Starting Your Career as a Photo Stylist: A Comprehensive Guide to Photo Shoots, Marketing, Business, Fashion, Wardrobe, Off Figure, Product, Prop, Room Sets, and Food Styling

by Susan Linnet Cox

Overview

This invaluable career manual explores the numerous directions a career in photo styling can take. Starting Your Career as a Photo Stylist prepares new and working stylists with in-depth information on food styling, fashion styling, and six other areas of specialization. Readers will also learn everything they need to know about practical aspects of the profession, including production, casting, location scouting, working with a photo crew, creating a portfolio, and marketing their work.
 Established stylists will benefit from tips on how to develop and sustain their freelance careers, and business forms will provide aspiring stylists with a head start on building their businesses. Interviews with working stylists offer insight into what it takes to thrive in their line of work. Written by a stylist with over twenty years of experience, Starting Your Career as a Photo Stylist is the ultimate guide to this little-known and exciting career!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781621535980
Publisher:	Allworth
Publication date:	04/01/2012
Series:	Starting Your Career
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	280
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

Susan Linnet Cox has been involved in all areas of photography and styling for over two decades. She is the founder of multiple photo styling workshops and teaches college courses while continuing to work as a stylist and mentor to newer stylists. She lives in Carlsbad, California.

Table of Contents

Part I Introduction to Photo Styling

Introduction XII

Chapter 1 What is a Photo stylist? 3

Describing What You Do 3

The Real Life Résumé 4

Fashion Styling 10

Wardrobe Styling 11

Styling Off-Figure 11

Product Styling 12

Prop Styling 13

Food Styling 13

Room Sets and Bedding 14

Primed to Improvise 14

Research Challenge: Magazine Project 15

Chapter 2 The Photo Shoot 16

What to Wear 16

The Crew 17

More About the Art Director 20

A Typical Day in the Studio 21

Location Days 22

The "Polaroid Process" 22

Digital Photography 24

Communication 26

Working with Children 26

Working with Animals 27

Photo Shoot Etiquette 29

Invoicing and Other Paperwork 30

After the Shoot 30

Chapter 3 Styling Basic 31

Getting Started 31

The Rolling Rack 34

The Steamer 37

The Studio Environment 42

Safety on Location 44

Prepping for Your Styling Business 45

The Three Client Rule 46

Stylists on Staff 47

Chapter 4 Other Roles a Stylist Plays 49

The Importance of Being Versatile 49

Production 49

Location Scouting and Permits 50

Casting Talent 53

Booking Talent 58

Makeup 58

Meals and Snacks 59

Shopping for Props and Accessories 61

"Unshopping," the Art of Returns 63

Research Challenge: Film Commission 66

Chapter 5 Your Styling Kit 67

Variations for Styling Specialties 67

The Container 68

Multiple Kits 68

Basic Styling Kit 69

Styling Supply Sites 71

Green Styling Practices 71

Recommended Equipment 72

Kit Fees 74

Traveling with Your Kit 74

Your Own Kit List 74

Part II Photo Styling Specifics

Chapter 6 Fashion Styling 79

Editorial Fashion Styling 79

Fashion Advertising 86

Catalog Fashion Styling 86

The Fashion Shoot 88

The Happiness Effect 90

Techniques and How-Tos 91

International Travel 93

Getting Started in the World of Fashion 94

Trend Watching 96

Related Careers in Fashion 97

Specialty Kit List 99

Styling Supply Sites 101

Fashion Resource Sites 101

Portfolio Challenge: Mock-up Editorial 102

Chapter 7 Wardrobe Styling 103

Lifestyle Photography 103

Editorial Wardrobe Styling 104

Film and Video 105

Acquiring Wardrobe and Accessories 108

Generic Wardrobe List 110

Dressing the Talent 111

Role of an Assistant 113

Styling Kits for Wardrobe 115

The Model's Bag of Tricks 115

Research Challenge: Watching TV Commercials 117

Portfolio Challenge: Everyday People 118

Chapter 8 Styling off-figure 119

Why Use Off-Figure Styling? 119

Clothing Construction 121

Setting Up the Photograph 122

Stacks 123

Hangers 124

Laydowns 126

Mannequins 128

Wall Styling 128

Specialty Kit List 135

Learning Opportunities 136

Portfolio Challenge: Make Your Own Hanger 137

Chapter 9 Product styling 138

A Product Stylist's Story 138

Catalog Product Styling 139

Styling Packages 140

Editorial Styling 141

Setting Up the Photograph 142

Techniques for Making Objects Obey 145

Styling Shoes 148

Creative Problem Solving 149

Kit Suggestions 150

Portfolio Challenge: Style a Cosmetic or Bath Product 151

Chapter 10 Prop Styling 152

A Professional Prop Stylist 152

Working on Food Photography 155

Set Design and Prop Styling 156

Props for Fashion Shoots 157

Mood Shots and Branding 158

The Rule of Props 159

Prop Collections 160

Sourcing Props 161

Prop Styling for Films and Video 161

Portfolio Challenge: Tell a Prop Story 161

Chapter 11 Food Styling 162

Meet a Food Stylist 162

Overview of Food Styling 163

Types of Work Available 163

New Outlets for Food Photography 166

A Typical Food Styling Day 167

Styling the Props 168

Professional Training 170

Techniques 173

Current Trends 173

Shopping for Food 174

Tools of the Trade 175

Research Challenge: Explore Old Cookbooks 176

Portfolio Challenge: Update a Vintage Cookbook Shot 176

Chapter 12 Room Sets and Bedding 177

Architectural Photography 177

Creative Set Design 173

A Home Stylist's Story 178

Home Magazines 180

Production Design 181

Styling Suggestions for Rooms 183

Props for Rooms and Exteriors 185

How to Style Bedding 187

Bedding Techniques 188

Specialty Kit Lists 190

Portfolio Challenge: Bed Close-Up 191

Part III Business for Photo Stylists

Chapter 13 Marketing Yourself 195

A Food Stylist's Success Story 195

Building Your Styling Business 196

Collaboration and Testing 197

Acquiring Samples of Your Work 200

Your Portfolio 201

Your Website 203

Social Media 206

Building Your Résumé 208

Self-Promotion: Your Other Hat 209

Selling Your Talents 213

Chapter 4 The Business of Styling 215

Your Styling Rate 215

Estimating Projects 219

Client Agreements 220

Job Envelope 222

Invoicing 223

Banking and Credit Cards 226

Taxes 228

Business Licenses 230

Providing Your Own Benefits 230

Growing Older as a Stylist 232

Personal Ethics 233

Agency, Staff, or Freelance 233

Part IV It's a Wrap

Chapter 15 The Photographer's Perspective 239

Understanding Styling 239

Food Styling 242

Fashion, On and Off-Figure 242

Benefits of Working with a Stylist 243

Producing Photo Shoots 243

When to Do Your Own Styling 245

Choosing the Best Stylist 247

Collaboration 248

Portfolio Challenge: Make Your Dreams Come Alive 250

Conclusion 251

About the Author 253

Photography Credits 255

About the Cover Photographer 257

Index 259