Fashion Photographer

shoot, develop, and print still photos and/or videos to show off clothes and accessories in a creative manner that catches the eye of consumers. Professional fashion photographers must have a good eye for style and beauty and be skilled at working with models to achieve the best possible poses and photos. In addition to taking pictures, photographers may also be responsible for scouting locations and hiring models and personnel for the photo shoot



Salary Range: Earnings potential up to $100,000+
Top level pay for experienced fashion photographers is around $50,000, but those who are able to establish themselves as brand names - like Herb Ritts or Annie Liebowitz - can make upwards of $100,000 annually.



Qualifications: Education - A degree in Photography or Art is not required but is very helpful for getting the first job and making contacts. Knowledge of or coursework in fashion design and merchandising is also a plus.

Experience - A portfolio of previous work that demonstrates skill, imagination, and personal style is required. Internships, apprenticeships, and other on-the-job training is essential.

Personal Characteristics/Skills - Artistic and creative expression; thorough knowledge of the technical and aesthetic aspects of photography, including camera operations, lighting, composition, darkroom procedures, and special characteristics of films and paper; good business and networking skills; solid interpersonal skills to communicate with models and convey your ideas; ability to promote oneself; knowledge of trends in both photography and fashion industry.

Graphic Designer

prepare camera-ready copy for any type of printed material, including business cards and stationary, brochures, advertising, packaging, book covers, and many other types of materials, for various fashion businesses. Graphic designers may work for an advertising agency, fashion magazine, graphic design firm, as a freelance designer, or out of their own studio. In large agencies, they work on a team with the Art Director and Creative Director in order to conceptualize and create specific designs to be approved by their client.



pay may range from $15,000 to $30,000
Experienced pay may range from $45,000 to $60,000
Top level pay is around $80,000+



Qualifications: Education - a 2 or 4 yr. degree in Graphic Design or related field is highly recommended. Coursework should include techniques for graphic communication and electronic art.
Experience - College internships and related experience is recommended. A portfolio of previous work is required.
Personal Characteristics/Skills - Good sense of style, color and design; ability to tolerate criticism; creativity and imagination; attention to detail; good computer skills; ability to collaborate other professionals.

Fashion Illustrator

Consider a career in fashion illustration. Fashion illustrators create sketches and drawings of apparel, shoes, and accessories for fashion advertisements, catalogues, and other media. They conceptualize and draw clothing and accessories by hand or use special computer software programs (e.g., computer aided design/CAD). Fashion illustrations are used in newspaper and magazine advertising layouts, department store ads, direct mail catalogs, television commercials, films, brochures, and flyers. Professional fashion artists may work on a freelance basis for an advertising agency, manufacturer, or department store, or out of their own studio.



earnings potential up to $60,000.

Qualifications:
Education - A college degree is not required to enter the field, but 2-4 year degrees in Art, Drawing, Fashion Design, or Fashion Illustration will be very helpful in getting your foot in the door. Coursework in business is helpful for freelancers.

Fashion Editor

editors supervise the process of creating, developing and presenting content for fashion-specific magazines, photo shoots, websites, newspaper sections, or television shows. Editors occupy the mid to highest-level positions at publications. Under guidance of the editor-in-chief, they are responsible for deciding the creative influence and direction that their departments will pursue during a given season or issue. Editors may specialize in apparel, accessories, beauty and make-up, and so on. Some fashion editors choose to be freelance, working on a per-contract basis and assuming all of the costs of the fashion shoot (e.g., clothing and accessories).



both salaried and freelance editors should enjoy a fast-paced environment. In addition, editors are often required to travel to keep up with the latest fashion trends through meetings with designers and visits to fashion shows throughout the world (e.g., New York, Paris, London, and Milan), retail stores, specialty boutiques, and vintage clothing stores. They also rely on the content of designer "Look Books" and apparel and product samples to select content to be featured in their publications.



pay may range from $30,000 to $40,000
Experienced may range from $40,000 to $60,000
Top level pay may range from $70,000 to $100,000



Qualifications: Education - A 4-year bachelor's degree in Fashion Design & Merchandising or Journalism is required. Coursework in both fields is a plus. A Liberal Arts degree with the necessary related coursework is also a good option.
Experience - Internships with fashion publications is a good way to get a foot in the door - and often the only way. However, any journalistic internship can be a launching pad for an eventual career as a fashion writer or editor. A portfolio of previous written and published work is required for higher-level writing and editing jobs.
Personal Characteristics/Skills - Passion for fashion; broad knowledge of fashion industry trends and forecasts; excellent writing/journalistic talent with the ability to communicate effectively and clearly; great organization and planning skills; excellent interpersonal and management skills; competitive spirit; ability to perform well under stress.

