The Photoshoot Checklist

Tips and Tricks from a Photographer to the Client!

We have many friends, family, and clients that have never had their portrait taken and have no idea what to expect from a photoshoot. In this post we'll go over the tips for clients to make each photoshoot go as smoothly as possible. 

Working with your budget and style you can prepare yourself to look the best you can before a photoshoot. There are four main fields that we focus on before a shoot even begins: Face, Hair, Skin, and Clothes.

Face: 

• Whiten Teeth: There are many teeth whitening strips that you can get from the store that will boost your smile and confidence within a week. You can also go to your local dentist and get a whitening if your budget allows. 
• Stop the picking: Pimples are easier to hide with makeup then peeling skin or scabs. Resist the urge to pick or pop! 
• Exfoliate: The skin on your face needs just as much attention and care as the skin on your body. A week before the shoot give your face some extra attention with facials, scrubs, or moisturizers. 
• Remove unwanted hair:  When focusing on the up close and personal any hair out of place stands out. It is better to remove the hair using wax or other methods, than to cover it up with makeup. 

Hair:

• Touch up your color: If you color your hair you want to touch up any roots or grey spots showing a week before the shoot. Men if you want a younger look sometimes a touch up on the beard helps. 
• Change it up with a Trim: Sometimes getting a haircut or restyling boosts a person's confidence and makes the hair look more healthy.
• Don't forget deep conditioning: Salons can do many different deep conditioning treatments that can volumize and shine your hair making it look healthy and full.

Skin:

• Shave: Take the time to shave legs, armpits, and any other exposed area with unwanted hair. 
• Consider a Tan: If you already self tan, a touch up should be considered. If it's in the middle of summer and you burn when the sun touches you, perhaps consider lessening your time in the sun before your photoshoot. Red skin is hard to hide and peeling skin is even worse.

Clothes:

• 5-6 outfits: There are four types of clothes you should keep in mind: Dark, Light, Fun/whimsy, and Sexy. Changing your outfits allows many different sides of your personality to come out in the photoshoot. 
• Always consider neckline and your height: We recommend wearing form fitting clothes that are freshly washed and ironed if necessary. If you are a shorter person, do not wear capris. This makes anyone shorter than 5'9" look even shorter. Also keep in mind low cut necklines. We want natural photos not nude photos. 
• What to avoid: Avoid picking clothes that have textures, patterns, prints, or florals. Clothing like that distracts from our main focus: YOU! We recommend simple solid colors that are not too bold. 
• Forget about the shoes: Unless shoes define your personality, or your favorite shoes need to be in a full body shot, shoes are basically dress casual. Keep it simple and comfortable. 

If you use this advice to the fullest and prepare accordingly your next photoshoot should have you looking absolutely amazing!

Thank you to Emily Miller for the ideas and tips included in this post.

Next Friday we will be talking about what to expect with kids at a photoshoot. 

We hope to see you there! Like, comment, share and, as always, subscribe!

~Amanda