How To Prepare a Photoshoot

Models: Simon Raphael and Marimarth de Moor 

Photographer: Daniel Agudelo

We all know how exciting the days before a shoot can be, but have you ever left a shoot disappointed in some way because you felt it could have gone better than it did? You may look back at the photos and ponder if the lighting could have been brighter/darker or maybe the models could have posed differently. It’s a frustrating feeling that is why we’ve come up with a solution for you so you can use them for your upcoming shoots. In this post, we are going to give you some tips on how to prepare a photoshoot. Take note!

Make the most out of your photoshoot

Here are 4 ways on how to prepare a photoshoot and maximize each shoot you go on or have.

1. Scope out the location beforehand (if you can)

If you are wondering how to prepare a photoshoot and where to start, this is the best way to figure out where you plan to shoot. If you can’t physically go there, there are other options such as having someone from the team visit the spot and take pictures or video call. You can also take a look on Google maps and virtually walk around and pin the places you think are great so when you go there you already have the coordinates to share with everyone.

Because there are models from all around the world on our platform, you can easily carry out these options mentioned above. For example, you have a shoot in France but you won’t be there until the day of the shoot, what do you do? The model in France could check it out for you or a local photographer who sees the casting could help you out.

2. Preparation is key

This seems like a no-brainer but often spontaneous shoots are great but to truly get the most out of a shoot you need to plan most of it to a T. Have you tried meeting up with your art director/stylist or designer before the shoot? It can work tremendously to your advantage. Why should you take time out to do this? Because they can give you a different perspective on the shoot, they could inform you on what you’re missing or need on the day and they can most importantly help you on the order of shooting. Which outfit will we go with first? Which part of the location or props will we start with? When should we take a break?

3. Ask your team for suggestions

Whether it’s 2 hours or 7 hours shooting, it can be a little bit frustrating leaving the shoot with thoughts of “Oh we could have done this, or we should have taken advantage of that light or prop!” it’s not always a bad thing because you can use the experience as a lesson for your next shoot, but how do you avoid it? Immerse yourself in all the possibilities. As the photographer, you hold the responsibility to make sure that this vision is executed to a great degree, that also comes with a little bit (okay, a whole lot!) of pressure.

To avoid this, when you get a team together or collaborate with one of our models, you have the opportunity to get another perspective on the concept/idea like we mentioned before but this time the information you get is different because it will be about the story/narrative. How does the model(s) view the character that they’ll be playing in front of the camera? Is there another theme that the make-up artist or stylist gets from the mood board that could be cool to play around with? Does the model have any ideas they would like to contribute?

At the end of the day, getting all of this information is important and as the photographer, you can choose to pass on it, incorporate it or embellish it!

4. Getting full coverage

It’s important that you capture a wide shot, mid-shot, and close-ups on the day of the shooting as well as high-angle, low-angle shots. This is important so that you and the team have a range of photos to showcase on your portfolio or for a campaign/editorial. Depending on your style of photography, if you’re a beauty photographer we know that close-ups are a must but you can go as wide as showing the whole face if you dare to.

Let’s say in this case you’re a fashion photographer and you’re wondering why this tip matters? It’s to save yourself later when submitting to magazines. Imagine you come back from an amazing shoot, out in the desert during sunset and you forgot to take a wide shot. All you have are close-ups and portraits and now the magazine of your dreams is asking for wide-shots for the cover and you don’t have any. What do you do? It’s frankly a disaster put it that way but it’s fixable right, all you have to do is go back to that desert with the same crew and recreate the whole thing! We’re joking, this is why this tip is the last one because it’s the most vital one and whether you’re a landscape/nature or street photographer doing this will help you tell a story about the environment.

Having a range of angles helps you put together a sequence as we’re all lovers of story-telling by nature. Introducing your potential clients or models from our platform to the space you’re in, then focusing on the subject and ending with a detail about the shoot.

This is everything you need to know on how to prepare a photoshoot. Are you thinking about creating a new project? Post a casting and find the right models for it!