How to Prep for a Photo shoot

Everyone deserves to feel beautiful and to have their visions brought to life. However, a lot of planning goes into a photo shoot. When I am creating content for myself or with a client we always start with the initial theme and vision.

Create a mood board

A mood board acts like your script for a photos hoot. There are different ways that you can create a mood board depending on your skill level. If I am creating a shoot for myself or I’m shooting one of my Christmas mini shoots with a client I utilize Pinterest as an easy way to pin inspirational images. You can view the Pinterest board for the shoot I am featuring here.

images of models with flowers posting on a Pinterest board

If I am working with a bigger client, I create a mood board that includes colour swatches, fonts, and aspirational images. This helps to provide the “vibe” of the shoot, and creates a persona for the model. It’s kind of like acting, where you have to put yourself into the mindset of the character. When I work with my clients on mini shoots, I ask them to pin any poses that they’d like so that we are able to capture the shots they are seeking.

Plan where to shoot your photos

Whether you want to photograph outside or photograph in a studio, plan for an allotted time that works with the sun’s direction. Studios that feature large windows will allow natural light in, which gives your images a natural and soft look.

A person sitting on a curved sofa, wearing a floral dress with puff sleeves and holding a bouquet of blue and white flowers. The background features a large window with natural light. — model sitting on back of coach in sweetheart puff sleeve dress with bouquet of flowers

A woman wearing a light blue tulle dress with ruffled sleeves, standing gracefully in a bright studio space with decorative plants and minimalist decor. — model sitting on back of coach in sweetheart puff sleeve dress with bouquet of flowers

Sometimes studios will have special set ups and displays, along with furniture that is always in place. This particular studio had multiple spaces and corners within the same room that allowed us to move around.

Select your outfits

Professional stylists often “borrow” clothes from designers and stores with the caveat that they provide credit when published. When I am working with my clients on mini shoots or for myself, we’re usually taking on the costs ourselves. I recommend my clients rent their gowns from stores such as Fitz Roy Rentals to cut down on costs. When I worked in the wedding industry, I noticed many brides did this for engagement shoots. If you would like to keep your outfits and are on a budget, often times I can make the dress look more expensive than it is, so not to worry.

A model sitting on a wooden chair, wearing a light blue dress with ruffled details, surrounded by artificial flowers in a softly lit studio setting. — A model poses gracefully in a flowing blue gown surrounded by decorative flowers, embodying elegance and creativity.

Plan for props

I love shooting with mirrors. If the studio you select does not have mirrors, bring your own! I have a large round mirror that is relatively light that I bring to shoots. I also have a few different ones with different styled frames I bring to shoots.

To match the decor of the studio, I brought in extra flowers that matched my outfit.

A woman in a light blue dress with ruffled sleeves is seated gracefully, holding a bouquet of flowers. She has long dark hair, lightly made up, and is posed thoughtfully against a backdrop of soft-colored floral arrangements. — A model in a pastel blue dress poses gracefully with an arrangement of colorful flowers, capturing the essence of a romantic photo shoot.

A woman in a blue dress surrounded by blue and white flowers, holding a book titled 'The Beauty and the Beast'. — A model in a pastel blue dress poses gracefully with an arrangement of colorful flowers, capturing the essence of a romantic photo shoot.

Plan your poses

When I work with my clients I always make sure to get different poses based off of their Pinterest board, but I also recommend different poses and angles that suit their face and body shape to get the most flattering angles for them. Even something as simple as zooming or out can make a difference.