As our shoot date approaches, a ton of questions usually begin to arise about how to prepare for the photoshoots, what to wear, and how to come up with a concept, so I created this guide in order to help handle the foundational elements so we can get down to being creative.
I want to start by saying that the most important part of all of this is that you feel like yourself.
And there are some specific ways to prepare so that when our shoot time arrives, you are ready to let your true essence flow in a way that is authentic and also optimized for photography.
I’ll start by talking about clothing, hair and makeup…
Clothing… A lot of people get excited/overwhelmed about shopping for new clothes for the shoot. I have some encouragement for you in this department. I LOVE new clothes. When I have a new outfit, I feel imbued with a sense of novelty. Parts of me that aren’t always readily available tend to emerge more freely. New clothes can make me feel confident and beautiful. Getting some new clothes for the shoot is a great idea.
On the other hand, I want to also give you my full approval to buy exactly zero new things for your shoot because there is tremendous value in you wearing clothing that you already know you're going to be comfortable in. I know for certain shoots, some of you will be wearing special occasion outfits and such... If that's the case, then of course you'll be wearing things you don't wear on a day to day basis... but for casual shoots I really recommend you bring some of your most comfortable, most favorite clothes you already have. We want you wearing those trusty pieces you just know will work and don't have to think about adjusting when you sit down or stand up. I want you to feel so comfortable that you’re putting absolutely no energy into thinking about how your clothes are fitting you. So go ahead and get some new stuff if you want to. I totally support whatever you want to do... but be sure to bring some clothes you normally wear, just in case.
Neutrals, neutrals, neutrals! I love neutrals for casual outdoor portraits. When I say neutrals, I’m not just talking about gray, brown, beige, black or white. There are neutrals for every color. Olive is a neutral of green. Turmeric is a neutral of yellow. Navy is a neutral of blue. Burgundy is a neutral of red. Plum is a neutral of purple. Denim is a neutral of everything (I kid but… denim works with everything ;)
For the most part, we want to keep colors a bit muted so that they don’t distract. Unless, of course, we want the color to capture the viewer’s attention. Gem colors are great for making a subject pop, for example. Picture a sapphire dress in the desert or a garnet dress set against a landscape of blue and green tones. Gem colors can be stunning.
Bold pattern, simple backdrop
A word about patterns. Big patterns can be tricky but they can also be amazing depending on the intention and the setting. Big stripes, chunky abstract designs or bright floral patterns can get distracting in an intimate, personal shot but can create visual drama and inspire a sense of design and style, really creating a pop against any neutral, minimalist background. As a general rule, the subject and the backdrop are two separate entities which compliment each other. I love when both are muted… it creates softness and calm to the viewer and allows all the focus to center on your face and your form. But if either the subject or background is loud, the other should be simple. In almost all cases, we want to avoid both the subject and the backdrop competing with each other to be noticed first. The subject should feel primary and separated from the background.
Bright and fluorescent colors. When it comes to bright colors, I want you to bear in mind that bright reds, oranges, and pinks tend to reflect on faces and make them pinkish which can be worth it for the right outfit, but it is a phenomenon worth considering. Bright blues and greens can have a greening effect on skin which is also not flattering. Obviously there are ALWAYS exceptions to every rule (or at least good enough reasons to break them.) Bright colors can be stunning against the right landscape or backdrop. It’s just important to be intentional with them.
Bottom line… I encourage wardrobe boldness, but if you want to go that route, let’s check in about our location to make sure it doesn’t compete with you or your clothes.
Just a little mascara can be enough.
What about hair and makeup? A lot of people ask me if they should get hair and makeup professionally done prior to their shoot. My answer is that if you don’t feel confident with handling these elements on your own, I highly recommend indulging in booking a hair and makeup appointments. I don't think getting your hair and makeup done is always absolutely necessary but it really depends on the look you want to come through in your photos. In post-processing of the photos, I will even out skin tones, and edit blemishes, but keep in mind that makeup may have you looking a bit more awake and accentuated in your shoot, and having you hair done will add a certain grace and effortlessness to your look. I recommend some attention to both of these elements for pretty much any shoot. If you look through the photos in my portfolio, most of my subjects will be wearing at least some makeup and many of them have had their hair blown out.
Lastly… I strongly recommend ironing your stuff and hanging it on the way over. I've shot people who traveled to meet me for our shoot and their shirts still had the fold lines from being packed in their suitcases. Once you notice it in the photos, you can't un-notice it. It's all you see and there’s nothing I can do to fix it.
Next let’s talk about Concept and posing
Concept… If you aren’t already clear on your concept, my favorite way to invite it to emerge is through a bit of meditation. Make a bit of time to sit in a comfortable position where you know you won’t be distracted and spend at least 10 minutes meditating on the creative energy inside of you.
