Are Magazines Still Relevant for Fashion Photographers in 2025?

The fashion world is in perpetual motion. A ceaseless carousel of aesthetics, technology, and cultural shifts spinning in time with society’s pulse. As a fashion photographer deeply embedded in this evolving tapestry, I’m often asked one recurring question: Are magazines still relevant in 2025?

It’s a worthy inquiry. The digitization of fashion media has exploded. Instagram, TikTok, Threads, digital campaigns, and AI-generated content have flooded the landscape. We've seen a decline in print circulation across many major titles. But to dismiss magazines—particularly luxury fashion magazines—as relics of a bygone era would be shortsighted. The truth is nuanced. As with all things fashion, it’s not about death—it’s about metamorphosis.

The Myth of Irrelevance

Let’s start by dismantling the myth.

Magazines, like fashion houses, must evolve or expire. The digital age didn’t kill the magazine—it revealed its weak points: commoditized content, lazy curation, and a lack of experiential depth. The industry’s misstep was chasing clicks over curation. But the magazines that adapted—those that became collectable, immersive, rare—didn’t just survive. They ascended.

In 2025, the relevance of a magazine lies not in its frequency or mass reach, but in its intention. Fashion photographers thrive when paired with platforms that understand the art and ritual of image-making. Magazines, when done right, offer precisely that.

Magazines as Cultural Temples

A well-curated fashion magazine is not a “content dump”—it’s a temple. It’s where photography isn’t content; it’s scripture. It’s where narrative, styling, art direction, and emotion converge to create a mood that lingers in the soul. Digital platforms rarely offer that depth or intentional pacing. The scroll culture doesn’t foster reflection—it breeds forgettability.

A magazine, on the other hand, demands presence. Whether printed or experienced digitally through immersive formats, it gives permanence to the ephemeral. It is physical. It is collectible. It is sacred.

This is why The SHADDAI Luxury Book was born. It’s not just a magazine—it’s a sanctum. A showcase of image-making that honors the divine in fashion, art, and culture. It’s a response to the void left by mass-market publications that lost their way chasing algorithms.

Why Fashion Photographers Still Need Magazines

1. Curated Context for Your Work
   In magazines, your work doesn’t stand alone—it lives inside an ecosystem of intentional design. It sits beside thoughtful writing, couture styling, editorial strategy, and elevated branding. Your photography isn’t just seen—it’s experienced.

2. Prestige and Legacy
   A magazine tearsheet—especially from a respected title—still carries cachet. While social media offers instant exposure, it often lacks the gravitas that legacy platforms command. For collectors, art buyers, and institutions, a magazine feature is a stamp of editorial credibility. That matters for building a lasting career.

3. Immersive Storytelling
   Magazines are one of the few remaining formats that support long-form visual storytelling. A multi-page spread allows a story to unfold with rhythm, crescendo, and soul. No digital carousel or IG reel can replicate that tactile, immersive narrative arc.

4. Networking and Industry Connection
   Shooting for a magazine connects you to editors, stylists, publicists, and brands in a meaningful way. These aren’t just digital impressions—they are relationships. That human connectivity is still how major campaigns, collaborations, and exhibits are born.

5. Print Is Still Luxurious
   In an oversaturated digital world, print has ironically become the ultimate luxury. There’s an exclusivity to a limited-run issue, printed on thick stock, bound beautifully, and mailed to tastemakers and insiders. It’s the slow fashion of media. And as a fashion photographer, you want to be part of that.

New Rules for a New Era

That said, not all magazines are created equal. In 2025, fashion photographers must be discerning. Consider these modern truths:

• Mass-market fashion mags are no longer the pinnacle. Boutique, niche, and independent luxury titles often offer greater creative freedom, higher artistic standards, and deeper alignment with your brand.

• Digital magazines with immersive formats are rising. Think: interactive editorial spreads, video-still hybrids, AR/VR enhancements, and animated lookbooks. They offer dynamic new canvases for photographers willing to embrace innovation without compromising artistry.

• Ownership is power. As photographers, we must move beyond waiting for approval. Self-publishing platforms and luxury photo books are now viable and respected. The gatekeepers are fewer. The throne is open.

Conclusion: Relevance Is Earned

So, are magazines still relevant?
Yes—when they evolve with purpose. Yes—when they treat fashion photography as fine art. Yes—when they become sanctuaries instead of scrolls.

As a photographer, I’m not interested in playing to the lowest common denominator. I’m not here for trends—I’m here for timelessness. And the magazine, when reborn as a medium of sacred curation, is not dead. It is resurrected.

The question is not whether magazines are still relevant. The question is—are you shooting for the kind of magazines that still matter?

I am.