Photoshoots - learn from me, please Here are some things yo..
Published: March 17th 2023, 11:47:02 am
Photoshoots - learn from me, please
Here are some things you need to know before you do your first professional photo shoot:
The photographer might be a professional photographer and the makeup artist might be a professional makeup artist, but that just means they are good at taking photos and doing makeup. It does not mean they know what you want, who you are or what you need. If you show up, having put no thought into clothes, makeup, hair, positions, background, props... and you just say 'I don't know, just make it look good, I guess?' you are asking for a bad photo.
This photo is an example of when I did just that. I said that I didn't really feel comfortable with red lips. The makeup artist said 'aw come on' and I said 'okay'. I didn't like the bubblewrap idea but I just thought 'why not?'... We had no other ideas. I hadn't planned on what to wear, I just showed up wearing my usual clothes.
Now, I have learned. I make pinterest boards with images of hair, makeup, colours, locations, positions. I have a pre-meeting with the photographer and I discuss the makeup with the makeup artist in advance. I do a call-sheet and an outfit-sheet (which I plan with a stylist). Last time, I went to the studio and took a bunch of photos, so I even knew where to take the photos what to wear in each of them - leaving time to have fun and be creative.
It's your face in the photos and photos are on the internet forever. Make sure it feels like you. And ideally, that there is some kind of coherence in your general brand. If you're always wearing colourful dungarees and funny hats on stage, should your press photos be you in a suit, in black and white? Probably not.
Most importantly: Stick to your gut feelings. 'No, I am not wearing red lipstick.' is something I have learned to say a million times. 'Even if you think it'd look good, even if it DID look good, I don't feel comfortable.'
I wish I could find the photos from a photoshoot I did in someone's home where not only did I wear red lipstick, but I was wearing a raincoat and holding a baseball bat, for no reason. Big, big regret.
