Just dropping by today for a quick little hello. I’ve been doing a lot of photoshoot preparations for clients this past week so I thought I’d share a little about my process. Each shoot is a bit different, but as photo stylist/photographer combo it’s important to keep the job organized so you don’t go crazy.
Steps I always take:
1. Research Gathering: This is almost always on Pinterest because it’s a really easy platform to share my thoughts with my clients. It also allows for both parties to seamlessly add and delete content as we go.
2. Create a Shot List: This is a really important organizational stage in the process. Ideally, I like to plan out ever shot of the shoot to make sure I have the right props, lighting, surfaces, camera lens, etc. I find that if I have a shot list, its easy for me to capture the “must have” shots, but it also makes it easier to snag those more in-the-moment shots.
3. Prop Shopping: This is one of my favorite parts of the process. Not necessarily because it’s shopping (because I’m not a huge fan), but because you get to pick those really key pieces to make your shoot iconic and unique. Usually there is a prop allowance budgeted into the original quote.
4. DIY & Setup: Since DIYs are a fun thing for me to do, I often find a way to incorporate one into the shoot. Usually this means building a light for the shoot or building a structure of some sorts.
Those are my go-to steps that lead up the day of shooting. If time allows, I’ve found it best to have a day of test shooting just to get the lighting and surfaces all figured out. Once you get that nailed down, the rest of the shooting is a breeze.
I’m definitely still learning what’s the best process for me, but this seems to be working for now. If you have any tips/suggestion/ or questions I’d love to chat. Talk soon!