[All images courtesy of Condé Nast]
SELF Magazine‘s Fashion Director, Evyan Metzner, knows a thing or two about conducting a successful photo shoot. With over 20 years of industry experience, Metzner travels all over the world to conduct shoots for SELF, Teen Vogue, Vanity Fair, New York Magazine, and InStyle. She’s worked with Beyonce, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Hudson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Carrie Underwood, Kristen Bell, Taylor Swift, and more, with some of the shoots she’s styled pictured below. FPD was able to get the skinny from Metzner, for you aspiring stylists out there, what its like to be a stylist and how to prepare for a styling career.
FPD: Most people want to know how to jump start a styling career, let alone become a fashion director; what sound advice might you give them to follow to make their dream a reality?
EM: “First, I’d suggest reading, looking at, and watching fashion and style magazines and blogs, whether in print or on the iPad. See what you like and respond to: are you more of a full fledge fashion girl or do you like more lifestyle-like magazines, like SELF? What designers do you like? What photographers do you like? I’d also suggest following different editors on Twitter. And then intern, intern, intern. It is still the best way to get your foot in the door. While interning, see if you want to style (work with photographers and models on shoots), or want to be a market editor (they call in the clothes and accessories from designers & PR firms). And then take a look at the mastheads of the magazines you love. Find the editors’ email addresses or send them letters to ask for a meeting with their assistants. Its also important to understand that we all don’t start out in this industry doing exactly what we want to in the beginning. It’ll take a lot of energy and there is a lot of hard work, like packing and unpacking…and packing and unpacking. Most importantly, though — don’t give up!”
FPD: What would you say are some elements to look for, take note of, and analyze, when looking at editorial shoots in magazines, in order to become a novice (or better) stylist? Continue reading…