Start with this guiding principle: Creativity is our natural state. By our vary nature, we are all creative beings. Our lived experiences as humans can create blockages and scars that impede the natural flow of this creative energy, but creating is our most divine purpose.
Weather you believe in the above principle or not, try it on for size and meditate as though it were true. Just breathe in and breathe out, sitting with the notion of being an intrinsically creative being, and notice what wants to be created and expressed through you.
Whatever comes up, let it inform your location, wardrobe and posing.
On posing… I want to tell you that posing can and will happen naturally (and guided by me) at the time of our shoot and requires no preparation. However… many people find that they freeze in front of a camera. While I can help with that and lead you in using some tools that will help you settle into your body during our shoot, practicing posing ahead of time can create some “muscle memory” which you can call upon during the shoot. The less time we spend loosening you up, the more time we will spend taking the good shots. Practice will help you get out of your head and into flow in your body. It will also help you to be able to actually capture the kinds of postures you make in front of the mirror when we’re shooting and there is no mirror to refer to.
Some ways to do this if it doesn’t already come naturally to you:
Create a saved board on instagram or Pinterest with photos of poses you really like and which express something that feels true within you.
With the poses you’ve found, practice simply moving throughout your poses. Focus on just changing one thing at a time. Think of this as a sort of “pose yoga.” Put on some music and move through them again and again until they are effortless.
Your hips and shoulders play a huge role in expressing with your body and creating stunning lines. Use them.
Think of posing as “performing self.” A good actor taps into something real in order to act the character realistically. Performing for photography (or any kind of art) can be the same. There are parts of you that you know are true and that want to be more expressed, but for whatever reason, aren’t. Performing self is a practice which can help these parts of us feel more natural to embody. Practice leads to believing those parts of us really are us, and being able to embody and express them with ease.
Now a word on logistics and parameters (Fun! Fun!)
I want to set us up for success, and that means letting you know the capabilities and limitations of the gear I’ll have with me, as well as providing some tips and cautions with regard to lighting.
First I’ll let you know what gear I will have with me:
Sony A7RIII Full Frame Mirrorless Camera
Sigma 85mm f1.4 DN DG Art Lens - This is a super-sharp portrait lens with excellent depth of field to set you apart from your background. Beautiful buttery soft bokeh. Shoots well in low light
Sigma 35mm f1.2 DN DG Art Lens - This one is nice for capturing more of the landscape or a slightly wider frame. Also has great bokeh, sets you apart from the background, and shoots well in low light.
Tamron 20mm f2.8 Lens - Super wide angle lens with a slight fisheye distortion. Fun to play with subjects closer to the lens appearing larger.
Godox V1 Speedlight Flash - Can be set up on-camera for an edgier hot flash look, or used as a wireless off-camera soft box setup to create diffused soft key light (studio portraiture look). I prefer not to use it in most cases.
FalconEyes F7 Pocketlite 12W RGB LED - A small tripod-mountable or handheld light that can be adjusted to any color. Great as an accent light to add depth and color to a scene. Super fun for infusing a bit of drama or sass into an image ;)
Gear I can bring upon request:
AquaTech Underwater Housing - As the name implies, this equipment allows me to shoot underwater
We will be using mostly natural light since I will have limited studio lighting with me, but we can definitely work with the softbox key light and the LED light. If you have a concept that you imagine will need to utilize the studio lighting, consult me prior to your shoot time so we can make sure the gear I have and the space you’ve chosen are capable of what you have in mind.
JUST A COUPLE TIPS ON NATURAL LIGHT
Be aware of back light. Back light is really hard to shoot and my lighting equipment will not be strong enough to counteract it. Unless you want to be a silhouette in your photos, choose locations where you can be facing the light rather than locations where there is a bright area behind you
If you want magical soft outdoor light, shoot closer to sunset rather than when the sun is still high in the sky
If you are doing an indoor shoot, or one where you’ll be in a shaded area, in most cases, you’ll want to choose a mid-day time for your shoot
If you are incorporating busy backgrounds, such as the jungle or forest, choose a time of day when there is no longer any harsh contrast between the leaves and the light behind them.
ODDS AND ENDS…
Feel free to share Pinterest board or Instagram posts with me so that I can get a taste of your style and what's inspiring you to do this shoot. And if you want some inspiration from me, all you have to do is ask. I'd love to collaborate on a vision.
Well that's about it!
If you still want some more guidance all you have to do is ask! I'm happy to provide feedback on your ideas or clarify anything I've already mentioned here. Don't hesitate to reach out.