Fashion Public Relations Specialist

Public Relations Specialists and Publicists help apparel companies and retail stores build and maintain a favorable public image. Because they do not pay for publicity or media coverage, Public Relations (PR) Specialists must find creative ways to keep the company's brand name in the public eye. PR specialists select information that they want to share with the public and write up press releases or conduct press conferences to distribute the news through television, newspapers, radio and direct mail. They are also responsible for interacting with media when questions or crises arise from outside sources. As such, PR specialists must maintain strong professional relationships with media personnel.



Salary Range: $20,000 to $100,000 or more
Entry level pay may range from $20,000 to $35,000
Experienced pay may range from $40,000 to $60,000
Top level pay may range from $75,000 to $100,000+



Qualifications: Education - A 4 year degree in Public Relations or related field has become increasingly necessary. Coursework in fashion and journalism is very helpful.
Experience - An internship or some experience working at a fashion publication or other media outlet is key.
Personal Characteristics/Skills - Knowledge of journalistic basics including proper news release formats; excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills; good interpersonal skills; good time management and multi-tasking skills; ability to maintain an even temperament under stress.

Fashion Stylist

stylists are responsible for bringing to life a photographer or director's vision for a fashion photo shoot, layout, commercial, print advertisement, music video, etc. Fashion stylists often scout locations, create the mood for the shoot by selecting and setting up the appropriate props, fashions, accessories, and even models to fit the theme of the shoot. They coordinate colors and styles and ensure that all clothes are ready for the shoot, which can include basic tasks such as steaming and ironing garments.



salary may range from $150-$200/day
Experienced salary may range from $500-$5,000/day
Top level stylists can earn up to $100,000 and more



Qualifications: Education - a 2-year or 4-year degree in Fashion Merchandising, Fashion Design, Art or Visual Merchandising is helpful but not required. Networking is critical to building a client base, so most stylists enter the field as an apprentice (assistant or intern), and they work with an established fashion stylist for two or more years until they have a more substantial network and portfolio. A degree can give future stylists a jump start on creating their professional fashion portfolio.

Fashion Media & Promotions

Fashion Writer:


writers produce editorial copy for media outlets such as fashion magazines, newspapers, fashion / design websites or blogs, and of course for television. The majority of the industry's fashion writers work within editorial departments of fashion design firms, but for those who specialize in areas like designer collection reviews... submitting articles on a freelance basis is often the preferred career direction. Talented fashion editors tend to partner with photographers, who together dig up their own stories e.g. formal portraits of designers, editors, models, celebrities and others who make up fashion's inner circle. After developing these stories behind the scenes, they are pitched to chief editors or other fashion media buyers like Vogue or Cosmo. Like all journalists, fashion reporters must do thorough research and/or conduct interviews when preparing articles. Most draw upon their personal interest and incorporate their own personality into stories to make their pieces fun, interesting and engaging to readers.



Average Salary Earning Potential: $68,000+ Median pay potential: $47,000+



Qualifications: Education - Given the competition for fashion writing jobs, a college degree in Fashion Journalism or Fashion Merchandising is highly recommended. Coursework or combined working and educational exposure in both fields is especially coveted by prospective employers.
Experience - As with any writing job, previous experience - demonstrated by a portfolio or collection of written work - is highly valued.
Skills - Excellent English communication and writing skills (e.g., spelling and grammar), attention to detail, and superior research and fact-checking skills are essential. A love of fashion and knowledge about the industry, historical trends, designers, textiles, fabrics and business are also important.