As a photographer, my job is to make you look your absolute best. But looking great is a two way street. There are certain things you will need to consider and prepare prior to your shoot date.
Sometimes, small things like unwanted hair and clothing marks can cause a lot of hassle for both the photographer and the model. Little things like that can be embarrassing and can often create extra work for the model and the photographer.
So to avoid delaying the shoot, here are a few things to remember:
* Do not shave on the day of the shoot. Please make sure you shave at least 24hrs before the shoot. Rashes and nasty blotches on legs and underarms due to shaving irritation aren't pretty. Men, please think about facial hair and whether or not you want any for the shoot. Make sure you trim, style or remove your facial hair.
* Please do not wear tight clothing or a bra to the shoot. Clothing indents and bra lines on your skin can delay the shoot times and call for extra post production time.
* Make sure your finger nails are clean and the nail polish used is [unless specified] natural and clean. It might seem like a minor detail but beautiful nails can make all the difference in a shot when your hands are involved.
* Do not drink excessive amounts of alcohol the night before the shoot. Alcohol dehydrates your skin and can make you look drab and tired. Make sure you hydrate with lots of water. This will plump your skin and keep you looking healthy and fresh for the shoot. It will also give you energy and stamina for the shoot.
* Make sure you get sufficient sleep to avoid dark bags under your eyes. Makeup artists can work wonders on your skin, but they are not magicians. You will also need the sleep to be alert and vibrant for the shoot. Striking interesting poses one after the other could be tiresome on only a few hours sleep.
* Posing is an incredibly important part of modeling and it can make or break a photograph. Know your body and its limitations; if you don’t feel comfortable, you won’t look comfortable through the lens. Make sure you practice facial expressions in the mirror beforehand to get familiar with which angles work with your body and which expressions look right. Learn to speak with your eyes and practice expressions like sexy, fierce and natural. There is nothing worse than seeing the same expression on your face in every single shot. It gets boring! Look through magazines of all kinds and practice the poses and facial expressions of models you admire. If you do this regularly, it will make all the difference to your upcoming shoot, and others in the future.
* I highly recommend using a professional makeup artist for a shoot as they have been trained in what works well through a camera lens. If you have the skills to do your own makeup, I am happy for you to do that. Please remember that most of our everyday foundations are not adequate for a professional shoot. The camera can be quite harsh and show even the smallest of imperfections, so a thicker foundation is often preferable for enhancing your skin and maintaining flawless soft skin in front of the camera. Makeup is not just for the ladies. Men also wear face makeup for photos. Don't worry, you won't look like you're wearing makeup, but it'll help balance your skin tones and reduce unwanted things like shine and redness. I suggest models supply or hire their own makeup artist but I can also suggest a couple of makeup artists I have worked with and give you their contact details. If your makeup artist is not available to stay for the whole length of the shoot, make sure you ask them to use your own lipsticks so you can touch up, if needed, throughout the shoot.
* Bring a friend or family member to the shoot if you feel you would be happier and more relaxed with the moral support. I think that the more comfortable you feel on the shoot, the better the results. But please keep in mind that friends can sometimes be a distraction. Please warn your friend or family member that they are there to support you and must not interfere with the shoot. If you are under 18, you must bring a parent or guardian or have a consent form signed. Please contact Gitta Photography to obtain a consent form.
When you book your shoot, we will discuss what kind of look you are going for and we can brainstorm different ideas. I prefer to have a theme or style for a shoot so we are not just shooting random things. If you are stuck for ideas, look through some magazines at other models/singers/bands and you might get a little spark of inspiration. If you find a style, location, colour or look that excites you, tear it out, scan it and email it to me. That will give me a better idea of what kind of images you are after.
