How a photographer should prepare for a photoshoot

In this blog, we’ll go over the steps that one must take to prepare for a photoshoot. The main thing we’ll say about what you should be focused on is preparation! The key to allowing for a smooth shoot where you will find yourself inspired in preparation.

Prepare your equipment: Regardless of what kind of shoot you’re doing, be that client portraits, stills, or action shots, you need to know what equipment you’ll need for the day. Making a checklist the week or days prior can help your photoshoot run smoothly and will help you to avoid and embarrassing oversights. This includes making sure all your batteries are charged, and you have extras in case anything goes askew, checking your settings on your camera so that you know what you’re shooting with, and cleaning all your equipment. Because you don’t want to be wasting time the day of the shoot by wiping down all your lenses. This may seem obvious but you’d be surprised how much of your day can be eaten up by these little things that can easily be done beforehand.

Put yourself in a position to succeed: Once you have your equipment ready to go, now you need to make sure that you are in the right headspace to do your best work. Dress comfortably, but look the part. Wear comfortable shoes but don’t dress like a slob, if you want to be taken seriously, and seem worth your fee, dress like a professional. Taking care of yourself also means eating a healthy and filling meal because you can’t be guaranteed that you’ll be fed or have the time to eat even if it’s available. If you’re shooting outside make sure your wear sunscreen and a hat. Make sure you’ve drunken plenty of coffee and bring a water bottle in case it’s hot outside. Also, many photographers like to get themselves into the right mode depending on the shoot by listening to music. If you’re going to shoot a wedding, maybe listen to some romantic music that gets you inspired to show off this love story you’re about to witness.

Plan what feelings you want to bestow into your pictures: Another way to set yourself up for success is to think about the mood, theme, and vibe you want to have for your shoot. Start by discussing with the client what they hope to get from the photos, and then spend time visualizing how your specific skills can give them what they want. Creating moods boards can be helpful if you are feeling lost or overwhelmed. Pull inspiration from photographers that you admire, and notice what you love about them, and then consider how to put your spin on it.

Other Tips and Tricks: If you’re relatively new to photography, and you want to be extra prepared, try to scout the location you will be shooting at. That way you have ideas for where to place certain setups. When shooting people, try to get a visual of the people before so you’ll know how each person will be the best lit. Lastly, if you’re shooting outdoors, be aware of where the sun will be and how to keep the light from not being too bright and not directly overhead. Most importantly, right before you go in, take a deep breath and remember to stay calm!