Not everyone is super confident and a time when it tends to come to the fore is right before a photo session. I’ve had many people show up at my creative space incredibly tense. While it is my job as a photographer to ease them into the mood for the shoot, Chris Tilewa of Tilewa Studios has created a guide that can help clients better prepare to ease into the best mind frame whenever they’re getting ready for a photo session.
RELAX
It’s quite easy to get worked up about the little detail, especially when the shoot is for an occasion like a birthday, wedding announcement, or graduation. It is important to breath and try to ease yourself into the flow. Listening to music is one way but different strokes for different folks. Whatever puts you at ease should be your go to in moments like this… Just try to relax.
COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY
Not just with your photographer but with all the parties involved in the shoot Make Up Artist, Stylist, Set Designer(s), etc. You are the main focus of the day so communicate what you hope to achieve. If its just you and the photographer, share a mood board, outfit inspirations and whatever you feel will help him deliver your dream image(s) to you. Effective communication goes a long way to ensure that the shoot sails through without hitches.
TURN UP EARLY
DON’T BE LATE!!! There’s a lot being late can cause so if you’d be late, do well to inform the photographer so he’d adjust the day accordingly.
BRING YOUR HYPE PERSON
A hype person is a secret ingredient to most images and whilst photographers are generally hype people, bringing a person you trust and have an already established relationship with can so do much more for your images than music ever will (but if you can’t bring a hype person, just arrange a playlist of songs that you love… trust me, it works) This could be a friend, significant other or sibling. This person serves as an anchor and second pair of eyes asides from the photographer. They are available to cheer you on which in turn brings out the candid side of yourself that is great looking in images.
HAVE FUN!
Have fun. Do what you want. Come up with on-the-spot ideas (so far as it doesn’t exceed the agreed time between the photographer and yourself). The point of creating images most often than not is to document life as it is so why not have as much fun as you can doing so? You’d love the images even more because you remember the swell time you had creating them.
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Header Image and Slides Courtesy of Tilewa Studios
