How to Plan and Conduct a Photoshoot
Learn how to organize a photoshoot in an easy, step-by-step way, with visual examples from the one I recently did with my friend Athena.
1. Find/Pick a Subject
First, you need to decide what you will be photographing. It could be a person or multiple people. It could be an object, a location, clothing, or something else! I’ll be focusing on people as subjects because that’s what the subject was in my photoshoot.
I reached out to Athena, a friend and clothing designer, knowing that she’s comfortable in front of a camera. She would be able to get photos for her portfolio and I’d get some for my own! It’s a win-win.
When using people as subjects, make sure you make it a rewarding experience for them. If they expect to be allowed access and usage of the photos after the shoot, make sure they receive them. They won’t trust you or give you good reviews if you don’t deliver or meet their expectations. That being said, you can’t please everyone. Doing your best work every time is the most you can do.
2. Brainstorm Ideas
Once you have a subject, think about the different poses or angles you could use to capture your subject in a unique and interesting way. I looked at Pinterest to get inspiration.
Another thing to consider is if you want any items for your subject to hold or other props. Athena and I worked together for this part, because she knew what fit the vibe she was going for. We worked together to plan the photoshoot because I trust her artistic judgment and she knows what will compliment the clothes she created. She thought flowers would match nicely. I bought a few so she’d have something to hold in some of the photos. Some other ideas for props are a purse, suitcase, hat, or other everyday item that will look natural but still add more purpose to the subject.
In the brainstorming process, you’ll also need to choose a location. Decide if a studio or an indoor or outdoor place will work better for your photoshoot. Consider what colors will be in the background and make sure they match your subject well — no clashing of colors.
I knew I wanted an outdoor location or the inside of a store or library (although these are harder to get permission to use). I asked Athena what she was thinking, and she had her mind set on Carlisle, PA. I looked at some photos of Carlisle online, because I don’t know the area well. Another thing you could do is drive there and scope out good places to shoot.
3. Collect Necessary Items/Tools
This step is optional. You could skip it and make due with what you already have. But in my case, I had to buy flowers. Go out and buy or borrow whatever props, clothes, camera or lighting supplies you need before you conduct the photoshoot.
Tip: If your subject is a person, make sure you have a planned meeting place and time so you can be as organized as possible. If your subject is an object — don’t lose it!
4. Assess Surroundings and Lighting
Once you have collected everything you need, head to your location. When you get there, make sure your camera settings are set so that the lighting in your photos looks natural. If the weather is not ideal, consider postponing, or making whatever changes are necessary to your plans and adapting.
When Athena and I got to Carlisle we were happy to see that it wasn’t raining, and the sky wasn’t too dark or bright. It was mostly cloudy, which is ideal for outdoor portraits. I took a few shots to figure out the lighting and get my settings correct, and then it was time for the photoshoot to begin!
5. Shoot!
While shooting, it is important to make your subject feel comfortable, otherwise you won’t be able to get the shots you want. Lucky for me, I’ve known Athena for years, so we got rolling right away, but when shooting someone you don’t know, it can be more difficult. Take into consideration both the shots you want and the shots your subject wants, so that the results turn out the way both subject and photographer envisioned.
Always be aware of what’s in the background of the photo because you don’t want it to take away from the subject, but compliment them.
In the second photo below, both Athena and I wanted to include the Carlisle movie theater sign. Including the sign in the photo doesn’t completely distract from Athena; in fact the red pops in both Athena’s clothes and in the sign.
When you’re shooting, don’t forget to have fun and be creative. Find different angles and poses for the subject.
6. Celebrate and Relax
When you’re done shooting, I suggest taking a break and relaxing a bit before diving into the editing process. Have a meal, a movie night, or whatever you feel like doing as a break.
I chose to watch part of Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel with my mom. We’ve been working our way through the series.
After taking a break, I got a good night’s rest so the next day I would be ready to edit.
7. Edit
Once your photos are uploaded to the device you want to edit them on, you can get right to it. I did pretty basic edits: cropping and adjusting a little. I also added some filters to try to give the photos a deeper feel.
8. Compile and Share
Once you’ve finished your editing you can share your work with the world! Before you do though, make sure to share the photos with whoever your subject was and get their permission to post the photos online.
I shared the photos with Athena by saving them in Google Drive and emailing a shareable link to her. Then she had access to the photos and was able to save them.
We both posted the photos on Instagram, but it’s up to you if or where you decide to post the photos after the shoot.
Now that you know the steps to a successful photoshoot, you can get out there and conduct your own! Have fun! Drop any questions or comments you may have in the comments section at the bottom of the page.
Want to see more photos from my photoshoot? Check out the photo gallery!
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