2.Competitions

Another tip when working with brands on photo shoots is to discuss the overall vision in detail and make sure that you’re asking the brand questions and taking notes to ensure that you’re on the same page.

Practising as many looks as you can to prepare yourself for editorial shoots is always a good idea. You won’t always know who your model is or what their hair type and texture will be. Knowing how to create a wide range of styles on all hair types and textures will ensure that you feel confident in the work you’re creating and give the brand or company you’re working with confidence in you, too.

“If you’re new to the scene, familiarize yourself with a few different styles that range from straight to textured to structured on long and short hair,” says Duplantis. “Having those looks on your phone is a great way to go about it because you can show brands what you can do.”

Much like editorial shoots, photo-based competitions require a lot of work and training, but the key difference is that you can start the process yourself and have full creative control on set.

For Melita Campellone, Contessa 2022 Session Hairstylist of the Year winner and Montreal-based educator for Oribe, her competition journey started because she was in search of something more. “I wanted a new challenge, and since session work isn’t something I get to do behind the chair, I knew I needed an outlet to do it,” she says. “A lot of thought, work and organization went into my collections, so sometimes I would have to remind myself of the reasons why I started. But I would see the work I was capable of creating and the feeling of excitement is such a rush.” In addition to the creative freedom of taking a small idea and turning it into something much bigger, participating in competitions provide a chance to connect with other stylists and brands in the industry. This allows you to get your name out there and may even open doors for other opportunities in session work.

“I’ve been given really big opportunities in my career because of my creative, editorial and session work,” says LaChance. “I’ve been able to create my own classes and through them, I’ve connected with a lot of like-minded individuals, both nationally and globally.”

When working on a shoot for a competition for the first time, there are many things that you can do to make the process less overwhelming. “Choose a team that you feel supported by because you need people to lean on,” says LaChance. “Take things off your plate so you can focus on the hair and ideas. If it’s not working, don’t be discouraged and just pivot to another direction.”

“I would recommend starting by attending and researching the competitions that you want to enter and seeing what they’re all about,” says Campellone. “Find out who the winners are and look at their collections so you can see what quality of work the judges are looking for.”

“While it can seem overwhelming, decide what categories you want to enter to give you guidance,” she adds. “That way, you can create a plan and learn what requirements your work has to meet. The rest is all about being creative and opening up your mind to let things flow, even if they don’t fit with your original vision. Be prepared to go with the flow.”

Regardless of whether you win or not, there are many lessons that can be learned through competition shoots. From collaborating with others and expanding your portfolio to trying something outside the box and letting your creativity roam free, competitions can help you advance your craft. “Don’t create just to win trophies; create for yourself,” says LaChance. “If you create what your heart and eyes like to see, it’s always a win. Art comes from passion fuelled by love. If you only shoot to win, you will miss out on all the best parts of making a collection.”