How To Become A Photo Stylist: What It Is and Career Path

What is a photo stylist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Photo stylists work alongside photographers, helping them create the scene they want to place their photo subjects in. Their work is essential in creating the mood the photographer aims to capture, be it fashion, interiors, food, or other.

You will follow the photographer's instructions and research ideas for the shoot. You might be asked to present your ideas beforehand, which means you will have to create sketches using appropriate software tools. It will be your job to look for props like clothes or other items to create the desired scene. Arranging the lights might be on you, too.

Good taste and sensitivity for visual language are a must here. You might need an art education or a strong portfolio to get your first job. Experience in your craft is always valuable, of course. You will have to be flexible to travel and work in irregular hours, as is often the case in creative professions. Your salaries will depend on various factors, including your experience and the outlets you work for. On average, you can expect to make $45,181 a year.

ScorePhoto StylistUS Average

Salary

3.9

Avg. Salary $50,049

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

4.2

Growth Rate 3%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.37%

Asian 10.42%

Black or African American 3.42%

Hispanic or Latino 10.63%

Unknown 4.99%

White 70.17%

Gender

female 80.14%

male 19.86%

Age - 37

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 37

Stress Level

4.2

Stress level is moderate

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

8.5

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

3.9

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a photo stylist

Explore photo stylist education requirements

Most common photo stylist degrees

Bachelor's

70.0 %

Associate

18.4 %

Master's

5.8 %

Start to develop specific photo stylist skills

Skills	Percentages
Photo Studio	16.46%
Photo Shoots	14.17%
Product Photography	10.30%
Art Direction	9.79%
Kids	7.03%

Complete relevant photo stylist training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New photo stylists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a photo stylist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real photo stylist resumes.

Research photo stylist duties and responsibilities

Check the appearance of costumes on stage or under lights to determine whether desire effects are being achieve.
Create a looping PowerPoint show to promote internal changeover to Google Apps.
Plan inventory and product assortment to the e-commerce store, ensuring current trends, and pricing fit requirements.
Provide customize wardrobe consultations, closet makeovers and personal style and fashion recommendations using an innovative direct-to-consumer sales model.

Prepare your photo stylist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your photo stylist resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a photo stylist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Photo Stylist Resume templates

Build a professional Photo Stylist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Photo Stylist resume.

Apply for photo stylist jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a photo stylist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do photo stylists rate their job?