I have a confession - I always wondered why my clients got so stressed about planning their photoshoot in Lagos. Like - it's not a big deal! Then I had my own glam shoot and I quickly developed a lot more empathy for my clients. #lessonlearned
So let me start by saying that it is completely natural to feel anxious before a shoot and I promise you all the same questions run through every woman's minds - Will I look good? Will my outfits look good? Will I like the pictures?!? - and so on. So the first thing you need to do is pick a photographer whose work you love and you trust! When you pick the right photographer, you get this great synergy of telling her / him what you want but also give them room to create according to their vision and usually this is where the magic happens. #trustyourphotographer #thankmelater
I adore women and love photographing women of all shapes, shades and sizes and I recently realised that "every day" women hold a special place in my heart. These are women (usually mums too) like me who don't get glammed up on a daily basis but when we do, we want to look and feel AMAZING! I constantly feel like I don't have enough time for myself and one of the reasons I love my job so much is that I get to create beautiful portraits for "every day" women. I love watching my clients learn to channel their inner diva / goddess / model / whatever you want to call her and it's just so fulfilling to see the confidence boost that comes with their experience. #blessed #livingthedream
Coco Chanel said "Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman."
Now it goes without saying that Nigerian women are generally quite fabulous and constant chameleons - so the first decision tends to be: Weave, Wig or Natural Hair? You also need to decide if you would like to change your hair and / or hairstyle between looks or prefer a more consistent look throughout your shoot. With a talented hair stylist on hand to create whatever you need, the options are endless e.g. long, short, curly, braided, updo etc.
My advice for these shoots is to always look like the best version of you. I like to think your kids / grandkids will one day look at these pictures and recognise a face they love dearly. However we aim for the best version of you - think The Oscars red carpet and no lady escapes without a pair of luscious lashes. #eyesarethewindowtoyoursoul
Again there's a lot of versatility as eye and lip makeup can be changed to suit different looks and you can transition from a more natural face for the personal branding / casual photos to a more glamorous smokey eye for the grand finale.
I'm a big advocate of printed work be it prints, albums or wall art as nothing beats being able to hold your portrait in your hands - a gift you can share with family and pass down when the time comes.
I printed a couple of my portraits for the wall space by my stairway and I smile every time I walk by them because they serve as a permanent reminder that that I am beautiful even on the many days I don't quite feel it. Scrolling through tiny images on my phone while great for the 'gram are quickly forgotten about and don't quite give the same joy. So I'm a big believer that every woman should have a printed portrait of herself in her home - it does wonders for the soul. 🙂
So those are 5 of the most important decisions you need to make before your photoshoot - I hope they help you as you plan your next (or first ever) shoot. I always recommend giving yourself a couple of weeks to plan everything to avoid feeling stressed. If you aren't already, I would love for you to join me over on Instagram where I'll be sharing more photos and tips on getting the best out of your shoot.
If you have any questions about planning your shoot or you think you may be ready for your very own shoot soon - be sure to contact me right here, we'd love to hear from you.