Quality will always be top tier. Someone operating as a professional and still using their favorite cellphone selfies for professional materials is wild to say the least. You have to select the right photographer and also consider your brand in every photoshoot. And finding a photographer who can also act as a coach during your shoot is even better. Some photographers will just stand and take pictures and can’t offer any suggestions etc. on poses or anything else for that matter.
Wasting time taking photos and not considering your poses, attire and overall look could cost you more money in the long run. You want a wide variety of photos that you can use consistently until your next shoot. Themed shoots are great if you have the budget for them but if you don’t, then don’t waste a photoshoot with a bunch of photos that you won’t be able to use for anything else.
Here are a few tips (and opinions) to help you put your best photogenic foot forward:
Make sure your shoots align. If you look like a totally different person in every shoot, it is hard to be consistent when you are sending those photos out for various purposes. In March you had the purple bob, in June you were blond, in August you were a redhead with hair to your knees and in September you were rocking your natural hair. Options are great in real life but scheduling your branding photo shoots when you are in between these phases might be a better business move.
Beware of those background color choices! Does your choice of outfit clash with the background color? Do these colors align with your brand? When all else fails stick with white and if you are wearing white, consider a contrasting color instead where backgrounds can be easily removed. But don’t let that keep you in the studio. Lifestyle photos taken outdoors or in other photogenic environments will work too. I have seen whole photoshoots done on one of those 1970’s shades of brown that just gave me wood paneling, beaded entryways and lava lamps vibes. Sometimes, your photographer wants to party, but you’ve got to tell them NO! ????
Quality over quantity. Make sure you receive hi-quality (and not over-edited) photos as a result of your shoot. Be careful of fuzzy/blurry photos. I have seen photographers take photos and not even tell the person that their lace on their wig is mangled and lifted, their shapewear is showing and somehow managed to have a whole shoot with that happening. And then on top of that did not edit it out in the final photos. This is why you should review your photos and blow them up and really look at them closely before finalizing. Confirm with the photographer how many photos you will have at the end before booking. Remember that 10 quality photos beat 400 low quality ones every time.
Be careful with these new AI photo formats. I have seen people using photos that look nothing like the real person in their real life and they are not only just posting them on social media as a trend but actually using them in their marketing.
Make sure you have the total package ready for your shoot. This includes hair and makeup, attire and even random things like teeth whitening and nails. There are many photographers who offer multiple skills but if not, you may have to have separate vendors for each. Take a mirror of your own so you can check that you are on point before it’s Lights, Camera, Action! Be sure to schedule those extras in advance so you’re not running around crazy on shoot day. If you break a nail the night before, don’t panic, just hide that hand strategically during your shoot. This is also when editing comes into play. Utilize everything that comes with your photoshoot!!
Be Organized. Be sure to maintain your original photos in an organized manner so that you can always easily find them and share them. I have seen photos be resized and lost and become useless. Don’t let this be you. Download them immediately and store them in a safe and secure format that you will always have access to and back them up as needed.
Throw out the trash. There is nothing wrong with giving your photoshoots an expiration date. Are the photos 10 years old? Do you look completely different now? Maybe your style has evolved. Have the photos been used in every single project and promotion for you over that same time period and been seen by everyone over and over again? This is when you decide if a new photoshoot is necessary to refresh your brand.
Content! Content! Content! Many influencers operate from a mindset of more because they have to provide more content than the average person. Now, if you have the revenue to support booking a photographer wherever you are that’s awesome but its also time to consider investing in the right equipment so that you (or a good friend, spouse etc.) can provide hi-quality everyday photos for your social media channels. Influencers also get a little more entrepreneurial freedom when it comes to some of the tips above as well so their looks can change with the wind and with the theme of a promo or sponsorship more fluidly. I own cameras with remotes so I can even function alone for photos. There are so many options out there now to level up your photos (and the ones of every meal you eat).
Now I hope this inspires your next photoshoot or at least makes you laugh. Make a checklist and book that next photoshoot and Re-Introduce Yourself!