Case studies: Junior fashion photographer: Ben

Ben graduated from the London College of Fashion with a degree in fashion photography.

I chose this degree course because of its fantastic reputation, and because it offers students the opportunity to develop their own signature style and visual language in the creation of fashion and fashion-related photographic images. I was able to learn the technical skills of photography, experiment with location and studio shooting, and gain experience of working in teams and building relationships with stylists, make-up artists, model agencies and art directors.

I currently work as a junior fashion photographer for a cutting edge high-fashion retailer. I’m one of a team of photographers operating within a wider studio team, and our remit is to bring a repertoire of products to life through high quality digital photography. The aim of each shoot is to produce high quality and consistently beautiful images, ensuring that they’re correctly exposed and colour consistent.

My responsibilities include preparing sets, checking that all equipment is functioning, setting up appropriate lighting, ensuring that all products are lit correctly and creatively, and keeping accurate daily shoot records. I also assist the senior photographers with the implementation of any specific creative direction from our editorial and art directors. The care and upkeep of all studio equipment, props and supplies is a major part of the role of the junior photographers. Occasionally, we’re also tasked with retouching, cropping or uploading digital images.

Since starting work in this role, I’ve had the opportunity to undertake training in technical areas such as Photoshop, Capture One, networked computers, colour correction and consistency, lighting, and quality assurance. I generally work from 9.30am to around 6pm, but I occasionally need to come in later and work until about 10pm, depending on the requirements of the shoot.

To be successful in this role, you need to be able to work well within a team, have the ability to function effectively under pressure, and have a flexible attitude. You also need to be creative and detail oriented. My advice to graduates planning to work in this career area is to gain some experience in a studio environment, either paid or voluntary. Employers will expect you to demonstrate previous experience with digital cameras and lighting, and to have an impressive portfolio, so it’s a good idea to start building these up as you go along. It’s also useful to join at least one professional body, which you can usually join as a student member, and then attend their workshops, talks and events. As well as being good learning opportunities, they’re also great for making contacts and for your CV, as they show potential employers that you have an interest in the industry.