5 Steps To Preparing For Your Photoshoot

Having a photoshoot can be a little intimidating if you aren't sure where to start. So I've created a quick outline of the 5 factors to consider when you are preparing for your personal photoshoot.

First of all, let me reassure you that it is completely natural to feel anxious before a shoot. All the same questions run through every woman's minds - "Will I look good? Will she capture my good side? Will my outfits look good? Will I like the pictures?!?" etc.

First things first, pick a photographer whose work you love and then trust them to deliver for you!

I adore women and I absolutely love photographing women of all shapes, shades and sizes. #womenarebeautiful

However, I find that I am most drawn to the "every day" woman. These are women, like me, who are usually mums too; who don't get glammed up on a daily basis but when we do, we want to look and feel AMAZING!

Every day women rarely have enough time for themselves and are always putting other people first. I love that I get to help them enjoy some self care while being pampered and fussed over for a change.

I absolutely love watching my clients learn to channel their inner diva / goddess / model / whatever you want to call her. It's just so fulfilling to see the confidence boost that comes with their experience. #blessed #livingthedream

Here's what one of my favourite clients Ronke had to say about her 40th birthday photoshoot experience.

Ronke2
But the magic doesn't happen on its own and preparation is key to getting the results you want. This is why I always have a pre-shoot consultation with my clients to make sure we can create an experience you will LOVE! So here's what we discuss:
 

1) How do you want to be photographed?

 
Women tend to book photoshoots for a variety of reasons - birthdays, growing family, life milestone, headshots, personal branding, social media etc. But whatever the reason, it's important to think about HOW you would like to be portrayed in your shoot. The options are endless - glamorous, stylish, sexy, fine art, flirty, playful, mysterious, casual, professional etc. This is your opportunity to reconnect with parts of you you have lost touch with. So my advice? Just go for it!
 
 

2) What am I going to wear?

 

Coco Chanel said "Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman."

 
What you wear will depend on your personal style and the looks you've decided on. But I always suggest a trip to your wardrobe to see what you have - then you can decide if you need to buy items to complement your existing outfits.
 
Depending on the type of shoot, you may even want to splurge and go on a little shopping trip to buy some special pieces. Even if you are going casual, make sure you look more Good Housekeeping or Glamour magazine and less like you are spending the day on the couch. 🙂
 
 

3) What am I going to do with my hair?

 

Think about if you'll be making any big hair style changes before your shoot - cutting, colouring or curls etc. If so, I recommend making any drastic changes 2-3 weeks before the shoot so you have time to adjust to your new look and decide whether you love it or hate it.

During your pre-shoot consultation, we will discuss if you will be changing your hair style between your looks e.g. loose hair styles vs. updos etc. And on the day of your photoshoot itself, our talented hair stylist will work with you to create looks you love based on what you are wearing.

 

4) What makeup look do I like?

 

My advice for preparing for your photoshoot is to always look like the best version of you. I like to think your kids / grandkids / family 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 BAFTAs 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.

 
 

5) What do I want to walk away with after the shoot?

 

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 doesn't quite give me 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 that's it! We've gone through the 5 main factors to consider when you are preparing for 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.

Need more tips to help you plan your dream shoot? Check out this blog post right here.

Turning 40, 50 or 60 soon? Click here to find out more about our birthday photoshoot experience

If you think you may be ready for your very own shoot soon - be sure to contact me right here, I'd love to hear from you. 

preparing for your photoshoot Wani Olatunde

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