Preparation can mean the difference between an okay photoshoot, and a wonderful photo shoot, but what do you need to do to prepare? That’s what we’ll look at in this post.
The first thing is deciding on the type of photo session you want to have, is it family portraiture, a love shoot, or will it be a solo shoot? Once you’ve decided the next step is to find a photographer. It might seem difficult at first, but once you look through the portfolios, you’ll usually get a feeling for which style stands out the most to you, and which photographer best fits your budget.
Once you have your photographer chosen, it is time to set up the consultation. Book the appointment and go with an open mind, this doesn’t mean you can’t have ideas, most photographers usually like it when a client has an idea of what they want, however, allow your photographer to add a personal touch to the shoots. This will allow for the creativity that you enjoyed in their portfolio to come out and make the photos stand out.
During your consultation, be sure to discuss the things that concern you, maybe something you would prefer not to be seen, or any ‘trouble’ areas that you are concerned with. Explain your vision and find out how your photographer can enhance your ideas. Talk about the location and why you chose it, you might be surprised that the photographer might know of another location that might be more suited to the look you want.
Clothing is another important topic, let’s say you have an idea to do a love shoot in a beautiful, flower-filled location and you want to put on a flower dress that you think would blend well with the scenery, your photographer might suggest that you wear something simpler so that the photo doesn’t look ‘too busy’ which could potentially distract the viewer from what you want them to look at. Also if you are taking photos with your family you might discuss colour coordination, this could be a particular colour that is present in everyone’s outfit, it doesn’t have to be dominant but just present enough to tie everyone together. You might even have all the siblings in one colour and the parents in something contrasty that will help draw the attention (this works well with large families).
With the consultation complete, the date and time set for your shoot, and your attire all picked out it is time to get one more thing done… it is time for hair and makeup. For the guys this could be a simple trip to the barber for a hair cut and a shave, this should be done as close as possible to the shoot day to ensure you look as fresh as possible, for the ladies this usually means an appointment at the beauty salon on the day of the shoot. I know some people are thinking that that isn’t necessary, but think about this, this photoshoot will not just be showcasing a moment in your life, but it will also be about capturing you at your absolute best. So go ahead and pamper yourself and get ready for a great photoshoot.
