PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION EXPECTATIONS & ETIQUETTE: BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER
If you don’t live under a rock, you probably have some knowledge of what goes into making a successful photoshoot. There’s a lot of behind the scenes content from influencers sharing their experiences shooting content for sponsorships or paid promotions. So with that in mind, this blog is your comprehensive guide on what to expect from a photoshoot as well as photoshoot etiquette.
Pre-Shoot Preparation
Decide on the purpose and vision of your photoshoot
There’s a lot that goes into planning a photoshoot and it starts by deciding what you need photos for and your vision. This can be as simple as “I want candid portraits of myself for my Instagram profile. I think I want to go with a casual, coastal-style look.” Bam. Done.
Decide on the right photographer and communicate well!
Deciding on the right kind of photographer for your needs is very important. For example, you might really love the work of Karel Chladek (tooootally not biased lol), but his style of nightclub photography might not be the best when it comes to hiring him for daytime portraits. This is not to say that he’s a bad photographer, but daytime shoots are probably not his go-to.
I cannot stress communication enough. Make sure you thoroughly talk out your ideas and plans for the photoshoot so that you and the photographer are on the same page before booking a session with them.
Book a date, time, and location
Picking a date to do your photoshoot is a challenge in itself and it’s important to be flexible. Photographers’ schedules can be very busy depending on how many clients they handle at a time from going out to do the actual photoshoot and spending time doing post-production editing. Sometimes, you may have to book 2-3 weeks in advance. Generally speaking, most photographers go out and shoot on the weekends and spend the weekdays editing since most clients work 9-5pm M-F (unless they do brand photoshoots, then that can happen during anytime M-F).
Time is vital. Do you want your photos done in broad daylight at noon? If you’re going for a bright and airy theme, by all means, it’s the perfect time to do it! However, if you’re looking for a dreamy theme, aim for sunset or “golden hour.” I will advise that sometimes sunset photoshoots may not be all that great. If you’re like me and live near the coast, you know that the marine layer starts rolling in close to sunset. It can also depend on the season as well. Typically, March-May in San Diego is the best time to do sunset photoshoots because there’s no humidity to bring in the marine layer that quickly unlike in June-July.
Location location location! This is true when it comes to real-estate AND photoshoots. Make sure you choose a location for its scenery, accessibility, parking, and general safety of the venue itself. Just note, if you pick a location near the ocean, be prepared for your hair to get frizzy and lose its shape because its typically humid and windy. The opposite can be said about a drier climate. You may not lose the way you styled your hair, but it might get real static-y.
Payment
After booking, typically most photographers will ask for a non-refundable payment of 50% of the total amount of the session (e.g. if the session is $300 in total, you will owe $150 for the first installment). The initial payment entails that the photographer will not advertise themselves as available for the date and time of your photoshoot and that you are committed to that photographer’s services. Now, most photographers are flexible. Let’s say something urgent comes up a week to 72 hours before the photoshoot (or whatever is specified in the contract), most will accommodate and reschedule with you.
Pick your outfits
Look on Pinterest for outfit inspiration and keep the location in mind of your photoshoot. If your location is grungy and brutalist, then go for a punk-rock look. On the contrary, you could go for an office siren look (e.g. corporate, but with some high fashion thrown in).
Practice posing in the mirror
You can’t go wrong with practicing different poses in the mirror. It helps you gain confidence and get a sense of what works best for your body. You can also take photos of yourself in the mirror and then reference them during the photoshoot.
You can also look up poses on Pinterest as well, but know that a lot of them are kind of unrealistic, unnatural, and even a bit awkward to imitate.
My overall advice is that when you actually pose, candid ones make for the best photos. As the photographer, I can feel the genuine energy through the lens.
Optional: bring a friend or close family member
Yes, you’re an adult and you can make your own decisions. However, bringing a trusted friend or family member can alleviate the stress for your safety and they can also be a great moral support during the photoshoot. Ensuring you’re comfortable is key!
Day of the photoshoot
Be punctual (arrive early)
I was always told this phrase as a military cadet: “if you’re early, you’re on time. If you’re on time, you’re late.” For the love of God, PLEASE show up 10-15 minutes early! And I’m speaking for both the client and photographer. As the client, it’s important that you get what you pay for. As the photographer, make sure you’re getting paid for the service you’re offering. Accommodate for the time it takes to drive to the venue and how long it takes to park. Don’t forget about parking fees too. If you’re shooting in some place like downtown, it’s very hard to find free parking. Budget for those mini expenses. As a reminder, you can mitigate any travel delays and parking fees when planning the date, time, and location for the photoshoot.
Doing the actual photoshoot
Now begins the fun part! I honestly don’t have much to say about except to trust your photographer to guide and direct you, be open to experimentation, and, most important of all, have fun! This is a day you set up for yourself, so enjoy all the hard work of being a model.
Payment (again)
What I like to do with my clients is have them pay me immediately after the photoshoot session has ended. Now you may think of this as a bit premature because I, as the photographer, haven’t delivered the final photos yet, but this creates accountability on both parts where I get to verify that the client has paid in full and that the client gets to see that their payment went through securely and successfully. Some photographers might do it differently. Also, tipping is always appreciated, but not mandatory, so don’t feel pressured to do so.
Post-Shoot
Review and select images
Your photographer may upload low-resolution water-marked images to a designated viewing platform in which you can take your time to review the images and select your favorites from the photoshoot. Do not expect to get the final images here nor should you ever ask for the RAW files (just don’t, trust me).
Editing and retouching
Depending on what you agreed on, your photographer almost always does basic light and blemish fixes and will make editing choices to their stylistic and artistic preference.
Final delivery
FINALLY! Man, it takes a lot to get to this stage. Once the editing process is complete, your photographer will deliver the final images and you can enjoy them to your heat’s content!
Posting to social media
Your photographer will give you guidelines if they want to be tagged, but for etiquette’s sake, always tag your photographer when you post on Instagram. It helps their work get more exposure and future business opportunities!
Reconciling any mishaps
If for some reason, you’re not satisfied with the end result, make sure you communicate that with the photographer and they will be more than willing to make amends.
CONCLUSION
As you can tell, a lot goes on when planning a successful photoshoot. That’s why I think it’s important to share these expectations and etiquette tips with you so that you’re well informed going into your next photoshoot! As always, have fun with it and enjoy the process!
With love,
Lizzie
