Photoshoots can take up a lot of time, money, and energy.
Whether you're getting professional headshots or family photos, a little prep goes a long way in making sure everything turns out great. While photographers are good at avoiding issues on the fly with things like lighting, backgrounds, and poses, taking the time to plan ahead helps everything run smoothly. Plus, being prepared makes the whole experience more relaxing for everyone and helps to make sure you get pictures you’re happy with. Below are some essential prep tips we want you to know in advance.
Skip SPF for the day
Having a face that brightens a room is a wonderful trait, but it can be less so when you get photos back where your face glows like a beacon. Sunscreen is great for maintaining healthy skin, however, many formulas can leave a white cast under flash or studio lighting. Even on darker skin tones, this type of SPF can give an ashy appearance. For best results, avoid applying sunscreen or other products that have SPF in them on the day of a photoshoot, especially on the face and neck, unless you've tested it in similar conditions beforehand.
Wrinkle-free clothes
Wrinkled clothes really stand out in high-res photos, where every little detail is visible. Thin cotton clothing like button-ups and other tailored outfits can look messy if they're creased. While good photographers can usually fix some issues in post-production, wrinkles often need extra editing or might not be fixable at all. If the clothes are an important part of the look, it’s a good idea to bring your outfits on a hanger to the shoot, so you look great from the get-go.
Makeup: less is more
If you need to wear makeup, it’s usually good to keep it pretty minimal. High-res photos can unfortunately make heavy makeup look worse, especially on faces with more lines. Depending on the lighting, foundations in a matte finish or a light application of setting powder work for most. However, If the makeup is a main feature of the shoot, whether you’re a makeup artist or just prefer it, your photographer can tweak the lighting to make everything look its best and avoid any problems.
Colour matters
Some clothing colours can create issues in photography, especially bright colours, overly busy patterns, or all-black/all-white outfits. Bright colours can reflect onto skin and busy patterns can create odd shapes. White clothing can blow out in photos under bright lights, whereas all black loses detail in shadows. Solid or muted tones often photograph best. Your photographer will know how to avoid these issues with extra prep-time but it’s nice to let them know beforehand.
Communication
Finally, communicate with your photographer: ask for suggestions based on location, lighting, or theme. Photographers know how to show you at your best and prepping properly can help you feel confident and ensure the photos turn out how you want them to. It is also important to discuss how much time the shoot will take. Both you and your photographer should set aside sufficient time to ensure you're not stressed about upcoming appointments.
So, that’s a wrap on our five simple and effective tips to get ready for your next photoshoot! Check out the results of these tips in action, with some awesome examples of our photography below.