A photo stylist is someone who works with a photographer and sometimes a team, such as an art director and/or an assistant stylist, to make clothing or products look the way the Brand or Magazine wants them to look. Their goal is to translate the vision of the designer or art director into a scene that can then be photographed.
The responsibilities of the Photo Stylist may vary depending on how many people are at the photoshoot. In some cases, where there is minimal team and consistent direction, with similar product, a stylist might be responsible for doing more of the work - prepping the garments, styling the props, stying the accessories on the model and more. In cases where an assistant is involved, the stylist will be directing some of those jobs in addition to doing some of them themselves.
The work of a photo stylist can vary depending on the type of photoshoot that they are working on. It could involve presenting clothing or product flat, hanging on a wall or worn on a model. And each of those types of styling require different skill sets.
Flat Lay Styling
In a “Flat Lay” photo, garments and/or accessories and props are placed on a background, arranged and manipulated to look a certain way, before it is photographed. Often this collection of objects creates some sort of story or feeling that is trying to be conveyed in the photograph. It could also be a suggestion of what an outfit might look like when it’s put together with all it’s pieces, like the image above. This is the kind of styling you might see in a social post where they have used an online photo editor for template, cropping & text overlay.
Hanging from a Wall
By hanging objects or clothing on a wall stylist can get much the same effect as a flat lay, but from a different perspective. By using props they create a story or mood around the products being arranged.
Editorial Styling
Editorial styling is often happening with a model and there is a story to tell with the clothing as well. Editorial shoots can be with magazines or even a catalogue that has more of a lifestyle presentation. Anthropologie has more editorialized photoshoots in both studio and location settings. Take a look at your catalogues. You will see that the pieces within them are carefully arranged, accessorized and filled with props, to create a specific look. This is the job of the fashion stylist.
Catalogue Styling
The image above from Etsy Seller FollowMeFS is a classic example of Catalogue Styling. The garment is shown on a model with minimal accessories against a neutral background. The garments are clean, steamed and they are styled with accessories that complement the design. The model is showing how the garment looks on the body in a somewhat neutral pose.
Tools of the Trade
According to Susie, the best photo styling tool of the trade you should have on hand is the ability to problem solve. You will be tasked with figuring out “How-to-do” a lot of things. Some other tools you might want to have on hand are:
Needles and thread - you never know when you might have to sew on a button
Pins - of all kinds - straight pins, t-pins, safety pins
Tape - a collection of all kinds of tape - double sided, masking, packing, magic tape, the more the better
Monofilament Thread or fishing line
Iron & Ironing Board
Steamer
Getting Started
If you can’t stop creating your own super styled Instagram feed or making your home look like the inside of West Elm, you might want to consider Photo Styling as a career. A good starting place would be to work as an assistant to a stylist or on a display team in a retail environment. You might have to do a little research to get your foot in the door. Don’t know where to start? Here are some quick tips:
Join a facebook group dedicated to photo styling
Connect with photo stylists and photographers on LinkedIn
Start an Instagram or Tik Tok page you dedicate to practicing your techniques
Have “Informational Interviews” with people in the trade.
Please let me know what you think in the comments. Until next time,
xo Jennifer
