LOCATION
I’ve sent you my location recommendations, and you’ve organised the perfect place for your shoot. Below, are some tips to make sure that you get the most out of it.
DUMPING ROOM
This is where you’re gonna hide everything!
You don’t wanna be wasting valuable time, cleaning, rearranging and tidying, when it could be spent shooting. We want the location to be shoot-ready, meaning it’s clutter-free, and looking it’s absolute best. Sounds obvious, I know, but the area can start off looking great, and become a complete mess, real quick! Especially if you have a hair and make-up artist at the shoot, as they have a lotta stuff that they need to lay out.
If possible, have a room that is dedicated to getting ready in, that you don’t need to have photographs in. That way, we can close the door on that bad boy, and keep it out of the background of your photos.
SCAN
Do a good scan of every room, ahead of the shoot. Look out for things like mugs, glasses of water, phones, chargers, remotes, kids toys, tissues, handbags, coats, shoes, wires and cables etc.
Now yeet them into the dumping room.
PROPS PILE
If using props for your shoot, such as a laptop, notebook, phone, drawings, floor plans, print outs, marketing materials etc, pop them all in a pile in the dumping room, so it’s all in one place, and I know exactly what we need to include in the shots.
TIDY AS YOU GO
If we need to move furniture, or something sneaks out of the dumping room, it’s best to put them back as soon as we’re done, so the space doesn’t become cluttered.
OUTFITS
For me, choosing outfits is the hardest part of the process! Here’s some tips, to make shopping as stress-free as possible!
INSPIRATION
I like to find inspiration on Instagram and Pinterest, and save/pin lots of outfits I love the look of. Then, I look for commonalities, and see what I think would suit me and my body shape the best. I’m a neutral lover myself, so I also LOVE this Instagram account here. It makes outfit planning so easy.
COLOURS
Most of my clients opt for neutral, staple outfits, that are fairly timeless. In my personal opinion, you can’t really go wrong with that. But, if that’s not your style, or it’s not on-brand for you, then fill ya boots with some more colourful outfits! The main thing, is that it’s on brand, and suits you and your personality.
BODY SHAPE
My lovely client, Melissa Murrell, is a brilliant personal stylist, who focuses on dressing for your individual body shape. I highly recommend checking her out on YouTube. I learned I’m an ‘apple’ body shape, and that I’ve actually been dressing myself in the most unflattering way possible!
SHOPPING
If you need to go shopping, buy lots more than you think you’ll need, especially if buying online. You may want to keep the labels in during the shoot, if ya catch my drift. I recommend having a minimum of 3 outfits that you love. Smart, smart-casual, and casual. But quality over quantity, always.
POSES
Have a look at your Pinterest board of poses. Do your outfit choices work for those particular poses? For example, is your dress/skirt long enough for your seated poses? Do your trousers bunch up around the crotch area when doing your standing poses?
TAKE PHOTOS
Take photos in all of your outfits, ahead of the shoot, ideally doing some of your poses! Sometimes an outfit looks great in person, but it just doesn’t look right on camera. For example, I love me some baggy clothes, and usually avoid anything remotely fitted on top, because that’s the part I’m self conscious about. But, on camera, I actually looked better in the fitted tops – something I would never wear in person!
PREP
Take photos of the different outfit combinations that you plan to wear for the shoot, including any jewellery and accessories. Make sure everything is steamed/ironed and ready to go. I recommend bringing a steamer and a hanging rail to the shoot, if the location doesn’t provide one.
FEELIN’ GOOD
The most important thing, is that you look and feel great in your outfits. Choosing outfits, is one of the hardest parts of a shoot for me, and it’s something that is so personal to everyone. If you feel totally overwhelmed by all of this, then I highly recommend booking one of my recommended stylists.
HAIR AND MAKEUP
Ok, this is SUCH an important topic. Here’s what really sucks for me as a photographer… if you don’t like your hair and makeup on the day – you won’t love your photos. This is why planning, is so important.
HIRING
The key is – you need to still look and feel, like you.
I have so much faith in the make up artists that I recommend. I have worked with them regularly, and they’re absolutely brilliant. They simply enhance your natural beauty, by doing beautiful, glowy, natural-looking makeup, that looks great on camera.
When getting your hair or makeup done, if there’s anything you’re not keen on, then let them know, while they have the chance to rectify it. You’ll kick yourself if you don’t. Bring inspiration photos, and if budget allows, it might be a good idea to book in a trial run, ahead of the shoot.
If you’re the kind of person who never wears makeup, then please, I beg of you, do not get a full face of glam for your shoot. You will hate it! And it’s probably not a good idea to get a drastic haircut, or get your hair coloured, the day before the shoot!
DIY
If doing your own hair and makeup, which many of my clients do, practice ahead of the shoot, and take photos on your phone. For hair – I tend to find that wearing it down, is more flattering. You could always then tie it up, for some photos at the end.
Bring a hairbrush, styling tools and makeup to the shoot, for touch ups.
FINAL PREP
Drink lots of water, and get plenty of sleep.
Make sure your finger and toe nails are looking nice and tidy. Chipped nail varnish, is not the one!
Allow plenty of time, for just about everything, so you can avoid any last minute rushing.
Put your favourite music on, have some dutch courage if needed, light your favourite candle, and enjoy your shoot! I promise to put you completely at ease, and make you look and feel your best.
