Three reasons you should look at what your professional photographer has shot before your shoot is over.
Del Kathryn Barton shot in her Sydney Studio for Wish Magainze ahead of her premiere of her latest film, Blaze
It seems obvious. But many people don't engage with their photographer enough on what they might expect from their photoshoot, which only leads to disasters. I can speak from experience! I recently shot a regular client's staff; they are doing a rebrand and needed new portraits for their website. The client that engaged me in the process was fabulous. She looked at what I had shot on the computer and signed off on her favourite image before she left the room. She instructed her work colleagues to do the same, and every one of them did. They looked on my computer screen and said yes to at least one image! But when I sent the low-res edit to the client, EVERYONE in the office hated their portraits. I get it. It is so hard looking at your photo and yourself. You immediately see all the things you hate about yourself. Here are my tips on making sure you are happy before the shoot is over instead of relying on retouching later.
Make sure you and the photographer are on the same page.
Having a brief or a reference shot is a great way to start, but don't expect your picture to look the same as what you have provided to the photographer. A good photographer will not copy another photographer's photo; they will use it as inspiration only. I love a Pinterest board or some other person's website for reference. It's an excellent way for me to work out what you are after or what you expect from the shoot. Once you have agreed on what style you are after, start the shoot in that manner but if it's not working, be flexible to change that way. You will get what you want.
Myra Perez, aka My Violet florist extraordinaire, shot outside her Sydney Headquarters for Creative Women's Business.
2. Don't be shy- ask for what you want.
Photographers are service providers so ask for what you want. Please don't be shy about it. The client I referred to in the intro knew what she wanted and ensured she got it. Her colleagues were polite, and to their detriment, they hated their portraits and couldn't find anything they liked. Having a good picture you can use again and again is so handy, especially if it's one you want.
3. Make sure you see what it is you are after.
Once the photographer is set up and ready to shoot, take a few photos and check that you like the lighting, composition, and set-up. If the photographer is by themselves, get in the frame, don't be shy, and look at the computer or the back of the camera if you can. If the photographer isn't keen, be confident, you are paying for a service, so you have every right to check what is being shot. Plus, it's good to look at what you are wearing and your hair and makeup in the shot. It always looks different on camera in real life. Once you have seen what you like, continue shooting.
So, you get it, don't you? You need to engage with what's happening during your photoshoot; don't leave it up to the photographer. We can get carried away and inspired, and then you see what they have shot long after they have gone, and it's not what you were expecting. Let me know if this helps you for your next photoshoot, or have you experienced a shoot that was a complete waste of time? I want to hear from you. Please message me here.
Katie
