrious footsteps should concentrate heavily on the composition of the image and the aesthetic of the shoot. Try to hook up with an established photographer for work experience and make sure that you do plenty of testing (see Test Shoots). This can be an extremely rewarding career but takes seriously hard work to get there.