For an average (non-celebrity, non-influencer) person, I’m not a strange to a photo shoot.
It’s part vanity (wanting to preserve my youth forever in photos) and part storytelling (to be able to tell my kids this is who I was at this point in my life)—like a visual balance sheet.
I must have done at least 10 in the last few years (couples, family, maternity, professional) lol
So my favourite type is travel photography through Flytographer. I’ve recommended numerous friends, coworkers, even friends’ friends to do it. No matter how many iPhone photos you take, you almost NEVER go back to look at them, nor are they good enough quality that you’ll enlarge them for your home.
I know, travel is currently still restricted. But once we’re safe to flit around the world again, you’ll be glad you read this post.
I gotta warn you, this isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s actually quite a lot of work if you wanna get it right.
8 Top Photo Shoot Tips
1 Research Photographer Portfolios
You can’t expect an artist to be able to be good at everything, photographers included. So spend the time to go through a photographer’s portfolio, whether that’s on Flytographer, their website, or their Instagram page.
They don’t have to be the exact type of photographer you’re looking for, or even have the shots you want, but you have to see a spark that interests you. For example, I’ve used a beauty photographer for my maternity photos. Why? Because I liked her highly stylized editorial looks, with a touch of fashion.
The most important thing to note is that, anyone can take their photos with a smart phone. But the main thing you’re looking for in a photographer should be their eye. Do they take a range of photos? If you’re shooting locally, did they capture a familiar setting in a way you’ve never seen it?
I may not be very artistic, but I’ve never seen the Vancouver Art Gallery look so European 🙂
2 Book a Time with Good Lighting (super important for your first photo shoot!)
6am: If you’re traveling and you want a photo, say, in one of the most touristy places, you’ll have to bite the bullet and do a 6am shoot.
10am: If you’re doing a shoot in the fall locally, you can get away with 10 or 11am. Overhead would likely be cloudy – and that’s in your favour.
5pm: Ahh, the magical golden hour, the last hour of sunset. The coveted time you should aim for because the light is soft, diffused, and makes everyone looks good.
When we did our photo shoots in New York (yes, plural) we booked two Flytographer shoots back to back at the same time on different days. Totally paid off.
3 Create a Pinterest Board
This is probably the most important thing you can do. Without it, you leave all creative control off the table.
You need to do your homework before your shoot to take advantage of your photographer’s time.
This is how our Rome shoot turned out, not too shabby if I can say so myself.
Send your Pinterest board to your photographer prior to the shoot, and give them an overview of what you’re hoping to accomplish. Ask them to summarize what you’re going for, and get them to ask you questions.
It’s good to do this beforehand because they’ll tell you if something is not realistic. For example, I thought this shot was super cute, but our photographer brought up the logistics of getting freshly scooped ice cream cones would not be a good use of our time. Oh, phooey.
On the other hand, if you really don’t care, just pick 3-5 photos and let the photographer take it over from here. But, I must warn you, if you are a control freak like me at all, the one time I loosened up creative control, the photographer took the wrong signs.
Now if you want an exact replica of an iconic shot, you tell them so you’ll get results like this:
Inspo Shot on my Pinterest Board 
Our version
4 Explain WHY You (don’t) Like Certain Images
The one time I didn’t put together a comprehensive Pinterest board, it didn’t go so well for me.
In a headshots session, I pointed out a few shots in my photographer’s catalogue that I liked. During the session she thought I wanted a bunch of shots on the floor, with legs crossed like that to boot (nope!). What I was actually looking for was a model-like nonchalance, which I could never nail, ugh.
So now I make it a point to point out WHY I like an image.
On the flipside, it’s also helpful to have a separate (and smaller) set of photos that you don’t like, especially if they’re common poses. I did this with logos, and a graphic designer I spoke with said it was helpful. So I’ll take their word for it!
5 Put Together a Shot List
For the same headshots photo shoot, I originally mentioned “headshots” then added later on that that I wanted photos for my website. I assumed it was enough for someone to understand what that meant: horizontal and lots of background space for cropping. But she thought I mainly wanted headshots, so they were all mostly full-body closer-up shots. Maybe I was trying to pack too much into one shoot (yes, I’ll admit it) so now I know if I need a exact specs, I’ll have to spell it out. Best to include a shot list, proportions, ratios and the like.
Don’t leave any room for guesswork.
5 Choose Your Outfits Based on Location (and Mood)
One of the best questions/concerns I’ve ever asked about played out like this:
Me: “When I booked the shoots, I was thinking about Vancouver weather, not East Coast weather! What will the weather be like in late March? I was hoping to wear dresses (sigh) and look pretty and cute. I don’t think this is an option anymore, so I need to plan for other outfits. I’m hoping I won’t have to wear a jacket and snow boots :(“
Flytographer rep: “Red coats look AMAZING in photo shoots (let me know if you want examples).”
(Good thing I happened to have this beautiful red $30 H&M coat already in my closet!)
Alternatively, for a minimalist inspired shoot in historic Gastown, the photographer recommended this:
“When in doubt I recommend leaning towards muted colours over bright colours… Not to say you can’t wear bright colours. Just please be very aware of your surroundings and props if you choose to make a bold statement.“
7 Practice Posing
I have friends who just walked into photoshoots blindly and didn’t end up liking their photos. I can clearly see that they didn’t do most of this work beforehand, but most importantly this step.
I’m not a pro at this, and have been trying to learn for YEARS! Model friends have responded to my ever-inquisitive questions with, “It’s all about the angles.” Not exactly helpful.
Only recently did I come across Toronto-based influencer Mel Hwang who does a killer job of explaining how to use angles in her videos. (Yay, she’s Asian, Canadian, and I think she’s relatively short—represent!)
8 Be Super Organized on Shoot Day!
When I was doing fashion marketing as my first real office job, I learned about the behind the scenes of a shoot and thought it was quite ridiculous. Fast forward more than a decade later, I’ve learned my lesson. If you’re shooting in a studio or won’t do much walking around, be sure to bring trusty items you might need: tape, bulldog clips, hair ties, elastic bands, comb, mirror, charger, power bar.
Do you have a change of clothes? If so, you gotta be extra extra organized and make sure you have enough arm strength to lug it aroudn with you.
Here’s what the behind-the-scenes of my studio shoot looked like:
9 BONUS: Final Tips a Successful First Photo Shoot
- Exhale right before the photographer shoots
- Watch all the YouTube makeup videos the week leading up
- If you’re doing a boudoir shoot, moisturize your whole body the week before
- If you suck at doing your own hair like I do, make sure to book a blowout
- Always, always go for false eyelashes. I’ve tried mascara and it just doesn’t do the trick
- If you’re going to “borrow” shoes from a store, make sure to tape them up with masking tape
- Look at your existing wardrobe first before buying a new outfit
- Always arrive early because if you’re late you’ll be extra anxious
- Bring a change of shoes if you can’t walk from one location to the next in heels
Note: This post is not sponsored by Flytographer, but I will gladly consider future partnerships!
