About this video

• Video Title: Being a pro fashion photographer in 2024
• Channel: Tin House Studio
• Speakers: Jodie (Guest), Scott (Host)
• Duration: 01:18:03

Overview

This video features an interview with fashion photographer Jodie, discussing her journey into the industry, her career highlights, and her current work. She shares insights into her early influences, the transition from traditional art to photography, her experiences as a business owner, and her advice for aspiring photographers. The conversation also touches upon equipment, lighting, the impact of social media, and the importance of personal projects.

Key takeaways

• Early Influences and Artistic Journey: Jodie's path to photography was influenced by her mother, a fashion illustrator, and her father, who loved technology. She initially pursued traditional art but found photography more fulfilling as it allowed her to combine her interests in makeup and creative expression.
• Entrepreneurial Start: At 18, Jodie decided against university and instead started her own photography business, inspired by her father's entrepreneurial spirit. She learned through hands-on experience, taking on small local clients.
• Career Milestones and Recognition: Jodie highlights significant projects, including her work on the W Edinburgh hotel's interior artwork, a campaign for Nokia, and shoots for brands like Expedia and Mulan Rouge. She emphasizes that many of her biggest opportunities have stemmed from personal projects.
• The Role of an Agent: Having an agent like Scott has been crucial for Jodie, providing support, reducing feelings of isolation, and offering guidance, especially during industry lulls.
• Photography Gear and Preferences: Jodie's go-to camera is the Canon R5. While she appreciates technology, she views it as a tool. She favors zoom lenses, specifically the 24-105mm f/4, for their flexibility, and her favorite portrait lens remains the 85mm.
• Lighting and Modifiers: Her favorite modifier is the silver beauty dish, but she also values magnum reflectors and recently discovered the ProPhoto B10's capabilities.
• The Essence of Fashion Photography: Jodie believes a good fashion photographer understands fashion history, clothes, and their cultural significance. Strong communication skills with models and the creative team are also vital, as fashion photography is a collaborative effort.
• Navigating the Industry: The conversation touches upon the challenges posed by social media, influencers, and changing client budgets, while also emphasizing the importance of persistence and adapting to industry shifts.

Yes, the video touches on money in a few ways:

• First Jobs and Rates: Jodie mentions charging around £250 for early jobs, and £300 for her first wedding. She also recalls charging £120 for a 40th birthday shoot, noting that this felt like a lot of money compared to minimum wage day jobs.
• Budget Constraints: The conversation highlights how current industry budgets are tight, with one agency even asking for an hourly rate for a very short, two-hour job.
• Cost of Equipment: The high price of professional gear is discussed, specifically mentioning the ProPhoto B10 at £2,500 and its barn doors at £500. The expense of repairs for high-end equipment like Broncolor is also noted.
• Influencer Marketing vs. Professional Shoots: The economic shift towards using influencers for campaigns is discussed, with agencies opting for lower-cost influencer collaborations over more expensive professional photoshoots. An example of a £75,000 photoshoot being compared to the cost of hiring multiple influencers for around £2,000 each is mentioned.
• Licensing an Image: Jodie talks about the W Edinburgh job where she initially offered to license an older image she had taken, indicating a financial transaction for image usage.
• Secondary Income Streams: Jodie mentions that her role as a curator for the W Edinburgh project provided a "secondary income stream" in addition to her photography work.
• Personal Projects and Investment: She describes investing significant time and money into personal projects, with the hope that something will eventually come from them, though she acknowledges that the payoff, like the W Edinburgh job, can take a long time.