The time has finally come for the photoshoot you booked. The last thing you want is to end up having the whole session be a waste because the photographer was not as good as you thought, or you did not put in the preparation needed for the shoot. A lot of people do not realize this, but photoshoots require preparation on both ends. The customer needs to give relay to the photographer what type of shoot it is, the location, and how they would like it to turn out.
While the photographer is in charge of gathering the right tools and equipment to meet the vision of the customer. Not all photoshoots are equal and require different preparation depending on what you pick. A headshot photoshoot, for example, places much more emphasis on your face, hair, and upper body, while photos for a music event focus more on capturing the atmosphere and the relation between the band and the crowd. So, you went out and you figured out the type of a photoshoot you wanted, and now you have hired the photographer you feel will do the best job of the shoot. It’s now time for you to prepare. Here are some tips to ensure that you look good on every photo op.
Clothing
Clothing says a lot in your photoshoots and will set the tone. If you are going for a business professional photoshoot, you will want to be wearing a suit, a business style dress, or a dress shirt. If you are going for a more casual look like a music venue photoshoot, ripped jeans and shirt will help to create that rocker look. A photographer can do as much preparation for the shoot as they want and create the most amazing atmosphere for you, however, if you are not willing to meet them halfway by getting your outfit together for the shoot there is going to be a problem. Don’t just wake up the day of the shoot and scrounge around for anything you can find. Take the time to plan this out; you are spending good money for this, so why not get the best value for your dollar. Come dressed for the occasion and watch as the photographer works their magic.
Hair and Makeup
Proper hair care and makeup before a photoshoot are essential to make those photos turn out the way you want them. As a man, in certain instances, makeup will help as it can work with the lighting to create a much better effect for you. Hair is without a doubt one of the most important things for the shoot and your hairstyle will say a lot about you. Hair maintenance is most important if you are looking to get headshots done. Take the time in the morning to style your hair, as freshly styled hair can often give a greasy look. Once it has set, make adjustments to it as necessary, but try to leave it and don’t touch it too much. You need to ensure before your session, that you take a look in the mirror-touch up your hair one last time, if needed. Hair is one of the first things people notice in headshot photoshoots so don’t come in on a bad hair day. Makeup is another great tool as makeup can soften your skin. Be careful with too much makeup though, as some makeup will reflect when a camera flash is applied therefore making yourself look extremely pale. Talk to your photographer beforehand to ask them about the makeup you should apply and how much you can apply as well. The last thing you want is to be looking like a ghost for your shoot. Proper facial and hair maintenance is vital for your shoot.
Practice Your Poses
Don’t ever feel that it is weird to practice the poses you want to be done at your shoot beforehand. In fact, photographers encourage it because the more you practice it, the more natural it will look. Photographers hate when people request poses that do not look natural at all and prefer you to do something realistic. Therefore, if you practice your poses ahead of time, you can come right in ready, to begin with the photographer, and not worry about looking robotic or strange in your photos as you have spent the time practicing. Practice those poses and that smile to get the most of your photos.
IMAGE SOURCE: https://unsplash.com/photos/Se58TjWOmJM
While the photographer does need to prepare for the photoshoot, there also lies a great deal of responsibility on you to get yourself ready. It is not good enough to just show up to these photoshoots. If you want a professional shoot that you can end up using in the future, you need to put the time and effort in to get it done. Pick out the right clothes, do your hair, and practice those poses. What photoshoot are you looking to book?
