Below is some basic advice to
help you prepare for a photo shoot in the future. I have had people tell me
that they don't get professional photo's taken because they feel uncomfortable
in front of the camera. This makes me sad as I believe a photo keeps a moment
from running away and i like to capture these moments.
General
Advice from A to Z:
Avoid White - Try to
avoid wearing white in your photo's. White can tend to win the eye and can
sometimes over-expose. Paint the moon has some nice tips on what to wear.
Bloating - Standing up straight with your shoulder's back can make a huge
difference but you can also find other tips here.
Comfort
- Don't wear anything that is going to make you feel uncomfortable as it can show in
your face and sometimes photo shoot's can take a long time.
Dry
skin - This can really detract from a great
photo shoot. Start moisturizing nightly, a week in advance of your
shoot. When you get out of the shower, dry off until lightly damp, and apply
the moisturizer. Focus on your arms, shoulders, neck, face, hands,
anywhere you’ll be exposed to the camera. This includes your legs if you’re
shooting in shorts or a skirt. ProTip: For dry skin on your face,
especially around your nose, use a sugar scrub. Also, be sure to use a light facial moisturizer on your face, or you
could break out. [Men, don't be afraid to get some facial moisturizer. No one will ever know!]
Exercise - Going
for a walk or run the morning before your shoot can help boost your alertness
and energy so get outside and take in some sun and fresh air.
Facial
hair - Men, be freshly shaved with a
new razor, shaving cream and a moisturizing after-shave
lotion to avoid bumps and redness. Trim up your beard, sideburns,
moustache or goatee, especially looking for wiry stray hairs. Ladies, even if
you have some light facial hair (particularly around your lip or chin), indulge
in a waxing in advance of your shoot. Even barely-there light facial hair will
be noticeable in your photos. Do no get waxed on the day of the shoot as the
redness will show. Men and women both, pluck and clean up those eyebrows.
Glasses - If you always wear glasses and people wouldn't recognize you
without them then you should probably wear your glasses to the shoot. However,
the glare can detract from your eyes in photos. You can have your lenses
removed from your frames (don’t worry, it’s what Hollywood does to avoid glare
in movies). Ask your eye doctor to loan you a pair of similar frames, or you
can also visit an inexpensive company online and buy a suitable pair of duplicate frames for cheap.
Hair - Get your hair cut and dyed about two weeks before the shoot, just in case it goes wrong.
Never do it the day before or on the day, you can't change it. If you
don't colour your hair, try 'shades' or a toner which is a shade lighter then
your hair to make it shine. If you’re shooting outdoors and in case of a
windy day, be ready to put your hair up and make it look
nice. Bring extra accessories with you just in case.
Ironing - Iron the night before and then
hang the clothes for your shoot. If you’re wearing something that wrinkles
easily, don’t wear it in the car on the way to the shoot – just change at the
location.
Jewellery - Don't clutter your jewellery, especially around your neckline. Make
sure that if you are going to wear a necklace that it compliments your outfit
without drawing too much attention. A simple chain works perfectly.
K.I.S.S - Keep It Simple Stupid
- most systems work best if they are kept simple rather than made complex.
This also applies to your photo shoot.
Lips - Bring fresh lip gloss or lipstick to your shoot to do
touch-up's. You can exfoliate your lips by using your toothbrush and use lip
balm for a few days in advance of your shoot to make your lips look their best.
I recommend using Paw Paw ointment i don't go anywhere without it!
Make-up - A subtle application of make-up can really soften your skin and accent your facial
features. But make sure you know what you’re doing, and make sure it matches
your skin tone or your face may look orange compared to the rest of your body.
Get someone to help you choose your foundation. You can usually find a
professional to help you at at a cosmetic store. If you can afford a make-up
artist i would highly recommend using one.
Nails -
A fresh coat of nail polish will make a world of difference in your photo
shoot. Pick a neutral colour that won’t distract in your shoot or clash with
your outfits. Freshen the morning of the shoot, then be careful not to scuff it
while prepping. Your photo shoot is a great excuse for a fresh manicure,
but if you can’t go to the salon, make sure your nails look tidy and clean, including the cuticles.
Opposites - People with lighter skin tones should avoid light colours.
Similarly, people with darker skin tones should avoid dark colours. Portraits look best when there’s significant
contrast between skin and clothing.
Props - Bringing
personal items can help make your session more meaningful. Make sure you speak
to your photographer so they can help you plan your shoot with the props in them.
Quit Smoking - Not to be
bossy or anything but not smoking before your session will
help you look your best, also beware of yellow fingers.
Red
eyes - Eye drops are your friend. Not getting drunk the night before your shoot
helps too. [I'm not joking.]
Shoes - Women can’t go wrong in heels or wedges. For men, dress shoes are best. Avoid wearing running shoes. If in doubt, ask your Mum
or Partner.
Tan
lines and Sunburn - Don't do it. The sun can
damage your skin and spray tan's can make
you look orange in photo's. Natural is best!
Undergarments - Bra
straps won’t do anything to help your outfit look its best. Be sure you bring a
set of bras and strap-adjusting accessories to work with any outfit you want to
shoot in to keep those straps well-hidden.
Variety - If you’re planning on wearing multiple outfits, change up your looks! Try one formal outfit, one casual outfit and
something in between.
Whitening - If you
want to brighten your smile, start
your treatments about two weeks before your shoot.
Xpress yourself - A
photo shoot is supposed to be fun. Express who you are and it will show in the photo's.
Yawning - Make sure you
get your beauty sleep! You don't want to be
yawning while getting your photo taken, it doesn't look good.
Zits - Start using African Black Bar Soap for a week in advance of your shoot to help reduce/limit pimples and
blemishes [Ask if i have any in stock]. Equally important, don’t
cake on a lot of make-up to try to hide blemishes. It’s almost always easier to
Photoshop away pimples than to clean up overdone make-up.
Now just remember that these are
just guidelines and you don't have to do every single one before a photo shoot.
The most important tip that I can give is not to stress! Just relax, have fun
and enjoy your photo shoot because these are memories that will be captured
forever.
