On the Job

>>Photographer Vanessa Rogers quickly learned that fashion shoots aren't all glamour and jazz. The Iowa native studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City and continued her education at NYC's School of Visual Arts before moving to Naples two and a half years ago. It took six months for her to get a foothold in the market, but now she's one of the busiest photographers in the region. She shoots editorial work and advertising for magazines all over the country, and just had her first national magazine cover for Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine.

What was your experience in New York? I worked with Augustus Butera as a studio manager for three years, and I worked with modeling agencies and record labels doing CD covers. Whatever it took to gain some experience. A lot of people think they can go straight from college into photography, and it might be possible. But in New York, there are so many photographers that it's best to learn from someone you respect and admire, and when you're ready, you'll know it.

Is the job as glamorous as it looks? It looks so sexy, and the set might look beautiful. But it's all rigged beyond belief. The models are never as beautiful as you might think. You have to have talent and technical skill in this business. This is all I do; it consumes me. But to try and be the best, you have to be willing to put in the time and the effort and continually study your craft.

How do you keep up? Once a year I go back to New York City to attend a program or a photo expo to brush up on the next technology that will really help me get an edge.

Are you always shooting? A third of my time is spent in the office retouching photos, doing paperwork, making calls and other production. It's a lot of time spent, and people don't realize that you need to have some sort of business acumen; it's not just taking the pictures.

Your ultimate client? A Dolce & Gabbana [designer] campaign would be my dream. Or anything for V magazine, the photos are amazing. But [photographer] Annie Leibovitz inspires me the most. Her work is very moody and beautiful, but timeless.

-Rebecca Loveridge