How to get ready for a photoshoot?

14 febbraio 2022

Note: Your experience with different photographers will vary and you will want to discuss this beforehand.

I know how overwhelming and stressful an upcoming photoshoot can be, especially if you usually don’t do it. The moment you book the date you start having thousands of thoughts in your head: “what should I wear? , should I smile or or have a model face expression? , what do I do with my hair?” And so many of others whats and what ifs. You start sinking in questions that you don’t have an answer to, so by the time you are at the photo shoot your stress levels are at the max and you just want to finish with it.

I have good news for you. You can fight these fears. It’s just a part of our human nature. Every time we are about to do something new our brain sends us a signal “DANGER”, this way humans and animals protect themselves. One bad experience can set this mechanism to work, but it’s in our power to reverse it. In this list I will teach you how to reverse this mechanism and how to enjoy your next photo shoot.

How to get ready for a photoshoot?. Elizaveta Razumova: Matrimoni, Love Story e Ritratti

1. What to do with all the questions in my head?

You need to write everything down. Let’s imagine question “How to style my hair?” pops up in your head. You write it down and later on you find several options of hair styles you like, you screenshot them and choose the one you can do or you send them to your stylist to let them know what you want. This way you will answer each one of these questions once they come. Don’t forget that you will work with professional photographer, so many of the technical questions they can answer for you. “What if the location we go to will be overcrowded?” — you send it to your photographer and he will tell you the next steps. “I got a massive pimple or my nose! What should I do?” — again, tell your photographer, so he knows he needs to pay attention to it in post-production.

2. What should I wear?

Choose something that makes you feel comfortable, confident and sexy. It will help to balance out your fear of the camera. In case you really want to wear this sexy dress you bought, but never worn, because you are afraid it will slip off your shoulder or show off your boobs would advise you to either take a double-sided tape, there is a special one for clothes and body, but the normal one will do it’s job as well. And again, send all of the options to your photographer! Some clothes look great in life, but not so much in the photographs.

My personal favourites are simple clothes like little black dress, turtle necks, jackets, blouses with them you have more variability.

3. Should I bring something else to the photo shoot?

Yes, you definitely should. Think ahead, you don’t want to have only 1 photograph from an hour photoshoot. Take several pairs of shoes (heals, flats, sandals), accessories, hats, scarves, gloves, bags. Another great option is to have a multi layered outfit, that works without a coat or without a hat, that can be easily mixed without changing rooms. Unless you have your photo session in studio.

4. How to make sure I will look great?

The most basic, but crucial thing is to make sure your clothes are clean, ironed and fit you well. You don’t want to end up with a photograph where your dress is full of wrinkles or pay half of the price for a photo session to retouch this mistake.

5. I don’t have anything nice to wear. What should I do?

If you work with a stylist — let them know and they will sort it out for you. Otherwise go to ZARA, they have a great selection of clothes, you can buy them, leave the labels on and after your photoshoot you bring the, back. Just make sure your photo shoot doesn’t involve any dirty surfaces and water. And again, let your photographer know that you need to bring these clothes back.

6. Should I wear something trendy?

You can, but if you do so make sure it fits your style, body and more importantly the colour is right for you. In case you aren’t sure — send a photo to your photographer and consult on this matter. Colour is always great, but you really need to be sure it fits you. Not everything that comes off the podium is universal. It’s better to wear something classy like a little black dress, than yellow jumper that makes your skin look pale or an oversized dress that looks like you borrowed it. Again, not because it’s bad, just because it doesn’t fit your body.

7. What should I do? Should I smile or keep my face straight?

Before going into photo shoot think about that story do you want to tell with it. If you are going for a business portrait it will look at least unprofessional and send a wrong message if you jump arround and make silly faces, no? Same thing, if you are on holidays and want to share your great experience straight face won’t work, it will look at least as if somebody forced you to do these photographs. Everyone played charades at least once in their life, here is the same concept. You need to tell your story without words, live it through during your photo session.

8. I feel stressed, how can I relax myself before the photo session? I don’t want to look tense.

When you choose a photographer, make sure that you are on the same page and you can talk to each other. If he is not keen on having a conversation with you or answering your questions maybe it’s time to find somebody else. If modeling isn’t part of your job you really need to choose somebody easygoing, open minded and positive. In this case you will have a great time, because they will talk to you and you won’t even notice that you’ve been photographed. And trust me, if you build this connection before your photo shoot you won’t feel tense at all, you will go to a photo shoot as you usually go for a coffe with your friend.