I'm an aspiring fashion photographer located in VA, and I'm currently in the process of contacting agencies. I have switched my entire style up in the last year and started shooting alot of clean black and white style imagery. IF you were a booker how would you respond to my work, and are there any things you see that is hurting me in my port that needs to be pulled.

I know I'm far from the best, and I'm still learning and have taken the attitude that critiques arent personal in ANY manner and I'd rather have HONEST thorough REAL comments as opposed to sweet nothings. I want to get somewhere and I appreciate all of the responses to this in advance !

I think your work looks good. Very representative of the style that many agencies look for test shoots - model centric, clean makeup and styling, no overly crazy photo effects or shadow that might obscure the model. Remember that is the agencies job to sell the model, not your photographic skills.

I would recommend that whatever BW settings you put be on or near the last step as an adjustment layer so that you can recover a color version if that is preferred by final party.

My sort of follow up question is when you are contacting agencies and bookers, what are you hoping to get? I think getting more models to test with and also possibly models for editorial ideas you may have are definite possibilities. If you are seeking paid tests, not that I know your area but factor in the difficulties you may come up against.

The first factor is that while the supply of models hasn't really gone up, with the advent of low prices DSLR and lighting and training available as close as your computer, the supply of decent fashion photographers has gone up quite considerably.  As supply and demand goes, agencies get a number of calls a week from photographers and have long list of photographers who will test for free.

You may find some agencies who say "well we like your port and we will send you a couple of models as a test and if we like what we get from you, we will give you paid work".  Now there are some that mean this, however, as they keep getting phone calls from photographers every day, for many it actually means "well we like your port and we will send you a couple of models as a test and I will keep sending you models till you ask to get paid, then we will just scratch you off the list. "

Also - at least in NYC - in addition to having a list of photographers who will work for free, many agencies also have a decent list of really good photographers who will do a quick test for few hundred bucks in their studio if they are otherwise not engaged....and when I say really good I mean a few recent editorials in top fashion magazines good. They also generally have their own small studio with some simple outfits for the models and an MUA they work with. At least in NYC if one is looking to get paid for tests, that is the competition.

Again this may vary by location and it is not written in any way to discourage you but I think it is important to get more information on possible factors you might come up against in any endeavor.

pretty clean, solid work. The only thing I can think of though to give you as constructive criticism would be asking what makes your work stand out from others? what makes you different and would make me want to book you?

While your photos are attractive as well as your models, maybe it's time to start challenging yourself.. Shooting in color/outside .. Coming up with themes and stuff..

You've got the black and white "agency" look down pat.

I'd love to see something different  from you

Best of luck!!!!

Your photos are good enough to show to agencies.

I want to thank everyone that took time out of their day to give me a response. I am pleased that other people feel the way I do about my work being quality, and I guess now is the time to really start exploring ideas and markets, and try and push myself.

I know that living in a small town is pushing/holding me back, and I need to think long and hard about whether I can shoot fashion that I'd want in this area or whether a trip to NYC permanently is in order.

I think your work is great and I like the clean look although everything on your MM port does feel very similar. 

much as I enjoy black & white I'd say start shooting more color. fashion is colorful and designers & art directors will want to see that.

all the best!