Fashion photography is one of the hardest and most expensive photography careers to break into. The expenses alone can really hinder upcoming or new photographers. While advancements in digital cameras are doing a good job of shortening the gap that separates the wannabes from the pros, most art directors are gonna expect you to produce very large images.

So what exactly do you need (besides talent) to make it in the fashion realm?

A small fortune!

Let’s take a quick look at the current crop of cameras in the bags of fashion photographers. We’ll actually ignore film on this post because there is a very strong movement towards all digital production. It’s faster and easier for the photo editors and most of them prefer digital photography. I wouldn’t have made this statement even 3 years ago, but that’s where it’s at, and it’s not going back. Do note that there are still some very talented and sought after fashion photographers using film. It’s niche and possibly a good angle to work but you may be climbing an uphill battle.

DSLRs

For the big jobs like billboards and high fashion magazines your gonna need the big guns here. In the race for more megapixels Nikon comes out on top, but at these prices Canon may be a better bargain considering both should work fine.

The Nikon D3X gives you 24.5 megapixels and a low noise at high ISO performance. Currently priced at just under $8000.00.

The Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III gives you 21.1 megapixels and a low noise at high ISO performance. Currently priced at just under $7000.00.

My suggestion if you’re starting out and can’t really fork over that much cash for a digital camera body? Go one tier under.

Here’s my thinking on it. Most of your work starting out won’t consist of billboards or high fashion magazines. Those are typically reserved for veterans and photo editors’ favorites. More often than not you’ll know through negotiations and speaking with the art director what the job requires. You can, at that point, rent the higher tier bodies for that job. Just be sure to give yourself a couple days before hand to familiarize yourself with the camera and keep it in the family. If you shoot Nikon daily don’t go out and rent the Canon 1Ds Mark III. The manufacturers do a great job in keeping most of the buttons and menus within their user interface. Sure, you may find that a couple things are different, but that’s a heck of a lot better than not knowing how to do crucial adjustments on the fly!

The Canon 5D Mark II gives you 21.1 megapixels and is half the price of the 1Ds Mark III.

The Nikon D700 gives you 12.1 megapixels and costs under $3000.

If you’re totally green and you’re market is mostly local you can actually get away with using the “pro-sumer” DSLRs. Chances are you’re not getting double spread jobs in Vogue. Eventually you’re work will outgrow those cameras quickly if you’re great at your photography and you’re great at marketing yourself.

So what about Medium Format or Large Format?

This is where it get’s really expensive. You can use a digital back on a medium format camera like those made by PhaseOne or you can go strictly digital. But it’ll cost ya.

Example: Hasselblad H3D-II_50. We’re talking 50 freakin’ megapixels and a cost of over $35,000.00!

Here’s the deal. If you’re reading a website on photography tips and you’re looking into a camera that costs over $10,000 then shoot me an email. We need to talk.

Obviously this isn’t a super comprehensive breakdown of what cameras should or shouldn’t be used in the realm of fashion photography. It’s all gonna depend on who you work with and where and how your images are going to be used. Think of this as a quick reference guide that you can use as a measuring stick. Besides, this will all be obsolete in about a year anyway. You gotta love technology!