Preparing for a photoshoot

Of course part of preparing for a photoshoot is making sure all of your batteries are charged and double checking that all your gear is working properly.  However, you can have all the photo equipment in the world but if you don’t have any ideas and go into a shoot empty-minded, you may not have the strongest of results.

A good idea is the most valuable item a photographer can have when preparing for a shoot.  Before my photoshoots begin, I will sometimes draw sketch the scenes that I am wanting to capture with my camera.  I do this for two main reasons.
First, the sketches provide me with direction.  This keeps my mind in tune with what I’ve accomplished during the shoot and what still needs to be photographed.  It can also help you look more at ease and professional during the shoot instead of working frantically while your mind is unorganized.  Clients will be quick to question your abilities and professionalism if you’re running around like a chicken with its head cut off.

The second reason I use sketches is because they allow me to share my ideas with my clients or anyone else working with me during the shoot.  Communication is key, and the sketches help to get everyone on the same page as to what I am trying to accomplish.

As an example, you can see where I used the sketches above to create the shot below.  The sketch that is second from the left in the bottom row was used when composing the photo that you see below.  Granted it is not exactly the same as the sketch, but it gave us direction and the model knew the desired result.

If you care to see how the rest of the photo series matches up to the sketches, you can visit my website at http://www.willisbretz.com and click on “The Morning After” in my “Projects” menu.