How to prepare for a one hour photoshoot in studio
Almost every client I book in for a shoot asks me one of these questions: What should I bring? What should I wear? Anything I need to know? The answer partially depends on what you are looking to get out of the shoot.
Are you in need of basic headshots for a modelling or acting portfolio? Are you looking for more creative content for your instagram? Or are you hoping to get a little bit of everything for your socials, business, or dating profiles?
My general recommendation for a one hour shoot is to bring at least three outfits. Depending on our workflow together, we may be able to shoot up to four different looks. If you are wanting basic and professional headshots, I recommend bringing at least one white/ light grey shirt, one darker shirt, and one shirt with a different neckline than the others. This may mean two collared shirts and a t-shirt, or two blouses and a tunic depending on your own personal style. The point is to get variety, but not so much variety that the images won’t fit together as part of a clean set.
On the other hand, if you are wanting more creative and instagrammable content, I’d recommend bringing a wide variety of looks. Think of how the textiles and colours of each look might complement each other in your grid without repeating. Some clients like to shoot on two different sets, so it appears that they had two separate photoshoots. If you like this idea, let me know in advance and I’ll plan the sets ahead of time.
One of the best things you can do as a client is send me images of your outfit options a few days before the shoot. It makes my creative process easier when I know what I am working with and can plan accordingly. If you need outfit suggestions, I am more than happy to discuss the looks with you ahead of time. If you would like to borrow clothing from my costume closet for a creative or colourful shoot, let me know at least a week in advance and I will make sure that the items are clean and ready for you on the day of our shoot.
Another very helpful thing you can do ahead of time is send me some inspiration images. You could send two images or twenty, as long as they have an identifiable and consistent set of traits. Personally, I find the perfect number of inspo images is six. This gives me enough inspiration to triangulate what you’re looking for in a shoot, but not so much that I am overwhelmed by options.
Finally, let me know at least two weeks in advance if you would like to book a professional makeup artist for your session. If you don’t have anyone in mind, I will happily book one of the many talented makeup artists who I work with frequently and trust fully. This will add an additional fee to your shoot, but will increase the quality and professionalism of the images we produce together. I believe that hiring a professional MUA is a worthwhile investment for any photos that will be used for marketing purposes.
Thank you for taking the time to read through this advice and prepare accordingly for your shoot. The best images are made before the picture is taken, through a careful process of pre-planning and collaboration. I am looking forward to seeing you in studio!