How to Prepare for your photoshoot!

Hiring a professional photographer and their team to help bring a vision to life is an investment in both money and time. You want to make sure that your shoot is a success. Now, not all photographers run their businesses the same way, so I’ll keep this as general as I can.

Here’s some tips to help you get prepared for your next photoshoot!

Portrait of a young woman with brown hair sitting on a park bench in the fall. She is backlit with soft, even natural light covering her face. She has green eyes and is wearing a grey, black & white plaid coat with a denim button down shirt.

outfits

It’s best to put your outfits together before the day of your photoshoot. Make sure they’re cleaned, steamed, and packed nicely in a garment bag or suitcase. I advised this to be done the day before, so you don’t have to stress out over outfit selection on the day of your photoshoot. Bring any shoes in a separate bag. Make sure you have any undergarments (bras, underwear, etc) you’ll need to wear under your outfits. I also suggest packing a few extra backup wardrobe staples just in case you need to switch up a look or change out a top. You can’t go wrong have a couple extra tops to wear — especially for headshots!

I offer my clients a pre-shoot consultation where we select outfits before the shoot. It’s a nice way for us to connect before the photoshoot, and I answer any questions they may have about getting ready and the photoshoot experience during that time.

Booking Hair, Makeup, Etc.

Professional photographers generally have a team of fellow creative professionals that they work with on photoshoots. However, it’s important to clarify with your photographer if a makeup artist and hair stylist are provided in the service and included in the price. Not every photographer offers professional makeup artistry and hair styling, so it’s good to find that out before your scheduled photoshoot. You may need to book someone to do your makeup & hair for you at your photoshoot. In today’s industry, there’s a lot of hair + makeup artists (HMUA), they’re also called combo artists and they’re pro artists that will do both makeup and hair for you on set. However, every shoot is unique and you may work with a separate hair + makeup artist.

At Travis Curry Photography we value the work that beauty professionals bring to photography and include a HMUA as part of our photoshoot experiences. You do not need to find your own professional hair + makeup pros. I’m always interested in meeting artists in different markets!

3 black & white photos together showing a young woman getting her makeup done in a photo studio by a professional hair and makeup artist.

What To Bring to your photoshoot

ACCESSORIES

Accessories add a nice personal touch to your outfit, but they are not required. I always suggest to set aside some pieces that work well with your outfits if we need to add something to complete your look. Put your jewelry in its own small case or bag to keep your items safe during travel.

I tell my clients to keep their accessories simple because accessories can often be distracting unless we are shooting a fashion story or something intentionally focused on accessories or props.

DO I NEED PROPS FOR MY PHOTOSHOOT?

If you’re getting a professional headshot taken, you most likely won’t need any props for your headshots. However, there are cases in which pros like to be photographed with their tools. For example, if you’re a musician, you may want to bring your instrument with you for some portraits, or maybe there’s a prop with great significance to your shoot that you’d like to include. In my 16+ years of portrait photography, I haven’t had many clients use props in their photoshoot.

SNACKS, WATER, ETC

A photoshoot can be really quick and be done in under 2 hours, or it can last all day. On average, my portrait sessions typically last about 5 hours total. I’ve also worked commercial jobs where the days are longer, like 8, 10, and 12 hour days. While I try to provide some refreshments for my clients, it doesn’t hurt to pack some snacks and water to keep yourself hydrated and not get hangry.

Skin & HAIR photoshoot prep

A young Black man in his late 20's with vitiligo washing his face and smiling.

SKIN PREP

Your skincare routine should focus on cleansing, hydration, and rest. Stay away from any harsh peels, exfoliants, or treatments for a week before your shoot. Pause any retinol skincare products for 1 week prior to your shoot, as retinol is often drying and can interfere with makeup application.

Most temporary blemishes and acne can be easily edited out, so avoid popping or picking at pimples if they pop up.

HAIR PREP

Get your hair cut, colored, braided, or extensions installed prior to your photoshoot. Professional photos are an investment, you want to make sure that your current look is up to date and representative of you!

Your hair should be clean and dry before your shoot. Many clients with shoulder length or longer hair benefit from getting a blowout the evening before your shoot.

QUICK TIPS FOR PHOTOSHOOT PREP

Make a playlist of your favorite songs to play on set.
Bring any personal items that will help you through the shoot. (IE/ heating pad, headphones, water bottle, robe, comfy clothes to wear to your shoot).
Make sleep a priority the days leading up to your shoot.
You need energy for your photoshoot. Eat the foods that fuels your body best and makes you feel good. I’m a photographer, not a registered dietitian, eat what works best for you!

I hope this helped you prepare for your upcoming photoshoot. I’d love to hear from you if you’re interested in working together. I offer Custom Portrait Sessions as well as a limited Studio Portrait Event offered multiple times throughout the year.

Our next Studio Portrait Event is Friday, June 5th in Annapolis, MD.

The Studio Portrait Event is a photoshoot experience designed to get you camera ready and capture professional images in two hours or less — perfect for anyone looking to update their headshots or portraits without the time commitment of a full custom session.

Call me at 301-578-6336 to book your session!

Photoshoot Prep Talk