How to get the best out of your professional photo shoot - 12 tips for working with a photographer
Are you about to pay big dollars for a professional photo shoot of your latest project or products?
Here’s a check list to make sure you get the most out of your shoot with your chosen photographer.
Communication is key, be in contact ALOT … when you have ideas, give your photographer a call … send your photographer things you see online that you love, give your photographer a very very clear BRIEF of how you envision the shoot, what you hope for out of the shoot.
Make sure the owners of the location you are shooting at, are comfortable and ready for anything … shoot days can get messy! but it’s all tidy and clean just as quick at the end of the day. (it’s even better if you can get the home owners out for the day, so to not distract from the shoot, if possible).
Make sure the location is clean, if that means getting a cleaner in the day before … do it. If you are spending the money to shoot there, you want the place spotless. (Your photographer likely costs more per hour than a cleaner, you don’t want them having to clean anything in the time they could be focusing on the job for you, and getting more photographs for you).
Lighting … is so so so important, if you have the time and the budget (and this is not always possible), allow for the photographer to do a scout of the location to assess the lighting at the location. This way the photographer will be able to mark out the shots, to prepare, to be ready in those positions at the right time of day to get the best natural light on to each shot. Alternatively do a full day shoot, so that you can make the most of both morning and afternoon light. Don’t rush the shoot, allow the photographer time to nail every single shot. (again this all depends on budget and sometimes this is just not possible).
Greenery! real life, fresh greenery … wether you are able to bring the right pieces from your backyard or need to purchase some the morning of the shoot (or of course ask your stylist to source this for you … greenery makes a huge difference to the feel of a photograph … it brings more ‘life’ … wether it’s product campaign shoot or an interior shoot.
Bedding and cushions … full and fluffy is best, thick inners that look lustrous, down feather inserts for decorative cushions on sofas are also a must … it makes the space look like you’ve spent that much more money on it and it is worth it.
Coffee table books and plenty of vases are also very very handy. (being both a stylist AND photographer I will supply these items for my shoots).
Don’t rush the editing … don’t leave your shoot to close to your product launch date, give your photographer time to do a really great job of the editing, not a rushed job. If there is a specific date you will need the photos by, make sure your photographer knows this when you first book the shoot in, so that they can allow time in their shooting schedule, the editing time they will need to complete your photos in time. (I currently work at a 2 week turn around)
Make sure your photographer is aware if the ‘view’ out of the windows is important to the shots, or if you prefer it wasn’t a focus at all.
Providing inspiration … wether that’s a page in a magazine, something from pinterest or instagram. Anything that you find that has your ‘vision’ share it with your photographer, make sure you are both on the same page, well before the shoot. Wether this is inspiring for styling, or inspiring for composition and lighting.
Do you want to have people in the photos? just a suggestion of human life? a full figure in the distance, a hand turning on a tap … adding that ‘life’ element to a shoot can be game changing for your marketing … and this needs to be prepared before the shoot … who is going to stand in, what do you have in mind for how the space is represented with human life? These shots also take a late longer to get right, so you need to allow time for these (in some cases these shots can double the time on location, which in my opinion is so worth it, the engagement of a shot with people in it, is huge.)
Where are the photos going to be used, make sure your photographer is aware if you need a really long skinning ‘landscape’ orientated shot for your website banner … or if all the photos are for instagram and you plan on posting them all ‘square’ … maybe you’d love to see the project in a magazine, so the shots need to be mostly ‘portrait’ orientation … communication with your photographer of all your hopes for your shoot together is so so important, don’t be afraid to be telling them everything.
Bonus Tip … have fun with it, shoot days are usually the final detail of a project, an exciting time for you and your business, enjoy seeing your completed project or product looking it’s very best, your photographer wants your project/product to shine.
And if you’ve done all that, your experience with your photographer and shooting your project or products should all go to plan, with no troubles at all.
Wether you are a photographer or a client of a photographer reading this … is there anything else you think would be helpful to add to this list, don’t hesitate to contact me.