How to Plan a Photo Shoot

Essential steps for planning a successful session inspired by Lizzie Peirce

Taking a photo is not just about being in the right place at the right time with the right equipment. It’s also not only about understanding light and composition or even how to use a camera. What’s also important and sometimes overlooked is the preparation steps you take to plan out your photo shoot as well as how to seamlessly interact with the people on set.

Whether you’re a photographer, a stylist, or simply a creator trying to blossom a new creative project but don’t know where to start we are here to share some tips and tricks on how to plan a photo shoot. A photo shoot can be planned in many different ways, but there are some general tips that will help no matter what you're trying to do or create. We’ve used ideas inspired by this YouTube video created by producer and photographer Lizzie on this topic, and will be looking into what you should do before, during, and after the photo shoot that will make the shoot smooth and produce stunning results.

1) CHOOSE YOUR THEME

Brainstorming is an important part of content planning. It helps in creating a plan for creating content that suits the brand's voice and style. However, creating a mood board is where most creatives begin.

Mood Boards are often used by designers to organise their thoughts before they start creating designs or artworks. The process starts with an idea or concept that needs to be communicated visually.

The mood board should include colours, fonts, textures, words and any other visual elements that help communicate this idea or feeling. Platforms such as Pinterest are the most common to look for inspiration for any project.

2) FIND A LOCATION

The second step is finding a location. I’m sure you have looked through your photos and found some locations that could be the one for your creative project. But if you haven’t, don’t worry, there are other places to find them such as forums and articles or by backtracking locations from any pictures you have found by looking at the surroundings in the background. Alternatively, you can always work with what you already have and make use of locations you’re already familiar with.

3) FIND A TEAM

The idea of finding a team on a creative project is the perfect way to give you and other people an opportunity to collaboratively put your skills, talents, and creativity to work and expand your vision for any project. It’s always more enjoyable to work in a team and may require no budget if everyone can use final pictures for their portfolios and a mention on social media.

4) GEAR AND PROPS

Props and gear are worth considering as they can help you create a unique scene as well as make your photograph communicate the idea and vision better. They are not always easy to find, but there are many ways to get them. First, you can borrow it from friends or family members, alternatively, you can rent it from a local business that specialises in renting out this type of prop. If that doesn't work out, there's always the option of collaborating with a small business who could be willing to help you out for exposure or content material.

5) PHOTO SHARING

In the post-production phase, what you have left to do is sharing your content with other people who took part in it, or your clients. While many professionals have employed Google Drive and DropBox to share their files, this can be out of budget for the beginner creatives. In that case, WeTransfer is a great alternative that allows you to send your files quickly and easily. 

Hope the guidelines in this article help you with planning your next amazing photo shoot. Feel free to share any additional tips for a more organised photo shoot if you have any or publish your artwork! We are happy to say that we have a supportive community on Facebook where other creatives like you share their work and give feedback. Join us!

Photos by Flaunter (@flaunter)