How to Get Ready for Your Photoshoot
Photo shoots can be fun if prepared for with the right things in mind. This will be a quick tutorial for those getting ready for a general photo shoot. I mostly do portraits involving families, couples, solos and pets so this blog post will be geared more towards how to great ready, get comfortable and get in the mind set for these types of shoots.
Dress Appropriately and Color Coordinate
Your photographer will most likely give you some suggestion on what to wear that day, my favorites are colors that are more muted to dark, which might not work for certain types of shoots. Be sure to color coordinate between you and the other people who are going to be in your shot. If you're wearing a dark blue they don't necessarily have to wear a blue, maybe they can wear a light yellow or even a clean white with light stripes, its all about being complimentary and not about matching to the T. If you're family is going as themed, then have fun with it!
The Biggest thing to think about is whether or not your colors or the type of clothing will conflict with the landscapes, its good to keep your photographer in the know about these things to ensure that everyone is kept in the loop.
Organic vs Inorganic Poses
Some photographers will have you pose and have you do a lot of different things, the major thing that they want to capture is your best angle and your plentiful smiles. Some Photographers will try and tell you a corny joke to make you laugh. Don't worry, they aren't all that bad. There is the smile you've practiced for years because you've been in front of a camera, and then theres the smile that comes out because you couldn't help but find something funny. That's the kind of smile I want from my clients. For me to get that, we almost have to be friends and connect at the same level.
Sometimes, I just want to do fun poses to give the photo something more dynamic and something unique to the group of people I'm photographing. The natural rhythm of every group of people is different, so the photos will inherently be different.
Let Things just Happen
There is no control to a Photoshoot that is organic, real and raw, some things just happen and those are the moments that you want to share with the world. "Look at what I just captured!" That's what say after capturing the perfect timing of an unforgettable moment. Life happens, so don't worry about the perfect and instead just enjoy the session and hang out. Of course theres a level of control and tricks up my sleeve for the things that don't just happen, that's my job. Let the Photographer take the lead, and don't be afraid to ask how you can help either, especially for kids and pets, they won't immediately trust the photographer but they trust you, so I will need your help!
Most Importantly... HAVE FUN!
So we're friends, I want the photos to look amazing and I want you to be relax, the easiest way to have all these things to happen is to just hang out, and follow my lead. I might bring some props for you to pose with or hold up, or some toys for the kids to play with. If you have kids, bring their favorite teddy bear or bring their favorite anything, they'll feel comfortable and secure knowing teddy is there to be in the photo too, he is part of the family you know.
If the Photoshoot is about the relationship, I'm going to have you share some of the intimate moments with me, how you guys feel about each and how you guys interact and joke around and have fun with each other. If the shoot is about the milestones you've achieved, then I'm going to ask you to pose more powerfully, next to something related to your accomplishment, or even take full advantage of certain props. Family Photoshoots is always about fun and family time, this means kids can run wild after some formals, jump, skip, play. Its also time for the parents to join in on the fun as well and be silly!
