Are you nervous about shoot day? Photoshoots take a lot of time, effort, and creativity to prepare. If you want to come out of your shoot day unscathed and with the perfect shot, we’re here to guide you to make that shoot a success!
Think of Your Concept
The first step to any shoot is planning. With so many designs and ideas out there, it might be overwhelming. Don’t stress! Take a deep breath, relax and do your research.
Ask yourself what message you want to convey, what mood you’d like to create, who your target audience is, and how your photos will be used. These factors can help you figure out the general concept of your shoot. For example, if you’re shooting for an online store, you might want to get different angles of an outfit. Finding out what your photos will be used for is a good starting point to figuring out the style the shoot needs to be.
You can use materials like fashion magazines, e-commerce stores, posters, billboards, and other content to find an idea you can build on. Don’t stick to the big names, and consider looking at the works of smaller and more independent photographers too. You might learn something new and incorporate it into your work.
Set the Mood(board)
Once you have your concept in mind, it’s time to create your mood board. Your mood board will help you slowly bring your concept to life by using it as a guide to keeping your aesthetic consistent with your goal on shoot day. There are two ways to go about this: you can make a physical mood board by printing out photos and attaching them to a board, or go digital and assemble your photos online.
If you don’t want to waste any paper, then you can use sites like Pinterest, which allows you to grab photos from other people’s pinboards.
Select Your Talents and Form Your Team
A successful fashion shoot needs a great team. You’ll need a photographer, model, hairstylist, and makeup artist. Of course, we don’t mean just any kind of these talents. You’ll want to get people experienced in the field and, to avoid any unnecessary quarrels, willing to work with your concept. The last thing you want is to argue with your team over clashing ideas!
Choosing Your Photographer
You have to pick the right photographer that can agree with and shoot the type of concept you’ve planned out. Take a look at their portfolio early in the planning process and see if their style compliments your vision. Also, consider their rates, services (some photographers include photo editing), and how they charge you.
Choosing Your Model
Once you have a clear idea of your concept, you might already have an idea of what your models should like. Depending on the number of looks you plan to shoot, you’re likely to need more than one model. Choose models that suit the aesthetic and color scheme of the shoot. If you’re going to host a casting call, make sure specific details like what look you want, measurement, the location of the casting call, and contact information.
There are a few ways you can go about finding your models. Networking sites like Model Mayhem can help connect you with models looking for projects. You can also find potential models on social media sites like Instagram and Facebook. Make sure you include important information like your website, portfolio, and your shoot concept. If you’re on a tight budget, consider looking within your circle! Your friends and family members might know people who could model for your project.
Choosing Your Hair and Makeup Stylists
Look for people who can cooperate with your vision, and make sure you see their previous work. This will help you gauge whether their style suits your concept and they have enough experience to give you quality work. Once you book them, set up a meeting and discuss your vision with them in detail ahead of time. By this time, you might already have your models. Show them photos of your models along with what you expect the final look to be like.
This will help your stylists plan what tools and materials they’ll need to bring. Depending on your concept, they might need to bring the right color foundation, eye makeup, lipstick, curling irons, straightening irons, proper hairdryers according to your models’ hair type, etc.
Find a Location
Plan this part of your shoot way ahead of time. Depending on your location, you’ll need to obtain permits, figure out what time you’ll need to be at the venue to get the perfect shot, etc. The best photographers know that shaded areas are the best places to shoot, so you’ll need to visit your location early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
You’ll also have to keep these things in mind when choosing your locations: garment racks, bathrooms, and changing rooms. In case there’s no way for you to hang your garments, bring your own garment rack, then set it up at your location to keep your models’ clothes unwrinkled. Also, make sure that there’s a bathroom near your location, especially if you’re shooting outside. You’ll also have to prepare a changing sheet for your models in case you’re shooting outside, and there are no nearby changing rooms.
Craft Model Cards
Plan your models’ outfits. You can do this by making model cards: take photos of your outfits, either using your models or as a flat lay. Take detailed shots like close-ups of your accessories and all the items you want to include in the end photo. If you have any instructions for a specific item of clothing, be sure to include those as well. If your models need to wear or bring their own clothing, put it on your card and let them know. Make your cards as detailed as possible so that you don’t miss anything on shoot day.
Set Your Schedule
This is one of the most important steps to making sure your shoot day is a success. Plan what you need to do on shoot day and set a schedule to have enough time to get all the shots you need. Let your team members know what time they need to be at the location. Also, remember to allow enough time for your photographer to set up their lights, camera, and props, and your stylists to do your models’ hair and makeup. If you’re shooting in multiple locations, plan your shoot around the sunlight and temperature. If you’re shooting outside, don’t shoot at noon when the sun’s the hottest.
Don’t forget to prepare a backup plan in case things go south. Making sure you’re prepared for any problem can ease any future stresses.
If you followed this guide to a tee, congratulations. You’re ready for your shoot! Remember to keep calm, prepare yourself, and do your best, and you’ll get photos that perfectly capture your designs. Good luck!
