Snapshot

Top fashion photographers shoot photo spreads for glossy magazines, or work on big-ticket print campaigns. Amateurs often build up their portfolio doing ad shoots and brochures for designers.

The lowdown
Top fashion photographers shoot photo spreads for glossy magazines, or work on big-ticket print campaigns. Amateurs often build up their portfolio doing ad shoots and brochures for designers. The profession calls for a sound understanding of technique and the ability to convey to the team - model, make-up person, stylist - what you want. It helps if you can build a network of people you can work with comfortably

HT Image

Clock Work
Since it is a creative job, the hours are flexible, but a photographer is usually booked for a day, which can go like this:
8am: Wake up and work out
11am: Start shoot
2pm: Take a break
3pm: Resume shoot
7pm: Wrap up and chill

The payoff
A fashion photographer just starting out must be prepared to settle for around Rs20,000 or so for a full day’s shoot. Magazines offer a lot of visibility, but the catch is that lesser known names are paid less. An assignment may fetch you around Rs8,000 at the initial stage. As one’s fame rises, so does the fee. Big names can rake in upwards of Rs60,000 to Rs90,000 a day and the very best in the profession can command up to Rs1.5 lakh a day

Pros and cons
. Highly creative work
. Allows enough free time
. Lets you travel a lot
. Huge investment needed
. Initial years of struggle