It’s that time of year again! The weather has turned, the sun is shining, the flowers are in full bloom, and my clients have started calling. You’re ready to have your next photo session. What’s next?
Here are my best tips on how to prepare for a photo session:
Know What You Want —- Take inspiration from Pinterest, from your photographer’s website, from friends and family, or from magazines. Set your expectations and share them with your photographer so she can plan accordingly.
Know Where You Want to Shoot —- Plan out your location in advance. Look at the weather. Ask your photographer for suggestions.
Ask Questions —- Yes! Ask me questions! Communication is key when it comes to getting all you want out of a photography session.
Eat, Drink, and Rest Well the Night Before —- You want to look your best? Eat a healthy meal and stop eating several hours before bed. Drink lots of water, and get 8 hours of sleep. “Rested” is the most beautiful look there is.
Shave the Night Before —- For all my men out there, don’t shave the morning of. Shave the night before. You’ll get a great five o’clock shadow that shows up really well in photos.
Dress Nice, But Not Too Nice —- In most cases, it’s not a four-course meal or a beauty pageant. You want to look like you put thought into your outfit, but you don’t want to look stiff and uncomfortable. Pick out cute clothes you’re comfortable in and will like seeing in photos for years to come.
Relax! —- Speaking of stiff… you have got to chill. Drink some tea, and shake it off, they’re just photos! I’ve become an expert at getting families to relax and ease into our photo shoots, but you can help me (and yourself) by remembering that you are actually, genuinely happy, that your family is awesome, and that we’re just capturing that reality.
Be Prepared to Go with the Flow —- Yes, you’ll want to set yourself up to adapt and shift. I was in a photo session with my own family and our photographer when it started to rain! Yes, it poured down rain and the wind picked up. Fortunately, I took my own advice, managed to calm my littles down, and we made the best of it. As my reward, a huge rainbow came out and showed up in some of our best photos ever!
Have Fun! —- It’s supposed to be fun! This is not an 1800s portrait of a Victorian family standing upright and perfectly still. Smile, laugh, make jokes, tickle each other. Have a good time. After rested, happy is the best look.
If you’re ready to book your next photo session, contact me today.