How to Prepare for a Portrait Photoshoot
Whether you’ve booked a personal branding photoshoot, environmental portrait adventure or a quick professional headshot session, preparing for a portrait photoshoot can be a nerve-wracking experience. For most people, getting in front of a camera is not a normal, every day occurrence. Because of this, a lot of people tend to stiffen up a bit when they’re finally in front of the camera during their portrait photoshoot. Don’t worry. This is totally normal and understandable. But, with a bit of preparation, you can actually eliminate a lot of those pre-photoshoot jitters and stroll confidently into your first portrait session, ready to smile and pose in front of the camera.
So, are you ready to learn how you can feel more at ease heading into your session? Here’s how to prepare for a portrait photoshoot:
Find Inspiration
Sure, experienced portrait photographers can direct you throughout the photoshoot, helping you create a variety of different looks based on your personal brand. However, everyone has specific likes and dislikes when it comes to images of themselves, and leaving the creative direction solely with your portrait photographer can leave you with a batch of final photos that you aren’t too thrilled with.
To better collaborate with your portrait photographer and ensure you end up with the shots you want, spend a bit of time researching the general look of the photos you want to create. This can include specific poses, movements, environments and props. If possible, share some examples with your portrait photographer as well. The goal with any portrait photography session is to create photos that are unique to you and your personal brand, so your photos shouldn’t exactly copy the example photos. However, if your photographer has an idea of what you like beforehand, they can try and create similar images that are still unique to you.
The other benefit of finding inspiration photos beforehand is that you can practise the poses that you like. By practising specific poses, you will eliminate some of those pre-photoshoot jitters and feel more comfortable and natural in front of the camera during your photoshoot.
Need help finding photo inspiration? Try Pinterest. There are tons of inspirational photos that you can scroll through on the platform. Better yet, create a Pinterest board, pin the photos that inspire you in it, and then share the board directly with your portrait photographer. Just like that, your portrait photographer will have a better understanding of the poses and overall vibe you’re looking for in your portrait photos.
Prepare Your Outfits
Depending on the portrait photographer and the package you choose, you may be able to wear multiple outfits during your photoshoot. Changing outfits can be a great way to create variety in your portrait images, showcase your personal brand and make the most of your photoshoot. However, outfit changes do typically cut into your allocated photoshoot time, so, the more time you spend swapping, planning and adjusting outfits during the photo shoot, the less time you have for, well, photos.
To limit the amount of changing time required during your photoshoot, try and pre-plan all of your outfits in advance. This will help ensure that any changing time is limited, allowing you to maximize your photoshoot time. Planning and preparing your outfits is fairly easy once you find some inspirational photos as well, as you’ll have a much better idea of the overall look you’re going for with your own portrait photos.
Determine the Location
If you’re snapping professional headshots or portraits with a simple background, the location may not be too important to you - especially since most of these photos are taken in a photography studio. But, if you’re trying to snap portrait photos that represent your personal brand or a business brand, the location can make or break the story you’re trying to tell in your photos.
When preparing for a portrait photoshoot, consider the types of environments that resonate with your brand and overall story. For some, this may be simply their office space. For others, this may be an outdoor setting. Whatever your vibe, make sure you communicate the type of environment you’d like your portraits to be photographed in. If you don’t have a specific place in mind, but you know the vibe you’re after, your portrait photographer can suggest a few potential locations. If you do have a very specific place in mind, let your photographer know well in advance, as they can likely help book the location or acquire the necessary photography permits / rentals, if needed.
Chat With Your Photographer
This article is mainly focused on how you can prepare for a portrait photoshoot, but, as I’ve alluded to earlier, you can also collaborate with your portrait photographer to make the preparation process even easier. When booking a portrait photography session, set up a pre-photoshoot meeting so that the photographer can get an understanding of your personal brand, the types of photos you like, the environment you’re interested in and any other bits of information they should know about. Though a portrait photography photoshoot should be unique to your personal brand, the portrait photographer themselves can play a key role in guiding you towards images that showcase you in your best light and help tell your story.
Portrait photography sessions can also be a bit intimidating - especially if it’s your first one or if you haven’t spent too much time in front of a camera. This, of course, is totally normal, but developing a bit of a relationship with your portrait photographer beforehand can actually help ease your nerves and make you feel a bit more comfortable before you arrive at the portrait photoshoot.
Toronto Portrait Photographer
Looking for a portrait photographer to help you capture some personal branding photos, professional headshots or environmental portraits? I provide portrait photography services in the Greater Toronto Area, including Oakville, Burlington, Mississauga, Toronto, Hamilton and beyond.