In the world of fashion photography, technical skill alone won’t carry the vision. According to fashion-and-editorial photographer Adriana Curcio, what really elevates a shoot are the subtle but essential elements that sometimes fall through the cracks. Below are her seven key pieces of advice—rooted in her own journey—that can help aspiring fashion photographers stand out.
1. Preparation
Adriana considers preparation the single most important aspect of her work: and not just a little preparation, but serious over-preparation. She never arrives on set without a clear idea of what she wants to achieve. Her prep process includes tear sheets and image collections that feature lighting setups, hair, makeup, styling, posing and post-production ideas. When burnout looms—and it can easily in the world of fashion—those visual libraries offer fresh inspiration and spark the concept or story to shoot.
2. Own Your Concept
Even though a fashion shoot involves a team—hair stylists, makeup artists, wardrobe stylists—Curcio stresses that you must maintain authorship of the vision. You can welcome ideas and collaboration, but you must not surrender the reins. If your collaborators simply “do their thing” without your direction, the final image will reflect a disjointed story. Your job is to ensure the narrative you envisioned is executed smoothly and clearly for the audience.
3. Move — and Move Some More
Curcio’s third tip is simple but often overlooked: don’t wait for the perfect frame to present itself. Be proactive. Shoot, reposition yourself, change angle, shoot again. By continuously moving—experimenting with vantage points and dynamic compositions—you’re actively hunting the image, not passively waiting for it to happen.
4. Be a Director
A model may bring innate talent, energy, or spontaneity to the set, and that’s valuable. But as the photographer, your role is also to direct. Curcio emphasizes that waiting for the ideal moment is much less fruitful than creating the moment yourself. She leads, guides, influences and shapes the action until the shot is formed—this is how you bring your concept to life.
5. Break the Rules
For a long time, Curcio followed the textbook method of lighting and posing. Then, through some happy accidents, she discovered the power of dramatic lighting, high contrast and unorthodox approaches. Her fourth tip: defy convention. Sometimes the most compelling images come from bending or breaking the rules you learned. You’ll surprise yourself when you allow experimentation and risk.
6. Never Stop Shooting
Stopping means risk—you risk rusting your creative muscle. According to Curcio, the moment you stop shooting is the moment you begin to second-guess yourself and lose your momentum. Keep shooting everywhere, always. Sharpness on technique is critical, but so is the habit of creation. Consistent practice builds confidence, trains your camera brain, and keeps your creative self alive.
7. Confidence
Finally, Curcio drives home the importance of belief—in your vision, your work, and your capacity to learn. Mistakes are inevitable—and in fact, wonderful, because they’re your teachers. She reflects on her early days when fear of failure nearly made her leave a shoot. But she stayed, and those images she produced despite fear remain some of her favorites. Your first job is to trust that you can do this. Then shoot. Fail. Learn. Rise.
Adriana Curcio’s journey reminds us that fashion photography isn’t just about gear or technique—it’s about telling a story, owning it, and bringing it to life through movement, direction, and relentless practice. If you stay prepared, direct with purpose, break your own rules and never stop making pictures, you’ll find your voice.
