Preparing for Your Upcoming Photoshoot

Let’s say that now you have a photoshoot booked.

You may think… ‘My job here is done!’

Not quite!

Of course you can just wing it and hope for the best on the day of your photo shoot.

Realistically, you probably paid good money and you want your photos to turn out stunning.

So what can you do?

As a Calgary Lifestyle Photographer, I understand how important it is to prepare for a successful and enjoyable photoshoot experience.

I’ll walk you through some things you can do to prepare to ensure that you feel confident, relaxed, and ready to create some beautiful memories to cherish for years to come.

1. Understand Your Vision

Before we get into some of the more practical things, let’s take some time to review your vision.

Here are some questions to ask yourself.

What style of photography do you prefer? Candid, posed, mixed?

What setting or backdrop would best reflect your personality and story? Indoor studio, urban, outdoors in nature?

Do you need any props to enhance your photos? Decorations, signs, balloons, flowers?

Taking some time to sit down and think about your vision will really help bring it to life.

2. Communicate with Your Photographer

Be sure to keep your photographer in the loop about your plans.

Whatever vision and ideas you come up with, share it with your photographer so they know what to expect and they might also brainstorm some of their own ideas to produce some great images for you.

Check online to see if there are any photos that resemble your vision and share those with your photographer too.

Involving your photographer in the process will result in a more personalized and meaningful photoshoot experience overall.

3. Plan Your Outfits

Now, let’s get into the good stuff!

Outfits.

Have you thought about what you want to wear for the photoshoot?

Selecting the right outfit can take a bit of planning so this is something you want to plan early.

Especially if you want a certain look, you may want to buy some additional items to complete your look.

If you’re doing a family photoshoot, then you definitely want to plan ahead so that when you look back at your photos, you’ll say, ‘WOW, we looked GOOD!’

I suggest that you take a peek at Pinterest. There are endless ideas there.

Pop this into Google, “Family Photoshoot Outfits”, and you’ll find lots of ideas you can work with.

While style and complimenting outfits are important, you also want to make sure you feel comfortable and confident.

Avoid outfits that are too matchy-matchy. Also avoid lots of busy patterns, logos, or overly saturated colors.

What you do want to wear are clothes that are simple. Go with solid colors, something a bit more natural and soft, and coordinate with just two to four colours max.

The goal for outfits is not to showcase your clothes. That’s for the runway.

What we really want to focus on is your face, your mood, your emotions, your joy!

4. Consider Hair, Makeup, and Grooming

This one is easily up for debate.

Generally speaking, I’d suggest keeping it natural. Don’t go crazy!

Imagine your best hair day. Keep it that way. You don’t want to look drastically different than you normally do by getting a brand new hairdo. This goes for both guys and girls.

For the ladies, if the hair is getting a little wild then it’s probably a good idea to get a quick clean up or styling.

For the gents, it’s definitely recommended to tighten up the lines or if you prefer to go clean shaven then be sure to get it done at least a day or two in advance.

Remember, what’s most important are the emotions and life moments.

5. Practice Posing and Expressions

This might seem a little weird or uncomfortable but it is really good to do some practice posing and facial expressions in front of a mirror. This will help you see what you will look like in a photo.

Experiment with different angles, postures, and smiles to find what you want yourself to look like and what you prefer to avoid.

Don’t worry too much about this one because your photographer will provide guidance and direction during the photoshoot.

If there are specific poses you saw online you can always screenshot them and show them to your photographer to try to replicate them.

The key is to simply be relaxed, have fun, and trust your photographer’s expertise in capturing your best angles and expressions.

6. Get Plenty of Rest and Hydrate

Take it easy before your photoshoot!

Drink plenty of water.

Get plenty of rest the night before.

You don’t want to be cranky, or have a tired look with bags under your eyes, do you?

Believe me, getting a good night’s rest will really help give you the refreshed appearance and contribute to your overall look and energy during the photoshoot.

Oh, and avoid getting too much sun or activities that may cause significant fatigue or stress, or even worse, a sunburn.

You will be very glad to not only look good but also feel great on the day of your photoshoot.

7. Pack Essentials and Arrive Early

Not sure what to pack?

Here are some essentials:

• Water

• Sunblock

• Snacks

• Toys (for small children)

• Blanket, scarf, or mittens (if it’s a chilly day)

Do this the night before at the latest to avoid a last-minute run to the store.

If you’re wearing dark clothes or black items that attract a lot of lint, a lint-roller might come in handy.

Maybe some touch-up products like lipstick if you need to re-apply and make it look fresh.

For a family photoshoot with small children, you might need some extra room in your bag.

It might be a good idea to have the following:

• Change of clothes

• Wipes

• Entertainment

• Rewards (treats)

It’s never a bad thing to be too prepared!

8. Relax and Enjoy the Experience

Finally, take a breath!

Relax!

Just have fun!

Trust the photographer in creating some beautiful images for you.

Keep an open mind and try some new poses or even some silly ones.

Enjoy the experience!

Conclusion

By following this guide to prepare for your upcoming photoshoot, you'll feel confident, relaxed, and ready to capture memorable moments that you'll cherish for years to come. Embrace the opportunity to create beautiful images and enjoy the journey of storytelling through photography. If you have any questions or need further guidance, don't hesitate to reach out to your photographer for assistance. Enjoy!

In our next article, we talk about what to wear for a photo shoot!