Check out the tried-and-true tips I’ve gathered throughout my 20 years of working with businesses.
Choose your outfit(s) early on in the planning process.
You don’t want to spend the night before your photo session trying on outfits in a panic or running to the store for last-minute shopping.
When you feel good, you look good - so allow yourself plenty of time to (calmly) put together an outfit that makes you feel your best. Don’t forget to incorporate accessories, too.
Think about how outfits will coordinate.
This is especially important for staff or team photos. It’s best to issue some clothing guidance to your team well before the shoot. For example, does everyone need to wear all black? A polo with the company logo? A suit?
In my experience, people tend to appreciate specific outfit directions. It takes the stress and guesswork out of the equation.
Don’t wear a shirt with a tight pattern.
Many men’s dress shirts come in tight patterns that show up wavy and distorted on camera (it’s called the Moiré effect if you want to Google it to see for yourself!).
Stick to solid colors or spread-out patterns. When in doubt, snap a photo of the shirt and send it my way! I’ll let you know if it’s at risk of showing up funny in photos.
If possible, don’t schedule your shoot first thing in the morning or after a long day of work.
As tempting as it is to think, “We’ll do our photos right away in the morning so we can go about our normal work day afterward,” I’ve found that people are more likely to arrive tired, flustered, or late for 8:00 AM photos than midday shoots.
It’s usually because they’ve had to get up earlier than normal to get ready, especially if they had a professional hair or makeup appointment, taking away from their “beauty sleep” the night before.
Clients also tend to arrive tired to 5:00 PM photo sessions. The last thing most people want to do after a long day of work is hop in front of a camera!
Get your workspace camera-ready, too.
It’s easy to get so caught up in getting yourself camera-ready that you forget to prep your space.
If we’re shooting in your office, take some time the day before to tidy up. Declutter your desk, hide your cords, wipe down your computer screen, and tuck away any sensitive documents that shouldn’t show up in pictures.
Even if your workspace isn’t a traditional office setting, you’ll still want to spend some time making it presentable. I’ve shot commercial photography everywhere from dairy cow barns to doggy daycares and gyms!
Gather all the necessary props the day before.
It’ll make your life so much easier on the day of the shoot and reduce your chances of forgetting something.
Get a good night’s sleep before shoot day.
It’s a cliché for a reason! I can work a little magic with retouching, but nothing beats a true restorative rest. When you feel good, you look good!
Don’t be afraid to reach out to me!
I’m here to be a resource and a guide throughout this process! Send me your questions and thoughts as they come up. I respond to text, phone, or email - but the fastest way to reach me will always be text.
Phone: 319-366-8689