It is no secret that a successful shoot is more than clicking a button and the magic happening on its own. There is so much work that goes in the back end to pull a killer shoot. After making a dozen messes with shoots in the past, I finally have a system that works for me and hopefully serves you too. Without further a do..let me show you how to shoot people like a boss.
Pre shoot catchups
When planning a shoot, it is essential to take into account everyone involved and most importantly your subject. The subject is the MVP and the results are a direct reflection of how comfortable the subject is with you and the overall plan.
My goal is to always get as much information from my model/client before throwing back any suggestions at them.
I personally love discussing any inspirations or themes the model might have. This allows the model to feel in control and builds a safe space for them to fully sync in with their trues selves.
Make pinterest boards
My favourite part after the models give me their inspirations is using pinterest to make a visual board of what the shoot will look like in action. I am forever in awe of how cool pinterest is and how nothing is off limits. With one search, you get to connect with so many creatives. I like naming my pinterest boards after my Models names + concept and pin any ideas that will serve our theme. This not only provides clarity to the photographer but also gets the model excited about the end result.
Pack and plan the route the night before
A photographers biggest asset is their mind and in order to fully deliver, one needs to have their head in the game on the day of the shoot. I personally like planning and packing everything the night before. This allows me to not only go to bed with a peace of mind but also allows me to take my time to really be present in the morning and connect with the creative self. Before going to bed, I make a check list that I then tick off before leaving the house. This allows me to double check everything is packed (especially those batteries I put on charging the night before) and also saves my anxious self from overthinking if I forgot anything at home.
Pro tip: Pack a spare battery and empty your SD card from previous shoots.
Arrive early to test lights
There is nothing worse than arriving at a shoot last minute and getting on with it without adjusting the settings. Trust me I have been there one too many times. The photos are either too dark or too light or if you are lucky, just average. There is always that “let’s try that pose again” to save the day after you see the disaster your settings captured. The truth is that pose is gone and you are not getting it to that level again so might as well get it right the first time around.
There is no setting that saves you from the post shoot editing but if you take the time to really understand the settings you need for the day, you will save so much time in post. (If you are as experimental at editing as I am, then you might not save time lol)
Dont be afraid to be creative
Nothing is off limits. Trust me. Art to me has no rights and wrongs and that in itself is the beauty of it. I still don’t consider myself to know everything about photography or the technical aspects of it and I don’t need to. Creating is all about experimentating. Try as many different styles as you can until you land a style you can call your expertise.
Less is more
Lastly, when it comes to fashion photography or any photography for that matter, quality is way more important than quantity. If you are anything like me, you shoot a couple hundred photos during each shoot. After the shoot, take the time to transfer the photos and categorize them. I personally start off with 2 folders named “meh” and “final” . Meh as the name suggests are the average photos that I can live without. Final photos are the decent shots from the whole shoot. If the model wore more than 1 outfit, I make sub folders within “Final” with each outfit. This really allows me to see each photo within its own category and allows me to filter my selection further.
(Side note: If my model chooses to make her own selections, I create contact sheets of the final folders and let the model make the decision. The filtering process makes it so easy to go through the hundreds of photos in same outfits without getting dizzy)
