How to Get Ready for Your Photo Shoot

In the age of social media and personal branding, images are everything. Each of us has a decent camera in our pocket, but often that’s not enough. Eventually, you need to call on the pros and have a professional photo shoot.

Most of us have taken a selfie (and use our favourite selfie everywhere!) Most of us are familiar with our own best angles and how to take a decent selfie.

But what about a professional photo shoot? How do you get ready for a professional photo shoot? Most of us don’t know how, and Fizz and Flash is here to help you prepare for your first photo shoot. After all, most people only work with a photographer once, and that’s their wedding day.

Why a Professional Photo Shoot?

Photography is a luxury service, full stop. Unless you’re friends with a photographer, professional photos are a premium service usually reserved for weddings and brands - that means photography costs a lot of money.

So, why work with a photographer?

Simple - quality matters. The camera on your phone can take okay photos, but most users don’t know how to adjust the settings to take high-quality photos (and the technology within your phone cannot compare with a ‘real’ camera.) Most people just know their selfie angle or how to hold their phone so their cat doesn’t bat it away. That’s ok - memories captured by your phone are precious, but they may not be what you want to put on your LinkedIn or wedding invitations.

Professional photographers mean professional gear and professional editing. This article isn’t about gear or editing, but it is worth knowing that when you pay for quality, you get quality. High-calibre photos are a reflection of you: your skills and expertise as a leader in your industry through a snappy LinkedIn photo, vibrant and romantic engagement shots, and more.

Quality means timelessness. Professional photos mean that you will have a long life of the premium product you have purchased - in most cases, a forever artifact of you and your life.

Preparing Yourself for Your Photo Shoot

This is it: the most important tidbits in this article. If you just skim, this is what you need to know about how to prepare for your photo shoot:

• Groom yourself: hair, makeup, and beards.

• Pick a sharp outfit: wear something you love,relevant to the shoot, fits well, and is clean. Avoid patterns.

• Be your own hype man. Remember why you’re doing this!

Hair and makeup (and beards!)

Grooming is a big part of preparing for shoots. You need to feel comfortable. Most importantly, you need to look like you. Shoot day isn’t the day to try out a new perm or makeup look. It’s not possible for your photographer to edit out your feelings - so be you! 

Do your regular grooming routine: Brush your hair and teeth, and double and triple check your makeup. If you have a beard, brush it before stepping in front of the camera.

Our founder, Amanda, always recommends subjects wear makeup for their shoots. Why? Because makeup covers blemishes and minimizes the need for retouching in post. No photographer will deliver a photo with blatant blemishes, but using makeup means fewer edits in post (and therefore a better picture!

Amanda is quick to add a caveat: If you’re uncomfortable with makeup or never wear it, don’t wear makeup to your shoot. You’ll be uncomfortable, and the camera will show that. Makeup is wonderful for self-expression, and also a tool. If you don’t express yourself through makeup or feel comfortable with its utility, don’t wear it to shoot day.

Your Clothes

Wear something that fits you well, feels good, and shows off your personality. Iron out the wrinkles and lint roll. Lint rolling is especially important if you have pets or long hair.

When dressing, think about what the outfit says about you and the story you want to tell visually. You wouldn’t wear a Hawaiian shirt for your professional LinkedIn head shot unless it was relevant to your career. Since you’re probably not a surfer, try for a neutral suit or smart, tailored business casual for LinkedIn photos.

Fizz and Flash always suggests avoiding patterns. On camera, patterns can create a visual effect called a moire. Moire looks like visual static and requires heavy edits to eliminate. Don’t wear small patterns, checks, or similar patterns. Fabric with waffle texture and ribbing can also create moire. Floral printand tartan are usually fine, but potentially not appropriate for the shoot. Patterns draw the eye - which isn’t always good.

Attracting the eye through patterns can be good, but not always. If you’re a family member at a wedding and the only one wearing a patterned outfit, the viewer will zero in on you. Consider whether or not you want the eye to focus on you when you know you’ll be photographed.

Hype yourself

As the iconic RuPaul Charles says, “If you can’t love yourself, how in the hell are you gonna love anyone else?”

This is your day. It’s your shoot. Everyone has come together to make you look good. Own it! Do your own hype routine, whatever it looks like. Dance in front of the mirror, say affirmations, eat your favourite food - hype yourself in whatever way works best for you. Amanda’s hype routine involves campy drag songs. Everyone has their thing.

While you should absolutely feel like your best self during your photo shoot, it is also the photographer’s responsibility to ensure your comfort. They are there to make you look and feel like a star! If the photographer makes you uncomfortable, you can stop the shoot or take a break. Communication is key, and a professional photographer wants to deliver a wonderful experience and a high-quality product for you.