Over the past three years, I’ve had a lot of photoshoots; either self-shot, sessions with a professional or modelling for campaigns.
For todays post, I thought I would take you into my world and break down how I get the shot through a self-shot method or with a professional photographer.
Self-Shot Sessions
The beauty of self-shot photos, is they can be as casual or as high of a production as you want them to be. There are thousands of bloggers who make their living off of taking a quick photo of their outfit in the mirror before they leave for the day.
There’s so much room for creativity. I typically research on social media and magazines to use as inspiration, and start sourcing from there.
You also don’t need the best equipment out there for photography, just your camera of choice (I shoot the majority of mine from my phone), some good lighting and patience. I use a phone tripod mount, a tripod and a remote to take my photos; when I’m shooting inside, I find the place with the most natural light and work from there. My biggest piece of advice when it comes to shooting by yourself, is to invest in basic photography pieces that work for you (trust me, your future self will thank you).
Pack your patience because you won’t get the shot on the first try, and you might have to switch concepts as you’re shooting because theory and practice are two different things. I’ve had multiple occasions that I’ve had to switch my idea and try something new because what I saw in my head wasn’t coming across on camera; but don’t worry, they usually come out much better anyways.
Once I get the shots I like, I do small edits as I like to keep my photos as organic as possible (unless I’m going for an editoral concept). I like to edit my photos with Snapseed and Tezza.
Shooting with a Professional
The great thing about having someone else take your photos, you can focus on your concept more than how to actually shoot it.
Provide your photographer with a story board of the concept; this gives them a better understanding of how to choose a location, understand your brand and edit the photos.
Usually, I would recommend sourcing what you’re going to wear about two to three weeks beforehand. But, with the pandemic ongoing and the risk is higher to purchase pieces in person, give yourself a month to purchase what you’ll be wearing or using. That way, if you order online, you will receive it in plenty of time and if you need to change anything you have time to do so.
Pack a bag! This is so so important.
You should assume that the photographer or studio, unless they told you otherwise, doesn’t have essentials. This includes anything from extra hair pins, hairspray, band aids, a steamer, body tape- whatever you would consider an essential for you. Bring it with you.
Pack any props you want to use, and bring extra outfit pieces. Think extra shoes (you might have to walk to your shoot locations), extra outfit in case something happens to your original, and whatever else you need to make yourself feel comfortable. I typically bring a pair of flat shoes, comfy clothes to change back into, lots of hair elastics, sunscreen, body glide and a hairbrush.
The night before, I pack everything and make sure what I will be wearing is free of any imperfections. My hair is my most frequently used prop, so I make sure I have it 60% styled the night before so I can achieve that tousled look you frequently see.
And thats it! It’s great to have a mix of photoshoot styles; from self-shot, to impromptu and with a professional. They all give you range and you learn how to work with different styles.
With love and coffee,
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