Photo Education

How to Better Prepare for a Photoshoot!

January 9, 2014

I’m Catherine.
A New Orleans based wedding photographer and educator. We are excited you are here and cannot wait to connect with you!.
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As you can easily imagine, preparing for a photoshoot is a huge task in and of itself. It’s a task not only for the photographer but for the client as well, which is why it’s important to follow a few easy steps that can make the preparation…and final results, SO much better!

HAVE A PLAN:
For all of my sessions, we make a plan. This includes not only what to bring, but also what time we’ll start, where we’ll meet and any small detail that may not be thought of initially. I usually provide a list of tips and things that my clients may want to bring along to the session!

HAVE A BACKUP:

In the case of inclement weather, it’s important to have a backup plan…especially when the client cannot reschedule. For me, I usually search for locations that have a covered area but aren’t necessarily indoors. I love to shoot in natural light, so finding a location that will still offer that element but also shelter them from the rain (even if I have to stand in it) is ideal!

BE OVERLY PREPARED:

Sometimes I have clients that want to do things a little out of the ordinary. For example, this week I had a couple who wanted to use a fog machine. I wasn’t sure how far out we’d be from power source or even how the fog would work. So I “over” prepared by bringing extra extension cords and two different kinds of fog. I feel like it’s always better to have too much than not enough of what you may or may not need.

BE FLEXIBLE:

So…to continue the story above with the fog, we ended up needing the extension cord and even switched to a different kind of fog once we set up. However, with the freezing temperature (literally in the low thirties) and chilling winds, we scrapped the idea entirely. We could have been disappointed or nervous about the outcome of the photoshoot now that the plan had changed so tremendously but instead we looked at what the weather did provide: opportunity to incorporate accessories that wouldn’t have worked otherwise. She was able to wear a fur wrap and we brought blankets and other accessories outdoors that not only looked super cute but kept them warm!

I think, had we been fixated on the idea…we wouldn’t have ended up with the awesome photos we did (soon to be posted, by the way).

HAVE FUN: 

I always like to end with this because truly…it’s what’s most important anyway! All the props in the world cannot make a good photoshoot. What’s better is for the couple to have fun and enjoy the experience. As a result, they will look happy and remember feeling that way when they see the images!

If all else fails..STAY POSITIVE! 🙂

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