I’m so excited to share my secrets on how to plan a photoshoot. Fun fact: I have spent the last (almost) ten years in New York building a career in content development for brands like Rent the Runway, Intermix and Harper’s Bazaar. This means that I’ve been on the marketing team working on some combination of social media strategy, email marketing, e-commerce content, influencer marketing and campaign development—with my role starting out as a social media coordinator and growing to content director over the years.
As I’ve learned more and more in those jobs about producing great content, it’s been so much fun to apply those learnings to my personal Instagram and site. I’ve had a chance to work with some incredible art directors, photographers, stylists, models and producers, and I’m so grateful for all of these experiences. I thought it was about time I shared some of what I’ve learned along the way with you. Hopefully, you can streamline your own creative process, if you’re a creator too, or if not, just get a look into what actually goes on behind-the-scenes of my work.
No 1. Get Inspired & Over-Plan
Whether I’m shooting for a client or for my personal content, I make a presentation in Google Slides that lays out the styling for each shot next to its coordinating location, inspiration and shot list. For example, I might be shooting a look where the boots need to be featured for a brand partnership, so I’ll list out specific photography cues by the inspiration photos, such as “full body shot from side angle and crop of boots from low angle.” With this strategy, you’re far less likely to forget specific shots you need and you’ll be way more efficient on shoot days. An example of one of my prep documents is below.
No 2. Location, Location, Location
Every time I go into a shoot without precise locations in mind, I end up with less content than I had hoped for. I have made it a habit to pre-determine where I want to shoot each shot, and map the spots and travel time out with Google Maps. Then I put the Google Slides presentation in the order that we are actually going to capture each moment. Make sure you’re grouping the locations close enough together that you’re not traveling all over the place on one shoot day.
Lastly, make sure that the location will be open and that you’ll actually be allowed to shoot. A lot of hotels and restaurants, especially in New York, frown upon taking photos on professional cameras, since they charge location fees for the use of their space for photoshoots. If you have your heart set on a certain location though, just slip in and shoot on your iPhone instead of a professional camera (wink!).
No. 3 Prop It Out
I love finding quirky props on Amazon, like this cookie jar or vintage electronics, that add an unexpected element to a photo. Props can also be as simple as interior decor you already have around your home, flowers, food or beverages. Get creative! For this particular shoot, I used ginger ale as “champagne,” because we shot this tablescape at 8am on a Tuesday. I also picked up a few festive holiday bits at Crate & Barrel and Paper Source to fill out the table a bit more (insiders’ tip: return anything you don’t need after the shoot, tons of prop stylists and stylists are guilty of this!). Some of my favorite accounts to follow for amazing creative direction and use of props are Style Heroine, Anna Rosa Vitiello, Oracle Fox and Dana Hourani. Absolute geniuses!
No. 4 Pre-Style
This sounds really obvious, but try on all of the looks you’re planning to shoot beforehand with accessories. Air on the side of over-styling (meaning adding too many accessories), because it’s so easy to remove a bag or earring if it’s not working in the shots. This takes extra time, but will save you so much hassle in the long run, when you don’t have to re-style in the moment. There’s nothing worse than tossing on an outfit pairing, shooting it and then realizing later that it’s not chic at all. You’ve wasted precious time and energy, and the photos will go to waste. Speaking from experience here! If I’m shooting at home, I put all of my looks on a clothing rack similar to this one or this one, and if I’m traveling around the city, I put everything in my favorite garment bag by Hudson & Bleecker.
No. 5 Go with the Flow
Some of the best shots I’ve taken in my professional career and for my personal work have been the result of happy accidents. It was a huge learning for me to go with the flow a bit more on set over the last couple of years to let the magic happen. Work with your photographer to take a peak at the images as you shoot and make sure they are in the realm of what you intended on, but be open to the dog walker running through the shot or the wine glass spilling into the shot. These moments are what will make the shots more unique to you. With these tips, you’ll have all the planning locked down in advance, so you can just have fun on shoot days!
Shop the Post:
Photos by Shannon Donnelly
