When it comes to a portrait photoshoot, there are certain areas where a little advanced preparation can make a huge difference to the final product. I’ve compiled a list of things to eight things to consider when preparing for your shoot to achieve the best possible outcome.
1. Find inspiration
The first thing to consider when planning your shoot is to come up with ideas on how your want your photos to look. There are many great tools that can help you find inspiration such as Pinterest and Instagram. If you’re not sure where to start, ask your photographer for their thoughts.
2. Decide on your theme
Once you’ve made it through the discovery phase, the next step is to hone in on your theme. Short list around 5-10 inspiration photos and send them through to the photographer so that you’re both on the same page. If you’re doing a longer shoot, you may be able to play around with a few different themes but this will also depend on your location and beauty services. It’s important to work out this theme early, because the rest of your preparation will cascade from it.
3. Scout a location
Once you’ve figured out what you want to shoot, you then need to decide where. This can depend on your budget. Nature provides some wonderful free options. Beaches, fields, gardens and streams/waterfalls provide an abundant of great compositions, plus being outdoors will give the best natural lighting. The downside to photographing outdoors is that it’s weather dependent. This is fine if the date is flexible, but if you’re needing to book in non refundable beauty appointments in advance, it may not be the best option for you.
Hotels and Airbnbs are another option. Try to match the decor with your theme. For example, if you’re wanting a high class glam look, you might want to consider a modern hotel. If you’re aiming for a softer, more feminine vibe, then perhaps a cottage on Airbnb is better for you. It might be worthwhile to go back to your inspiration photos and find a similar hotel used in those images.
4. Choose your wardrobe
The next step in planning is to decide is whether you’ll purchase clothes for your photoshoot or use something you’ve already got. If you’re on a budget, this could be a great opportunity to pull out some hidden gems in the back of your wardrobe. Even if your clothes don’t quite match the theme you’re after, you can always add accessories to spice it up. If you’re considering buying clothes, online shops such as ASOS, Shein and Boohoo have an array of great options, so there’s no doubt you’ll find something to match your theme. Be careful with timing- order your clothes well before the estimated delivery date to ensure they arrive on time. It’s always a good idea to order more items than you need. Chances are, some items won’t fit as expected (which you can always return) and you won’t want to be left in the dark right before your shoot.
5. Consider props and accessories
Props and accessories are totally optional, but are a great way to add flair to your photos. Hand placement can often feel awkward (usually the photographer will help guide you), but props can definitely help. It will also make the photo look more interesting. Some ideas for props could be a bouquet of flowers, a book, a champagne bottle or you could even use an item that showcases a hobby (yoga mat, musical instrument etc). As I mentioned, accessories are an easy and cheap way to add style to your outfits without having to buy an entire clothing set. Simple pieces like a sunglasses, hat or scarf can totally change your style to match your theme.
6. Book in your beauty services
You will need to decide which beauty services you will do yourself and which (if any) you will leave to the professionals. This really comes down to your skills and budget. The main beauty services you will need to consider are hair, makeup, skincare/ spray tan and nails. For a beach shoot, I would forget about professional hair services, since your hair is going to become roughed up pretty quickly from the sea spray. I personally love mermaid wands for a beach look, since they’re easy to use and create the most lustrous beach waves. Whether it’s an indoor or outdoor shoot- don’t hold back on hair spray. it’ll keep your hair locked in place for the entire shoot and help prevent frizz from the pesky sea spray during beach shoots.
Makeup can be done by a professional or you can just DIY. Again, this really comes down to your skill level and budget. Professionals will generally understand how to apply makeup to work under different lighting conditions, which can be advantageous for photoshoots. Either way, it’s a good idea to bring some essentials to the shoot such as powder and lipsticks for re-applying.
For skincare, it’s best not to try any new products or routines that you haven’t used before. You never know how your skin will react to new products and the last thing you want is to be breaking out right before your shoot. It’s best to stick with what you know. If you’re on the paler side, I would highly recommend a spray tan. It will help bring out some tonality and give you a heathy glow.
7. Allow time to arrive
The last thing you want to be doing is rushing around before your shoot and rocking up as a sweaty mess. It’s normal to be nervous when having your photo taken, but it’s essential to avoid doing anything that will amplify these emotions. The more relaxed you feel, the better the photos will turn out. I would suggest giving yourself at least half an hour to arrive (even more, depending on how far you’ll need to drive). If you get there early, then it gives you more time to prepare things like scouting out the location, completing any final beauty touches and maybe even having a drink or two to relax.
8. Communicate with your photographer
It’s the photographer’s role to provide a creative vision to help your ideas come to life. It’s important to communicate any ideas you have, otherwise they will assume you want them to take the lead (which is perfectly fine if that’s what you want). But it’s important you communicate this to ensure you are both on the same page.
If there are certain locations you would like to use or poses you would like to try, make sure to let the photographer know. It’s always good to let them know your ideas before the shoot so that they can also start planning ideas. A collaborative teamwork between a client and photographer will achieve the best possible outcome.
Thanks for taking the time to read this post. Hopefully this guide helped you to plan for your next photoshoot, so that you can create the best possible portfolio. Feel free to contact me if you’re ready to start planning your next shoot!