Planning for a photo shoot is the best way to make yourself and the client you are working with feel confident and comfortable. Over the last few years of becoming a Freelance Photographer, I have gathered a few tips and tricks along the way that I always do when putting together and planning a shoot. Below are just a few that can help you plan your shoot with a client.
Always ask the client for ‘inspo images’
This is one of the main things I ask for when shooting with a brand or individual for the first time. Having visuals is the easiest and quickest way to quickly see someones vision of the images they are wanting you to achieve. That way you can see the style in which they are wanting to shoot and can always refer back to these before or during the photoshoot.
Create a Pinterest Board for the Client
This is a great place for you and the client to both share images and to have it in a folder than you can refer to before and during the photo shoot. It’s important for you to see the client’s visuals but also for the client to see yours. They need to know that you are on the same path, aesthetically.
I create a board specifically for the client to see which will have all the images I think best suit what they are after, I give them access so that they can add images to it too.
Be clear on the location and the timings of the Photoshoot
Make sure you and the client is happy with the location of the photoshoot and check the weather beforehand! There is no point going ahead with a photoshoot in a beautiful outdoors location if a thunderstorm is predicted. If there is a deadline that the client needs to stick with, make sure you have a back up wet-weather option! Take into account timings of the location you have chosen – it may be that the location is going to be super busy at certain times of the day and it might be worth shooting at a different time.
LIGHT! Make sure that the location and timings of your shoot work best with the light. It is such a big influence in the photoshoot and can really make or break an image. Be clear and check what time the light is going to be best at the location you are choosing. For example, in the images below – I wanted to photograph Tahila in the morning so that the light was low and we could create shadows with her body positioning.
Have a system in place when sending over the images
It’s really important to professionally send across the final edits. Clients won’t be happy if they have to wait a long time to download one photo at a time or if it requires various emails in order for them to receive their final images. Find a way that works for you but that is also professional, I mainly use WeTransfer Plus but Google Drive and Dropbox are other great programs to use.
I hope these tips have helped when planning your next shoot!
You can follow my Pinterest here.
Lyds x
