What Is A Fashion Editorial
An editorial photoshoot is an important aspect of fashion photography that a lot of aspiring fashion photographers might be unfamiliar with if they’re just starting out in the industry. It can be a little confusing what the purpose of an editorial photoshoot is and for instance, if you receive any sort of money for them! In this blog I’ll break down a little bit about what defines an editorial and why you should consider doing them if you’re interested in breaking into fashion or model photography.
They Are For Magazines:
Editorial shoots tend to be created with the idea that they will be published in an online magazine, print magazine or other type of fashion / photo blog. On rare occasions, magazines will commission photographers to shoot photos for them but if you’re starting out, most of the time the photographer and creative team will shoot photos first (or they will check the magazines to see what themes or types of shoots they usually take) and then submit those to the magazine for the hope that they will be published.
These shoots will often cost you time and money but can be a great way for budding fashion photographers to get their name out into the world and in front of the people who matter: bigger clients, other publications, brands and other prestigious individuals in the fashion industry.
Fashion Editorials Have A Theme
Fashion editorials often have an overall theme or story behind them that you’ll see in Harper’s Bazaar or Lucy’s or Vogue that tie all of the images together and create a consistent look and feel for the images that should be recognizable (at least somewhat) for that particular editorial.
These are the stories and ideas that the creative team (yourself included if you’re the photographer or make-up artist reading this) has come up with for the photoshoot in question. The themes don’t have to be original or extremely though provoking either, they just need to fit together nicely and act as a cohesive creative piece that the magazine will feel comfortable publishing for that month.
This is actually something that is more difficult than it sounds if you’ve ever had to shoot an editorial. At the very least, editorials can often be seen as moving a number of moving parts that you’re in charge of and that you need to decide where everything goes and at what time, sort of like a short film. It can be both exciting and a little exhausting depending on the photoshoot.
Creativity Is An Editorial
The nice part about editorials is that you’re often given a lot more creative freedom for more elaborate shoots and are able to work with better talent for the sake of art if you will. This is a great way for photographers, stylists, models and make-up artists to create something that is a little outside the norm and dare I say fashion. It’s these images that you’ll likely look back on and remember the hard sweat and tears that went into them but also you should be proud of the work that you’ve accomplished later.
Editorials Are Not Paid
Editorials are done for fun and because you want your images to appear in print. It can really be as simple as that when you break it down. Unfortunately, a lot of photographers want to be published and a lot of magazines can’t afford to pay creatives in this digital day and age.
Where to Find Editorial Photoshoots?
I’ll be compiling a laundry list of magazines that are open for submission to photographers interested in creating fashion editorials. I should also mention that if you ever do pick up a fashion magazine (which I would recommend) you can find the photo editorials usually in the back of the magazine. They’ll be a distinct section with different images from different photographers, some of which you may even recognize. If you’re not sure where to start out with your fashion editorial, here are some resources to pull inspiration from for fashion shoots and editorials. Check out the list below.
If you have any additional websites you’d like to add to the list or want to schedule your own editorial shoot. Please reach out directly with your request. In addition to fashion magazines, here is a short list on some resources I have used to pull inspiration from online sources.
Fashion Editorials.com
This is the quick and easy online hub for fashion editorials on the web and provides a great way to stay updated with current trends, models and shoots worldwide. Although it’s chronologically ordered, you’re able to search for specific photographers or shoots and see full-page images of editorial shoots that you would likely have to pay-to-see or hunt down to find, something many of us don’t have much time for these days.
If you check their site on a regular basis, you shouldn’t have a problem keeping up-to-date with newly uploaded images. You can find major fashion magazine such as Numero, ELLE, Icon, Vogue, L’Officiel, or Harper’s Bazaar, on this website.
Modeling Agency Websites
*Please note I am not affiliated nor do I advocate for one agency over another, this is simply an image for reference featuring VISION in Los Angeles.
Modeling agencies will usually feature their models with the editorials and shoots they’ve been featured in on their websites, or at the very least their social media accounts. For instance, if you’re a model in Los Angeles or New York this provides a great way to check out what your friends have been doing lately and what magazines are currently accepting new submissions.
Modeling agency websites can provide more detailed ideas for shoots (if you’re a model or a photographer) depending on your look and style and the particular agency. They can also help guide you in the direction you want your work to go or perhaps fill in some of the missing looks you need to add to your comp card or book. Check out our list of modeling agencies in Los Angeles.
Fashion Magazine Websites
An example from now defunct Paper Cut Magazine that shows various editorials online.
In 2022, many fashion photography publications can’t afford to produce a full magazine each month. Most produce physical magazines on a quarterly or bi-annual basis and therefor depend on digital magazines and their own websites to showcase their latest fashion editorials. I would recommend going through and finding your favorite online fashion magazines and bookmarking them to your browser for reference.
That way, you can easily refer back to them if you’re in need of a specific idea or need a little extra inspiration for a photoshoot. A lot of fashion, editorial and lifestyle magazines are much smaller and have limited production these days. I would recommend shopping around to see what kind of magazines resonate with you, depending on your interest and then save those ones accordingly. I will also have a list available of local publications, please stay tuned.
Yes Pinterest. Pinterest actually works as a great way to compile images for mood boards and easily share your shoot idea with the whole team or talent you’re working with for that particular photo shoot. Pinterest is inherently a visual search engine that allows its users to see similar or related ideas based on what they are initially looking to find. The ability to create mood boards makes it even easier to share your ideas and fits right in with the idea of a fashion or editorial photoshoot. I would also recommend downloading the Pinterest Chrome Extension that allows you to pin anything you see on the web.
This is a major time-saver. If you’re worried about someone stealing your ideas or seeing what your next shoot will look like, Pinterest also offers ways to hide your mood boards, so no one has to know about your next confidential project.
Physical Magazines
An example of a Harper’s Bazaar Magazine Cover from 2019
I know we just said that physical magazines can be expensive and in limited supply BUT they can also make your photoshoot much more professional if you bring a few magazines to set. Keep yourself and your team happy when you bring a few visual images that you can actually hold in your hands. It’s a great way to kill some time and look professional.