Congrats! You’ve been booked. Now what?
Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or just getting started with your photography career, there’s always a chance of getting a bit of performance anxiety. But don’t worry! All artists experience this in one way or another. That’s why we’ve created a guide on how to rock your photo session!
Get in Touch
Once you receive a booking, you can view the booking details as well as the contact information for your client. We recommend getting in touch with your client as soon as possible via email or phone. This is a great time to introduce yourself, find out more details about the session, and get to know your client a little better.
Make sure you ask your clients questions about their outfit choices or if they have a Pinterest vision board that they may like you to review. You may also want to ask your client if they have any physical limitations or special considerations that must be met during your session. These simple introductions go a long way in making your session a successful one.
Prep, Scope, & Plan
Now that you and your client have made initial introductions, it’s time to gather your gear, research the venue or location, and plan your shoot.
Batteries charged? Check! Extra camera body, lenses, and memory cards? Check!
Get out your smartphone, virtually tour the session location by performing a quick Google search, and enter the address on your navigation app ahead of time. This way you won’t be scrambling on the day of the session to calculate your drive-time or run into any other little surprises.
Pro Tip: If the session venue or location is unfamiliar to you, try performing a web search to view past sessions from other photographers at the same location. (Example: Buena Vista Engagement Photos)
Arrive Early
Always arrive early. This allows you time to walk around the shoot location, observe the lighting situation, and finalize your session plan. Once your clients arrive, do your best to make them feel comfortable, especially if this is the first time meeting them.
Break The Ice
Are you meeting a new mother-to-be? Tell her she’s glowing! Compliment her on her wardrobe choice, and ask her about the baby. She’ll instantly feel more comfortable and start warming up.
If you’re working with a young family with children, connect with the kids first. If the children are comfortable, the parents will be too! Kneel down and get on their level, give an elbow bump (or air hug), and inquire about their interests! Bonus points if you can tell a funny joke or talk about their favorite Pixar movie.
Newly Engaged Couples? Ask them how they met, listen to their proposal story, and engage with them as they talk about their wedding plans.
Regardless of who you’ll be working with, making your clients comfortable is the top priority. Small talk can go a long way and help your clients relax. When in doubt, just think of them as your new friend!
Rocking Your Session
You’ve prepped, met your clients, and planned your shoot. Now it’s time to shine! The secret to a successful session is making your clients feel comfortable. We’ve compiled our best advice from photographers like you to help guide you through some of the most popular session types.
Couples
Whether you’re working with newly engaged clients or couples who have been together for decades, it can take some coaxing to get them to flaunt their love in front of the camera. Every now and then you’ll meet a couple who has no trouble expressing their love in front of the camera, but for many – a photo session can really stir up the nervous butterflies. As a photographer, it’s your job to make sure they feel comfortable with you and share some hearty laughs.
Our favorite go-to prompts are below:
- Prompt: Quick, grab your partner’s hand and run towards the camera!
- Prompt: Face your partner and embrace while gently rocking them from side-to side
Prompt: Snuggle up really close to your partner and slowly blow air into their ear
- Prompt: Walk up behind you partner and surprise them with a bear hug
The trick to capturing the authentic love that your couples share is to get them to laugh. And dare we say – embrace the awkwardness! Direct them to do silly things like whisper funny jokes, blow raspberries, and spin in circles. Half-way through their session with you, they’ll be totally comfortable and more willing to give the camera the more intimate shots such as sweet kisses and gentle hugs.
Families
Clients will have an expectation going into your session, based upon your portfolio images. If your portfolio shows lots of families all looking at the camera and smiling, be prepared to deliver plenty of those! If your portfolio includes images of families laughing, playing, or in general not all looking directly at the camera, they will expect some of those, too! A large part of a client’s satisfaction relates to their expectations going into the shoot, as much as how comfortable you make them. Be sure to choose images for your portfolios that best reflect the types of images you will be sharing post-shoot.
Below are a few easy prompts for families with young children.
- Prompt: Who gives the best tickles?
- Prompt: Everybody look at the person who does the best/loudest [insert funny thing, e.g. burp, fart noises, silly face, knock-knock joke]
Encourage them to try funny things, like see who can touch their tongue to their nose, or wiggle their ears – then be ready to photograph the laughter that follows!
It’s always good to have the kids involved; asking the older sibling play peek-a-boo with a toddler, run-hug a parent, show you their best twirl, or show off their cartwheels.
Get Dad involved! Dad’s can sometimes be unwilling participants in family photos – but asking them to give Mom a kiss, twirl, or spin can be a fun way to help them loosen up.
Maternity
This is a monumental milestone for a mama to be. She can be feeling insecure about how she looks as her body has changed a lot. Strive to make both parents feel comfortable and sprinkle in compliments on how she looks. As questions about the baby. Examples: Do you know what gender you are having? Has the baby been moving a lot? Have you come up with any names or settled on one you like?
Prior to the shoot provide guidance on what to wear.
- Long dresses not only photograph really well, but they are also very comfortable. A dress will give them lots of options to rock their baby bump and elongate their body. Make them choose a style that is floor length.
- Form-fitting clothes are a great way to show off those curves and define the bump.
- Solid colors photograph the best.
- Textured clothing looks great too, it can add dimension to your photo.
Newborn
Parents are putting a lot of trust and faith in you to photograph and handle their new little bundle of joy. Start by putting the parents at ease by sending them instructions on how to best prepare for the session. Let them know what your COVID protocols are to ensure you are doing all you can to keep their baby safe.
Tips for the session:
Bring a space heater to keep the baby warm
Keep the baby awake 1-2 hours prior to the session
Feed the baby just before the session
Send ideas on what you want parents to wear
Explain what types of props you will be bringing and if the parents need to have any outfits ready for the baby
Plan for the best, expect the unexpected
Sometimes things don’t always go as planned. While most sessions go off without a hitch, you’re bound to run into some mishaps every once in a while. Fortunately you can plan for those and be prepared for the little accidents and setbacks. We always recommend packing an emergency kit so that if the time comes, your clients will not only see you as an awesome photographer but a superhero too!
How to prepare your emergency shoot kit:
- Tissues
- Translucent Powder
- Toy for kids
- Lip gloss
- Tampons
- Pen & Paper
- Water
- Sewing kit
- First-aid Items – Band-aids & Neosporin, Aspirin/Ibuprofen
- Water
- Snacks – fruit snacks, granola bars, chocolate
- Brush & Comb
- Hairspray
- Shout wipes/ wrinkle release spray ( for wrinkled clothes )
- Mints
- A couple fun playlists on your phone (music can be a great way to help people loosen up!)
