Tips for a Successful Photo Shoot

By September 23, 2009 Portraits, Tips No Comments
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Singer/songwriter/producer David Homyk, Los Angeles, CA. Trusting client from New York, NY.

Let’s face it, scheduling a photo shoot with a professional photographer is not something that everyone is comfortable with. Some people only do it once or twice in their lives, while others may never hire a photographer. If you anticipate coming across this situation, here are three simple tips that will help to ensure you get the results you’re looking for.

Find a photographer whose work and personality you like. Yes, both of these factors are important. More often than not, settling for just one or the other leads to an unsatisfactory experience. Also, do not allow your decision to be influenced primarily by price. While a good price may seem attractive, think about how much you will value your images if you don’t like them. Paying more for images that you’ll use is worth more than paying little for images that will never see the light of day. Always consider paying a little more if you think another photographer is more capable.

Schedule the session, and show up. There’s a saying that goes, “If it ain’t scheduled, it ain’t gonna happen.” Stop thinking about getting everything together before you schedule your photo shoot. Just commit to it like wedding couples do; once you schedule it, the session sets into reality for you and everything that you wanted to sort out prior to the shoot will soon fall into place.

Trust your photographer. This is a big one, and it relates strongly to tip #1. If you don’t think you’ve hired the best photographer for your needs, then you will show up with a sense of uncertainty. Trusting your photographer plays a big role in your attitude during the shoot; if you have reservations, your photographer will sense it and the session will soon feel uncomfortable. The more you trust your photographer, the more you open up to him/her, and there will be more opportunities to create great images.

Next time you schedule a photo session, keep these tips in mind and the rest will come easy. Do you have a tip that you think should be added to this list?