PRE-SHOOT ADVICE
WHAT TO EXPECT, WARDROBE TIPS & OTHER ADVICE
I've put together a quick guide for you to have a read through pre-session. It should give you a good idea of what to expect, and will hopefully answer any questions you might have too.
Though of course if you do happen to have any further questions that haven't been answered, please do reach out. You can reach me via Email or social media (or feel free to text/Whatsapp me if we've exchanged numbers!)
WHAT TO EXPECT
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Where the journey begins - It all begins with your enquiry. As soon as you contact me, the ball starts rolling. I will respond to your enquiry within 5 working days, and once I have received full details of what you're after, you have chosen your package/bespoke quote and the deposit has been received, we can then get to planning your shoot in detail.
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Before the session - Before the session date, a telephone call/meet-up will be organised to fully discuss the shoot and to ensure we are both on the same page as to what your visions are. You will also receive your booking information and contract via Email for you to read over before the session. As your session date gets closer I will continue to monitor the weather. As the majority of my shoots take place outdoors, it's important that the weather plays nice. If we're going for an airy golden hour sunset vibe and it decides to pelt it down with rain on the day, we may have to reschedule. This is something I will keep you updated on. If you were looking to hire something from the wardrobe for your session, this will be organised and tried on before the session date too, to allow for a complete smoothly running shoot.
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Day of the session - When the day arrives, I will meet you at our arranged location by the agreed time. I always try to arrive 15 minutes before the arranged time, so if you happen to arrive early too there's nothing to stop us getting started early, adding a few extra minutes to your session. I usually bring my bluetooth speaker to a session (assuming the location allows for it). I'm more than happy for you to connect to it for the session to play your own music, or I can supply some music otherwise. I find this helps with the flow of the session, but if you'd prefer no music that's fine too, just let me know. I'll try to do everything I can to make you feel as comfortable as possible during our session. We'll have lots of laughs and i'll talk you through everything. I tend not to rigidly pose very often, but I will prompt you to do certain actions such as walking or swaying, to achieve a natural & comfortable looking image. Some prompts and actions may feel unnatural, but I promise there's method in the madness!
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After the session - You should have your online proofing gallery delivered via an Email link within a week of your session (weddings not included). In this gallery, you will be able to see all of the watermarked images from the session. You will then choose the amount of images included in your chosen package (plus any extras you wish to purchase additionally), for me to then re-deliver un-watermarked. The final edited versions will be delivered within the same gallery, under the 'Order' tab. Your gallery/chosen images will be available to view/download for 7 days after the final images have been delivered. If you chose to hire an outfit from the wardrobe for your session, you will also be offered a discount on purchasing the item.
WARDROBE TIPS
More than anything else, it's important to me that you're comfortable in the clothes that you're in. If you feel too warm, too cold, too exposed or you're at all unhappy with your outfit, there's a chance it might show on camera. I want our session to run smoothly and for us all to feel happy throughout the whole process, outfit concerns are the last thing we need!
If you're having a session with me as an individual, there's less pressure to focus on your outfit choice - as long as you're comfortable we'll be pretty much good to go. However, if there's any more than one person in the image, it is preferred that all participants are co-ordinated in their outfit choices to avoid clashes and distractions within the final images. This doesn't mean everyone has to be in the exact same colour or matching outfits, but complimenting colours and patterns are ideal.
Remember to BE YOURSELF & bring your own style to the shoot!
Everyone wants to look their best when having their pictures taken, but that doesn't mean you should force yourself to wear something you wouldn't normally, especially if you feel uncomfortable in it. You don't have to be all glammed up in an expensive frock or suit to look good in photos. Designer labels are also not required!
Avoid colours and patterns that will blend or clash with the background. For example, if we're shooting somewhere with lots of greenery like a field you would probably want to avoid wearing green, opting for a colour like red, blue or yellow instead. If the background is very busy with lots of crazy colours and patterns (let's say a colourful graffiti wall), you might want to choose a more muted & non-patterned outfit. Ideally refrain from wearing fluorescent colours, unless this has been arranged prior.
My mini sessions only have time for one outfit, but my other sessions allow up-to unlimited outfit changes. With this in mind, I don't consider taking a layer off as an outfit change (The only reason the limit is in place is because of time restraints). So, my third tip is to wear layers where possible and comfortable. In the UK this is almost always recommended seeing as though we can see all seasons in one day!
Tip number 4 is to bring any props and accessories that you might want to use. This is a great way to add personalisation to your shoot, and it also allows us to mix it up for a few shots, resulting in a varied gallery for you to choose your final images from. Accessories & props include but are not limited to: hats, scarves, glasses, jewellery, umbrellas & personal items.
You can take a look through my portfolio to see what previous clients have worn for their shoots with me, and this might give you some inspiration if you've got an upcoming session. Also don't forget to have a look in my client wardrobe to see if there's anything there you might want to use for your session.