Common Photo Shoot Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Any professional photographer will tell you that the most difficult part of a photo shoot isn’t the camerawork, the lighting, or the setup. Rather, the biggest responsibilities for the photographers are– surprisingly– coordinating with the client. A photographer never wants to disappoint a client, and meeting all the requests and expectations can be a lot to juggle. The best way to mitigate any confusion between the photography team and the client is to have a conversation in advance to make sure your photo shoot goes off without a hitch. Doing so makes it easier to trust your photography team, and avoids unnecessary miscommunication. To help you perfect your next photo shoot, we’ve compiled a list of a few common photo shoot mistakes and how you can avoid them.
Failing to Scout a Location
The right location for your photo shoot, whether it be for a headshot or a group picture, is essential. It can be difficult to identify a place with a decent amount of lighting, an appealing background, and room to focus on the subject. It’s also important to keep in mind how private of an area the location is, as busy activity or frequent passerby are sure to ruin an effective photo shoot. When working with an agency for the first time on a new photo project, it’s often beneficial to invite them to a location scout. At the very least, be sure to tell your photographers the type of location you have chosen so they can best facilitate your pictures. Aesthetic qualities– such as whether the location is indoor or outdoor, well-lit or shaded, colorful or more muted– should all be mentioned to avoid any photo shoot mistakes. This way, your photographers will know exactly how best to prepare for your optimal location– and preventing this common photo shoot mistake makes the process easier for them, too!
Not Being Dressed for the Occasion
One of the most common photo shoot mistakes is for the subject to arrive underdressed or disheveled. Often, the reason is simply that the subject forgot the shoot was that day and left home in the wrong outfit. Even if a shoot is happening in your own office, be sure to send your calendar reminder the day before to make sure everyone arrives at work with the appropriate attire on the day of the shoot. Over or under-applying makeup also affects the final picture quality. Even men’s pictures can dramatically benefit from light, properly applied makeup. If you don’t know what’s right for your photo shoot, ask your photographers. Chances are, they’ve done a hundred shoots just like yours, and may be able to recommend certain clothes, bring a makeup artist, or give you other helpful pointers about how to arrive.
Not Knowing What You Want
Of all the common photo shoot mistakes, clients that don’t know what they want are the most taxing on photographers. The ideal situation is to have a photo shoot be a regular, routine exercise. However, if an upcoming photoshoot is outside the usual, it’s important to know what you’re looking for and communicate your expectations in advance. If you want the background out of focus, convey that to the photographers well before the shoot. You don’t want to wait for the photographers to suggest an idea for your pictures and end up not knowing what they’re doing. More importantly, you don’t want to end up hating the final takes! An experienced professional will have done all kinds of shoots and will be able to make dependable suggestions to make the most of your shoot.
Failing to Have Fun
Believe it or not, failing to have fun is one of the most important photo shoot mistakes you can make. Unless you’re Emma Watson or Brad Pitt, chances are getting your picture taken isn’t something that happens every day. This means that you may be uncomfortable in front of the camera or awkward being the center of attention. Fight these feelings! Your photographer is there to worry about making sure the photo comes out just how you want, and your job is to enjoy it. Having fun in your shoot has the added bonus of making you look relaxed, happy, and confident in the photo. Any discomfort you have will be amplified in the photo, and it’s very hard to use Photoshop to fix an awkward picture. So… Relax! Having your picture taken should be a fun experience that captures how great of a person you are!
Any photo shoot mistakes you’ve made or seen that were particularly troublesome? Share here and help others avoid them! We promise not to judge.
