Woody Allen said "Eighty percent of success is just showing up." Wise words, my man! Especially in terms of a photoshoot. But what about the other twenty percent??
Being photographed can be nerve wracking! But truthfully, it can also be a blast - especially when you walk into the studio feeling confident and prepared. It's the same with that work presentation: it will go great when you believe it will go great.
So here we go - My Top Ten Tips!
1. Do your research
By this I mean look around a little bit at who is out there. The most important thing is to find a photographer whose style and personality you click with! Hiring a photographer is an investment, so you want to make sure that you are happy every step of the way.
The right photographer will be able to give you a picture of what you day will entail, what to bring and what your experience will be like working together.
2. Book a consultation
Every photographer worth their salt wants to have a consultation with you. They want to meet you, answer all your questions, and make sure you feel comfortable with them.
Personally I want to buy you coffee (or tea!) and hear about what you want to get from a photo session!
3. Ask questions!
Certainly ask as many of your questions as possible before hiring a photographer.
But what if questions come up between the time you book and the date of your session? What if you have a question in the middle of getting your makeup done? Don't be afraid to ask.
A great photographer should be able to answer most of your questions about a session before you even ask them - but if they don't you should always make sure to ask. And a good photographer will always be happy to answer!
4. Go shopping
Did I hear you just exclaim with glee? You don't have to go all out and buy a new wardrobe. You can go shopping in your own closet. Break out that dress or the neglige that you've been saving to wear for a special occasion. This is that special occasion!
Make sure you have at least five complete outfits that you love and feel like a goddess in. Don't bring that shirt that almost fits you if you sit just-right and don't breathe. (I have that shirt too - who knows why it's still in my closet...but it is.) And don't bring that threadbare t-shirt that you love. I have that too, but I promise you the camera will never love it like you do.
If you're booking a double shoot with your best girlfriend, mom or daughter this is a perfect occasion to go shopping together! Who knows, you may find your new signature look on this trip!
5. Get plenty of rest
If only, I know! Sometimes it feels like life is go-go-go and that rest is elusive. But as much as possible, especially for about a week leading up to your shoot, try to set aside a little time for yourself. Decompress, make tea, take a walk and cuddle your pet. Take a freakin' bubble bath (oh that sounds so nice right now!)
When we're tired and stressed out, it shows up in our face. We breakout, we get dark circles, sometimes we have a harder time smiling. If we are just totally worn out, it can be hard to feel confident and stand up straight.
Doing a photoshoot is about loving and celebrating yourself. So do a little pre-gaming by loving yourself and giving yourself some time to unwind!
6. Drink all the water!
Dear ol' George Carlin (may he rest in peace) would make fun of me for this, but I really do suggest that you carry around your own portable water. When you have it, you are more likely to drink it.
The more hydrated you are, the more refreshed you will feel.
If all I've had to drink by the end of the day are my morning cups of coffee, I feel it! So drink up! Your skin, especially, will thank you.
7. Hire a professional hair and makeup artist
Not every photography studio has their own hair and makeup artist. If they don't, it might be your responsibility to find someone. Believe me, it is worth the investment of time and money! Plus it will make you feel extra pampered, fabulous and confident.
If you can, schedule your hair and makeup appointment as close to your photoshoot time as possible. The best scenario is to have the makeup artist in the studio, and there for the entire shoot so that they can do touch ups or change the look for different shots. Again, totally worth the investment!
When you work with me, hair and makeup is included in your photoshoot and in your first consultation we discuss what you're looking for with hair and makeup. We even create an entire Pinterest board dedicated to the look of your shoot so that the makeup artist is 100% on the same page!
If you can arrange something like this, I highly recommend it so that there is clear communication about how you want to look on the day of your shoot.
8. Have an idea of the poses you want to try
A great photographer will coach you with your posing. But not everyone does. So it's important that you come in with a few solid ideas of how you want to try posing. This will make you feel a little more prepared, so that you won't panic when you're suddenly staring into a camera lens!
Posing is an art, and again I stress that a really great photographer will help you with your posing. But if that isn't their forte, I have an article here that will give you some tips on how to pose!
9. Smile!
Ok, you don't really have to smile if that's not the look you're going for. At least not with your mouth, showing off your pearly whites. But I do recommend trying to smile with your eyes. What I'm talking about it letting that inner glow, and your personality shine through your eyes.
It's an intensity and connection with the camera that Tyra calls "smeyes."This is going to make a huge difference between photos that feel flat, and photos that feel vibrant and full of life!
10. Enjoy yourself
Not only do I mean have fun on your photoshoot, because your session should be a blast, but I also mean that you should enjoy you! By this I mean you should give yourself a little love! When you're in front of the camera, let yourself feel good about yourself! Enjoy that you've been pampered and you're playing model for a day!
In the day to day grind, we often forget to love yourself. Our rhetoric is often a very harsh tape that we play over and over in our minds. So while you're in front of the camera (and after!) take that tape out. Pop in one that says "Girl, you are ah-mazing!"
Don't think about hating your nose, your arms, your thighs. Give each part of yourself a little love - but most importantly love yourself as an amazing whole! That will shine through all of your photos. And it will give you a little bounce in your step for the rest of the week. In fact, don't wait for your photoshoot to practice a little self-love.
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