Photographic stylist
Help photographers get the best images by creating the right look and mood for a photo shoot.
About the job
What it's like
You would help photographers get the best images by creating the right look and mood for a photo shoot.
You would usually specialise in one type of photography:
Fashion
Interiors
Food
Advertising
Editorial
You’d find the props, dress the set and make arrangements behind the scenes. You would get ideas or instructions – called the ‘brief’ – from the photographer or art director.
On some jobs you might have a lot of creative freedom whilst on others the brief might be very strict.
You would:
Discuss the brief with the photographer or art director
Come up with ideas
Decide on the best clothes, accessories and backgrounds to achieve the desired look
Buy, borrow or hire props, clothing and accessories
Arrange the set
Dress models and make adjustments so that clothes fit and look good
Keep a stock of fashion or home accessories so you can contribute items to a shoot
Develop good relationships with shops, prop suppliers, public relations agencies, photographers and models
Keep up to date with trends
In food styling, you would buy ingredients, cook the food (before or during the shoot, as necessary), and display it in an appetising way.
As a fashion stylist, as well as doing photographic work, you might work on fashion shows, music videos and TV shows.
Hours
You would need to be flexible about your working hours. Days are often long and pressurised, as deadlines are tight and models, props and locations may only be available for a limited time.
Environment
You may have a home or office base, but much of your work would take place in photographic studios. You may also need to work on location, depending on the type of shoot. The work can involve climbing ladders, lifting, carrying and using glue, paint and hand tools.
Travel
You may spend a lot of time travelling to shoots, either in your local area, or around the UK and possibly overseas. As you may frequently have to transport bulky or delicate items, having a full driving licence and your own transport is useful, but not essential.
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Related industries
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Creative
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- creative
- designing
- empathising
- respecting
- supporting
- verbal communication
- listening
- developing a plan
- negotiating
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Art and Design
Creative Arts
Media
Photography
Skills for Work: Creative Industries
Foundation Apprenticeship: Creative and Digital Media
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
Getting into this role is very competitive. Most photographic stylists:
come from a fashion, photography or design background
have a National Certificate or National Qualification (SCFQ level 5/6), Higher National Certificate (SCQF level 7) or Higher National Diploma (SCQF level 8) in areas like art and design, photography or visual merchandising
or have a degree (SCQF level 9/10) in areas like art and design, photography or visual merchandising.
You can enter design-centred National Certificate or National Qualification courses (SCQF level 5) with no formal qualifications but most courses require National 4/5 qualifications (SCQF level 6).
You can enter a Higher National Certificate (SCQF level 7) or Higher National Diploma courses (SCQF level 8) with National 4/5 qualifications and one to two Highers or equivalent qualifications.
Entry to a degree (SCFQ level 9/10) requires National 5 qualifications and a minimum of four Highers or a relevant HNC/HND.
To enter a postgraduate qualification (SCFQ level 11) will usually require a relevant degree.
Qualifications that show creative, digital and visual communication skills such as Skills for Work Creative Digital Media (SCFQ level 4) or Creative Industries (SCFQ level 5).
Work-based qualifications such as a Diploma in Creative and Digital Media (SCQF level 7) or Retail: Visual Merchandising (SVQ level 3).
A portfolio of your work when applying to courses and to jobs.
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