We’ve compiled a guide to help you plan and execute the best photoshoot possible.
One of the most important aspects of a successful photoshoot is to plan ahead and be prepared. Preparation is a huge part of the undertaking of a photoshoot, because often while shooting, you will mostly be trying to maximize your time taking photos.
First, you’ll start with ideation. What is the concept and/or goal that you are hoping to accomplish with the shoot? Is this a creative project or are you trying to achieve something specific and direct like photographing a product? There are several directions one can take a photoshoot, whether it’s fashion editorial, portrait photography, landscape photography, or product shots.
One of the best ways to cultivate a visual language for your intended outcome is by creating a mood board. This may help to establish a tone or help you hone in on the kind of shots you’re hoping to achieve by looking toward inspiring images of a similar category.
Next comes the location. Choosing a location or set is integral to your end product, whether it be as high production as shooting on a busy boardwalk, or as controlled as shooting in your own bedroom. There is no wrong choice, but know that your environment will inevitably influence your results.
Location scouting is a useful process if you choose to work outside of the more controlled environment of a studio. If you’re planning to shoot outside, mapping and physically visiting locations beforehand is helpful, especially at the time of day you plan to shoot. This can help manage and make more predictable the variables of traffic (foot or otherwise) and light, among others. Giving yourself time for wandering and discovery beyond initial location ideas can also fuel the creative process.
Some locations will legally require permits, which will call for plenty of lead time in preparation for getting those documents together. There is always the option of going rogue and shooting in public spaces, but that comes with a higher level of risk and the possibility of getting shut down.
Even if you’re choosing a more controlled environment, you may have to plan ahead by booking or preparing a studio space. If there is any degree of set design, that will have to be accounted for in your schedule.
The level of staging necessary to produce your images will likely depend on your chosen location and the goal of the shoot. Typically, indoor shots will require more staging. Having a seamless paper or fabric backdrop in a studio setting is standard practice, whether it be a basic white, a color, or featuring decorative or scenic elements. They typically run from above eye level to the floor in front of the photographer, with enough space for whatever will fill the shot.
Should you need to set a more involved scene, props can be used to enhance your message. Display objects such as podiums or plinths can support focal points, whether they be human subjects or objects, as well as provide greater visual interest to a spare set. Whether you’re using a set designer or doing it yourself, a lot can go into this aspect of a photoshoot. Sourcing implements for your photoshoot can be an entire project in itself, so give it proper attention.
Don’t forget to make sure your set is clean before shooting and do what you can to ensure that the set doesn’t degrade through shooting. That means no unnecessary shoes on white seamless paper! Keeping shoes off when walking on the backdrop or using shoe covers are easy ways to avoid dirtying your set.
Depending on how intricate your shoot will be, drafting a schedule can be very helpful. Some shots may have time-specific needs, whether that be due to the state of natural light or if you’re hoping to photograph at a time when there are less people around. Regardless, having a form for the day can help you stay on task and accomplish all you’ve planned. Many photoshoots will have a base number of shots and any additional time can be given to experimentation or shooting in more detail.
Leave time for any changes that need to be made, whether in regard to set, hair and makeup, wardrobe, transportation, or technical needs of the camera, like charging batteries.
Storyboarding — or creating a shot list — which might include a specific wardrobe or setting, plays a similar role as a schedule, but can often include more narrative aspects should that be appropriate for the shoot.
If you are utilizing others as subjects or for wardrobe, set design, or hair and makeup, for example, it will be crucial to incorporate these people into your plans. All of these components require time and preparation beyond the window of shooting and should also be considered in terms of budget. Providing what’s known as a call sheet is standard for team productions. It will note when everyone should arrive and provide an outlined schedule for the day. If changes need to be made between different shots, your schedule should incorporate space for them.
Should you need any legal documents filed before, such as a permit or a model release, those things must be factored into the planning stages.
Packing your equipment beforehand, including items such as a reflector, lights, and a tripod will save you lots of trouble, time, and potentially money. Double check the details, such as making sure batteries are charged. There is no preparation detail too small, as these can shape the success of the shoot.
Your lighting will depend at least somewhat on the location where you will be shooting. Natural light (or sunlight) and artificial light (produced by electric lights) are the two primary categories considered here. Natural light requires no equipment, but is subject to time, weather, and season. Artificial light can be manipulated more readily and requires less adherence to a schedule. You may also use a hybrid of the two, depending on your desired outcome.
Learning the technical aspects of lighting placement/position and the results that these choices can produce will bring more skill to your photos. The position of your light relative to the subject has variable effects. Placing light in front of your subject typically produces a flatter image. Moving light to the side creates more depth, through shadows and texture. This may be more dramatic, moody. Lighting from the back, or backlighting, typically creates a silhouetted effect. We are used to seeing things lit from above due to the sun, so creating a lighting reality with light from above looks highly natural.
If you’re shooting outside, consider taking advantage of the golden hour. Golden hour is the hour before sunset or after sunrise that is adored by photographers and filmmakers alike for its soft, warm, and even lighting due to the sun’s low angle in the sky.
Get acquainted with equipment that either produces or enhances light, including bounce boards, beauty dishes, and external flashes. Regardless of how invested you are in having the most advanced equipment, knowing what is possible through manipulation can enhance your skills as a photographer.
When beginning shooting, you will find that it’s helpful to first start with some test shots. This will allow you to consider composition and lighting and adjust as necessary. If your subject is a person, it’s helpful to have them (or have someone else on set) take part in these, though they need not be completely ready to be photographed.
Once you’re in the thick of it, keep the following in mind. Variety and options are everything. Take lots of shots and don’t be afraid of slight changes between them. Sometimes all you need is a little tweak, whether that be in the position of your subject, or the way that the light is hitting. Photograph your subject from different angles and check in on the images to see what’s working. Editing on the spot during downtime or before post-production can make sifting through all your images much easier later.
Stay on schedule but allow for some flexibility. It’s important to ensure you have all the shots that you need, but creative magic doesn’t happen according to a schedule. Allowing yourself time to play and experiment, to push a shot a bit longer because it’s almost there can be defining.
A lot can happen even after the photoshoot has wrapped. Post-production editing allows you to enhance and sometimes even evolve your images. Some photographers and image makers are more invested in this period than in the actual photoshoot. It can be its own creative discipline entirely and deserves consideration just the same.
One of the primary processes in post-production is narrowing down your images. If they’re for a client, you could provide options. Being concise is still important here. A final edit of the best shots should be easy to visually process.
While editing, reflect on your mission and process your images with the desired tone and result in mind. There are endless small tweaks to make in post-production, so focus on those that provide you with an image closest to your goals. Of course, goals can change, and post-production can be its own place of creative discovery. You may end up editing in a way that shifts the entire aesthetic of the project.
Lean into the potential of post-production. Don’t be afraid to make image-making decisions — editing software is your friend. Perhaps the raw image isn’t quite striking, but through editing, it has a lot more impact.
Don’t overprocess your photos. If what you’re aiming for is fairly realistic photography, be wary of editing too much. Photos that are oversaturated or otherwise unnatural can upset the integrity of your images. Take breaks when looking at your final shots to reset your eye.
Once you’ve finished editing and making selections, you will have your final product. Keep the above practices in mind while working on any photoshoot but, also, trust your gut and be creative — break convention as you see fit. Happy image making!