How to Avoid Tokenism in Your Fashion and Beauty Photography
In the fashion and beauty industry, inclusivity has become increasingly important in recent years. While it's great that the industry is moving towards more diversity, it's important to make sure that it's done in a meaningful way that doesn't involve tokenism. Tokenism is when a person is included in a project, company or industry merely to give the appearance of diversity, without actually giving them a meaningful role or treating them as an equal.
As a photographer in the fashion and beauty industry, it's important to be mindful of tokenism and work towards inclusivity. Here are some tips to help you avoid tokenism and embrace diversity in your work:
Be intentional about your casting: When casting models for your shoot, make a conscious effort to include a diverse range of models of all genders, abilities, colours, races and body types. Don't just include a single person from a marginalised group to meet a diversity quota, but make sure that you are genuinely interested in working with a range of people.
Educate yourself: Take the time to educate yourself on issues of diversity and inclusion. This will not only help you to understand the importance of inclusivity, but also enable you to better communicate with your models and team members.
Collaborate with diverse creatives: When working on a shoot, aim to work with a diverse range of creatives, including hair and makeup artists, stylists and art directors. This will help to ensure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to inclusivity and that everyone's perspectives are taken into account.
Avoid stereotypes: Avoid using stereotypes or generalisations when it comes to casting or styling your models. Instead, approach each model as an individual with unique qualities and strengths.
Provide equal opportunities: Provide equal opportunities for all of your models, regardless of their background or identity. This includes paying them fairly, giving them equal exposure in your portfolio and treating them with respect on set.
Inclusivity is important in the fashion and beauty industry, but it's essential that it's done in a meaningful way that doesn't involve tokenism. By being intentional about your casting, educating yourself, collaborating with diverse creatives, avoiding stereotypes and providing equal opportunities, you can help to create a more inclusive and diverse industry.
Hannah Lunn Photography
I am a fashion and beauty photographer based in Yorkshire, and I believe in capturing the beauty of all individuals.. As a photographer with over a decade of experience, I specialise in editorial style photography with an edgy fashion twist.
I want to work with diverse of models from all walks of life and create stunning, impactful images. Contact me today to discuss your next project and let's celebrate diversity through beautiful photography.
