Fashion is a very different bag of bananas to weddings and photojournalism, but I'm sure you don't need me to tell you that. It's a team effort, between photographer, stylist, hair/make-up, art director and models (though not all shoots will use all these roles, and not all play equal parts - it's different every time).

You need experience, and if Montreal is as tough as London, you need to get a break by first offering to be an assistant (probably for free to begin with) for a fashion photographer.

Some people go it alone from day one, and just begin shooting, but there may not be the fashion culture in Montreal to allow you to do this, as it very hard even in the fashion capitals of the world. If you do, you will have to try to team up with some of the other types of creatives I've mentioned.

Lastly, don't just throw away what you've learnt already, try to incorporate it in your work. This is what could make you unique (what you've learnt from weddings and photojournalism) but be prepared to accept that it might also just make your work stink, and actually you do need to just begin again.

As Paul said, everyone and their skills are unique and how you approach entering the fashion world is really upto your opinion of yourself and your skill level.

Some people are confident enough to start out on their own, they have a natural eye and go for it! Others, prefer to assist and learn more and move up the ranks and then go solo. The first one may be quicker and allow you to be creative and be independent but certainly it will be harder work getting yourself known and ultimately getting work, but not impossible! The second takes longer but you may learn a lot more on the way.

There are some community sites around that offer pointers to people starting out just like yourself, whoistesting.com is one such place that you can sound ideas about careers etc with likeminded individuals who probably asked all the same questions you are at the moment.

These are just two ways, there are plenty more ways to get somewhere, be independently minded, strive for perfection and keep going!

Best wishes with your career! Post some images once you get going.

Thank you both for the great advice. I have emailed a few people over the last couple weeks asking if I could assist for free but haven't got much of a response yet. I think maybe if I call there might be a better response.

GO AND SEE THEM!

You need to active in getting to see them, emails and stuff are too passive, if you appear like you WANT a job then perhaps they might give you one, you need to be eager or just going to be like the other 10-20 emails they might get from graduates or such like a year looking for a job... After all god loves a tryer.

Grab it by the cajones man!

the advice i always hear for aspiring fashion photographers is never, NEVER give up, and keep trying no matter what. cause it's an "incredibly tough" business

so good luck ^_^