Relationship between Photographer and Stylist

[SKRalston]

This is subjective to a lot of circumstances. Mostly, it depends on the client. If you are shooting for a designer or a magazine they may already have a stylist, or an art director working with a stylist and they fill you in on how they want it photographed. If you are famous enough, they may let you bring your own stylist.

If you are shooting for yourself or a models portfolio, it's a collaboration between all of you with the stylist hopefully getting the best out of what you have, they should be there at conception. If a designer calls you and wants you to put the whole deal together, they should be there at conception as well.

In all cases I expect them to be there till the end of the shoot watching for wardrobe malfunctions, errant hairs and the overall look of the model to avoid wasted shots, time and prevent excess editing. If it's my shoot I give them free reign to stop me and correct something I don't see through the viewfinder. I let them make the call for MUA's and hairstylist's as well if either is needed. Basically I make them second in command... again, if it's my shoot...

I will collaborate with them choosing the wardrobe for the style of the shoot but will let their opinion rule, it's just that someone needs to be in control and at least pretend to be making decisions.

Unless the stylist is the client, like for their portfolio, I don't let them play with the camera or the lights... Everything else... have at it.

That's the way I run it, I am sure others have differing opinions.