GET READY FOR PHOTO SHOOTING

As a photographer, the most frequent question I get from people is:


What should I prepare for my shooting tomorrow?



That’s a very good question and I am glad people bring up this topic because there are definitely a few things I would strongly recommend people to prepare before the shooting. Although, there is unlimited space in art. What I recommend here works well for my photography’s style, but it is not a golden rule for all type of photography styles. So please don’t take me wrong. Now let’s start.



Let’s start with gentleman because for them often is simpler than ladies.


[GENTLEMEN]

  1. Make sure your hair is clean and neat.
  2. Same thing if you have facial hair, make sure it’s well groomed, or if you don’t have facial hair, try to come clean shaven before the session
  3. A simple, clean outfit is best. Preferably without shiny fabric or overly ambitious patterns. They just don’t translate well onto the photo session. In general, classic works best.

These tips are pretty much simple enough for gentlemen. Now let’s move onto ladies.


[LADIES]

  1. Think about your hair. Do you want it to flow in the wind or do you want it to stay in place? Whatever style you feel is best for you, come prepared. If you want advice, I am open to provide input based on where we’re shooting and the style we are going for prior to the session, so please feel free to reach out.
  2. At least some basic natural style makeup is necessary. Makeup will make the skin texture look better on the photo, that otherwise cannot be achieved by post processing alone. There is nothing wrong with having some blemishes as we all do, but I want to give you the best representation of yourself as possible, so come with makeup done and it’s not a bad idea to bring a bag for touch up on site as well.
  3. Come with clean nails or polished is a plus as well. My photography is detailed and will pick up on this type of small detail.
  4. We have many more outfit options than the guys. Just like I noted above, shiny and/or ambitious design patterns don’t do well on the photos. To look good on the photo, I strongly recommend selecting Lace and Knitted types of fabric. These fabrics have very nice texture and looks beautiful on the photo. Chiffon and Tutu are also good choices, they often have a few layers and that make another type of very eye catching texture.
  5. Go with mild outfit color. Bright and bold colors often can dominate the whole frame and make people focus on your outfit, not you. That would be great if I’m shooting a commercial for the outfit, but I’m more interested in highlighting you. I would recommend go with more soft colors. For example, if you are choosing between baby pink and metal pink, I would recommend baby pink. Same thing with any other color, go with the lighter, softer option. Of course, there are also always the classics White or Black that will never go wrong.
  6. Accessories are good! I love accessories. Scarf, necklace, earrings, rings, etc. If you have some good looking accessories, bring them.
  7. Shoes. We shoot outdoors, so bring something you can walk in. However, Sport shoes don’t work well for my photography’s style, so if you want these to walk, bring another pair to shoot. High heels generally don’t fit the shoot either. It doesn’t look right when you wear 5 in tall high heels and stand on top of hills or in the field, they don’t fit the location. You can wear a pair of nice flat shoes or low heel wedge shoes. If we are shooting in winter, then boots are also good. They keep your legs warm and look stylish also.

These tips are the ones I will recommend for ladies. I also have a few small general tips that I’d like to share.


[GENERAL]

  1. Bring some water, keep yourself hydrated.
  2. Bring a lip balm, cracked lips are uncomfortable and not great on photos.
  3. If you like my style and choose to go with me, we’re doing some walking, so it is a good idea to bring some small snacks, paper tissues, hair band and clips. Bring a small amount, they are handy and easy to carry also.


That’s pretty much all the tips I can give to help you get ready for your shooting. I am always open to discuss with you for more details on preparation. So if you have any question, please talk to me. And I will make sure everything gets clear before your session.