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As a new photographer it can be a challenge to take that right photo that you want to depict, whether it be portrait, fashion, products, food and a search for studio photoshoot ideas only turn up Pinterest boards, thanks Google, but I need concrete info.
The area that most people neglect is the setting for the photoshoot, do you really need a studio photoshoot or will a photoshoot location offer more to the subject being photographed?
The advantage of a studio photoshoot is the infinity cove. The infinity cove or curve is used to create a stage with a plain, single-colour background. This approach serves several purposes. It’s popular with product photographers because it allows them to clearly define the subject of an image by remove the appearance of a background of any kind. It’s also a commonly used approach among photographers who want to be able to easily mask objects during post-production work in Photoshop, and special effects designers often prefer to use it, too. Portrait photographers also like to use this method to create the appearance of an ethereal, almost heavenly space around a subject.
Assuming you are working with a model, he or she must be able to give you some poses that will lead to successful shots. Before beginning the shoot, the photographer should come up with some basic poses with which to work. While professional models should have no problem selling the shot and the clothing, amateurs are likely to need a little more direction. Instruct your model in some industry standard poses that work with the location and any props that are included in the shoot. You should also develop poses that put the model and the garments in the best possible light. Work with at least five different poses in the beginning. Once you start to evaluate the results, you can narrow down the possibilities and concentrate on those that are the most promising. It is also important to have continued interaction with the model so that they feel confident in the poses that they present.
Lighting has a huge impact on the mood and dynamics of each individual shot, making this element of dire importance. The proper lighting can enhance or completely drain shots of their energy and appeal. The lighting of the shoot depends heavily on the goal of each photograph and the direction of the photo shoot. Minimal or soft lighting can add to an emotional mood while brighter, more intense lighting can highlight certain features and increase the excitement of the image.
Creating a specific mood and having a story in the background will help the pictures to have life behind them which is where using a photoshoot location adds to the image. A dynamic background can enhance the quality of a shoot just as much as possessing years of training behind the lens. However, it is important to choose locations that adhere to the mood of the shoot. The setting should compliment the model in addition to working with the photographic style that you are pursuing. Making poor decisions regarding the setting can lead to a struggle between what you are shooting and the end results that you desire. The setting also requires considering your light sources. Outdoor settings can be especially challenging in this regard. The proper light may only be available during a certain time of day.
Unfortunately, we can’t adjust the sun’s light. What we can do, however, is use a reflector to brighten up a subject’s face. Reflectors will utilise different types of surfaces, usually white, gold, and silver in order to brighten up the subjects. Silver and white both have their unique uses. Gold should specifically be use only in outdoor situations, as it looks strange indoors. Silver and white will banish some of the shadows that were making your subject look sinister.
Some of the best images that a photographer can take come from using spontaneity and natural lighting to their advantage. These elements are especially powerful when working in an outdoor setting where natural exuberance and the raw beauty of materials are the most important elements for the photographer to capture. However, shooting in an outdoor setting with only the aid of natural lighting requires a more intimate knowledge of one’s equipment. In these situations, the success of the shot often hinges on the proper use of aperture, exposure, filters, and other manual elements. An experienced photographer is wise to take the time to scout the location and experiment with the kinds of results that they can expect using their equipment and the natural light that will be present at the time of the shoot.
Remember when you were little, how your favourite thing was to be stuck in a stiff chair and made to sit absolutely still and silent? Of course you don’t! Kids hate sitting still and being quiet. If you encourage them to move around the environment, whether it’s an indoor studio or an outdoor playground, there will be a time when they’ll find something that intrigues them, and they’ll naturally pause to investigate it up close…. That’s your moment to shoot.
A sterile, empty photography studio is not likely to inspire much response from your subjects. If you’re working indoors, stock the set with toys, pillows, boxes, picture books, anything that might spark their imagination and help them forget to be camera-shy. The outdoors is full of wonderful settings for your kids photoshoot. Kids are in their element sharing a porch swing, exploring a botanical garden, finding shells on a beach or feeding giraffes at the zoo. If you have pets (and patience), letting them be part of the picture can create immediate spontaneity and bring out your kids natural playfulness and affection.
If kids come to think of a photoshoot as something adults are doing “to” them, with a bunch of complicated equipment they’re not allowed to touch or examine, it can be about as appealing as a visit to the dentist. Make it a team effort from the beginning. Explain the cameras to them and let them ask questions. Give older kids responsibilities appropriate to their age, such as setting up a tripod or helping to entertain the younger ones.
Keep your calm and your sense of humour, and they’ll keep theirs too. And keep shooting! It won’t be the flawless tableau you were planning, but it just might be the serendipitous shot that turns a calamitous day into a favourite family photo that provides warm laughter and treasured memories for years to come.
Whether it’s a wedding, a day at the park, abandoned buildings or any other type of medium, you have to consider how you plan on making your photos stand out and become a visually inspiring and intriguing piece of art. The better you can develop an idea that you have in your mind for how you want the shoot to look, the easier the process will go for putting it together. However, if you just have a bunch of strung-along thoughts, it will be much more difficult to put your shoot together. Take the time to consider your concept and how you want your photo shoot to be presented, and you’ll notice the rest of the process will have a much more uniform direction that will be easier to plan for.
A Mood-board allows you to put your concepts to paper and start to build the actual thought process that you have. In doing so, you can create a narrative that will help write the entire story that you are trying to build with your photography session. While concept development will help you come up with general ideas you’d like to go with your photo shoot, a mood-board will fine tune everything and put it all into place.
This will help you better prepare for the type of photos you need to shoot, the locations that you need to shoot them at and other elements that come into play during the process. You can also use your mood-board to set up reminders of people you need to contact during this process, including makeup artists, lighting specialists and anyone else who is going to make your photo shoot memorable.
Once you start to put your mood-board together, you can involve the subject with your thought process and what you plan to do for the shoot. Keep in mind that there may be creative differences between you and the subject, which could mean that one party has to adjust how they feel. However, it’s important to remember that if your subject isn’t into the ideas that you have, they likely won’t be into the photo shoot either.
You want to offer your subject an atmosphere that will excite them and energise them during the shoot. Otherwise, their emotions may be presented with less-than-appealing photographs. If you make sure that everyone is on the same page, you can work through the mood-board process with your subject to ensure that both of you are incredibly happy with the path the shoot is going to be on.
It is incredibly unprofessional if the photographer is the one that is having issues on the day of a photo shoot. After all, if everything else is working in your favour and you are setting up for what looks to be a great shoot, the last thing you want to happen is for there to be issues that are your fault. Before your shoot, check, double-check and even triple-check your equipment to make sure that everything is working well. Do this same process for ensuring that you have all of your necessary equipment, before you leave your office and head to the shoot.