Fashion Photography Personal Statement

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

My interest in fashion photography was initially based on my love of fashion. It recently occurred to me that a large part of why fashion photography comes naturally to me is because of my understanding of the garment itself - the structure, movement and silhouette of the clothing plays a key role in the image-making process and is something I have a strong connection to. I found that the thing I loved about fashion photography, the thing that made it stand out from what I had tried before, was how conceptual and fantasy-like it can be. When thinking of ideas and searching for inspiration, I often look to cinema. Because I like to create a backstory to my work, films really inspire me conceptually and aesthetically. It is these details which inspire me—sometimes a single item of clothing or prop, sometimes a fully realised aesthetic concept—this is what I tend to base my work around. I'm excited by the prospect of developing my skills and learning more about working in the fashion industry.

How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?

From the ages of 13 to 16, I went to an after-school fashion class each week where I learnt to cut patterns, create clothing and was introduced to designers. Studying textiles at GCSE and A level has enhanced this understanding and the nature of the projects has made me start thinking in a more conceptual way which I now apply to my photography. When starting my A-level course, I wasn't sure which area of photography I wanted to go into. I played around with some close-up, structure-based themes before moving on to a personal documentary project and finally trying my hand at fashion photography. Apart from my personal growth as a photographer, my photography course has taught me about collaboration and teamwork as my shoots often involve three other people and directing them all has been a challenge that I have greatly improved in. In addition, I feel that the way the course is run, starting on film rather than digital, has allowed me to really hone in my composition and choose my shots carefully. I also studied digital illustration as an enrichment course to grow my skill set and improve my abilities in Photoshop.

What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?

As much as I'm passionate about visual arts, I'm also a writer and performer with a group called Culture Clash for which I perform my own poetry. Last summer, we performed at the Edinburgh Fringe for a week which was a life-changing experience in terms of my confidence. Having often struggled to share my art with people, performing my poems every night dramatically increased my self-confidence in my art as well as in how I carry myself and interact with others. I learnt to budget money and manage my time while still having fun which was quite the learning experience in terms of independence. I also had to feed myself, find my way around and make sure I was in the right place at the right time. These experiences have been invaluable in preparing me for the challenges of the fashion industry, where confidence, independence, and adaptability are crucial.