Booking your photoshoot is more than a one step process and the pre-planning stage should be taken very seriously as proper preparation can lead to a very successful shoot. I will be honest with you by telling you that ALL GREAT IMAGES are created by a TEAM EFFORT between the photography team and the client, yes it takes two to make a thing go right. You as the client should always come prepared to your shoot with a positive attitude, a clear vision of what you want and all of your ducks in a row when it comes to your attire and props. When you are looking at an image you are looking at the END RESULT of a collaborative effort regardless of how many people were involved in the project, never should one put all of the responsibility on one person as this is a sure way to fall short of the goal. I have created the checklist below to help you prepare for your photoshoot, this list was created from years of experience and I promise you that if you follow it to the letter your shoot will go in a very positive direction and produce great results.

1)    Always have a pre-shoot consultation with your photographer, never go into a shoot not knowing what to expect. Your photographer should always be aware of your vision beforehand and you should always know what to expect from your photographer.

2)    Make sure that your all of your clothes for the shoot are ironed and on hangers, never bring your clothes in plastic bags or folded in suitcases. Clothing gets wrinkled in transit when in bags or folded and Photoshop is not a cure for wrinkled clothes, wrinkled clothes will definitely look horrible and unprofessional. Once your shoot is booked you should have all of your planned wardrobe dry cleaned and I also advise you to bring a steamer just in case.

3)    Make sure that all of your jewelry and accessories are packed in your bag and ready to go. Many clients especially models like to place their accessories in plastic bags and attach them to the hangers of the outfits that they will be worn with.

4)    Always pack a hair brush along with a comb and a curling iron to manage your hair on set, also make sure to have hair spray. I advise you to bring these items with you even if you have booked a hair stylist as sometimes the stylist may have to leave before your shoot is over.

5)    Make sure to have extra panty hose and any undergarments that may be needed for support.

6)    Your skin is a big deal so make sure to bring lotion and chap stick to your session, ashy dry skin will always destroy your images and is not easy to get rid of in post-production.

7)    Make sure to pack a good variety of shoes to go with your outfits, it’s always good to show variety and versatility with your clothing.

8)    Guys make sure that your hair is cut and you are groomed for a smooth look. Ladies be sure to have your hair done or hire a stylist for your hair.

9)    Photography lights are very intense so I strongly suggest that you hire a professional makeup artist for your shoot. Do not have your friend do your makeup unless they are a professional, there is a difference between casual makeup and makeup for a photoshoot. Makeup will make or break your shoot and should be of the highest priority hands down. Makeup is just not for the ladies so fellas you may want to invest in an artist as well, makeup will come in handy and keep you from looking oily or rough.

10) This last one is especially for models or anyone that wants to stand out from the crowd, make sure to practice your posing before your shoot. Models or aspiring models should never get on set and say, “WHAT DO I DO”, this is the quickest way to lose your photographer and audience. Models should never put all of the posing ideas on the plate of the photographer, trust me when I say that a photographer will assist you but will get distracted by having to constantly pose you as the model. I highly advise using GOOGLE SEARCH to look for posing ideas before your shoot, it’s always a plus to have a posing arsenal in your bag especially if you are shooting a modeling portfolio.

I hope that this checklist comes in handy for your first or next photoshoot. You can check out my website: WWW.THELENNZ.COM for more information as well as book your shoot. Thanks for stopping by and have a fantastic day!!