What type of preparation do you do before undertaking the photo session?
It varies, from meticulous to seat-of-the-pants, as required by the situation.
I would try to be alone and think through all the possibility of all angle and placement.
If object is people, I will try to bond with them and let them understand I'm a friend instead of a stranger or paparazzi.
Usually preparation involves packing light for myself so I have more weight allowance for camera gear!
I make sure that I have the lenses and lens attachments that I need, my tripod and remote. The most important thing is to make sure the weather is appropriate for taking photos.
Not too much other than making sure my batteries are charged and I have all my equipment and backup equipment in my bags.
I also have a Wedding Day Questionnaire for my weddings to make sure I know about all the happenings on the day of the wedding.
Brainstorm lighting and location
I get all my equipment together and all my batteries charged and then I sit down and just look at the specific type of photography I am doing that day so my mind won't draw a blank.
scout for locations and a good meal!
well of course I communicate with my clients and we discuss what to expect during the session, what to wear, where it will be located to get the whole thing started. Then at the actual time of the session, I try to let the child or teen get comfortable in the enviroment and setup and then I catch candid true moments that just happen in a split second!
I get my gear organized and if I can I visit the locations before the shooting.
Who's paying for this session?
Let's get the financials out of the way so I can be creative!
Equipment check.
The mundane things like charging batteries, preparing flash cards, selecting which camera(s) and lens.
Review a list of goals for the shoot and particular shots I want of the subject.
When I'm using a model, I plan shots that will take advantage of that particular model's best features.
I study images that are of a similar type of session for inspiration.
Camera equipment check, clean camera gear, think about props and location, talk with client, look through magazines or online for inspiration.
"There's a lot that we do from a business perspective, but from strictly an artist perspective I'd say there's also quite a bit of prep involved.
I photographed an NFL player recently. Before we even scheduled the shoot, I did a large amount of research on his background both on the field and off the field. I was fortunate to meet one of his sons and his daughter. I also met his wife several weeks before the photo session. I surveyed and found mutual friends, and I interviewed them seeking to understand his real personality. That helped me understand the man that I was going to photograph. It helped me understand his personality and passions well before the shoot. I was able to formulate a game plan that let me be spontaneous during the shoot but also provided a good framework for the ideas that I had brainstormed.
We built a small studio inside a dental clinic imbedded in one of his favorite inner city charities. Photographers often say our profession is 90% moving furniture and 10% taking pictures! That was true for this shoot which included about 3 hours of set-up. The time building the studio gave me additional insight as I interacted with the teachers and children at the charity that knew a side of the player that most will never see.
Once he arrived, I spent about 40 minutes talking with him about our mutual friends, our families, and his passions. Then, I talked about our vision for the shoot. I asked for his ideas, and I asked for his permission to try some things a bit off the wall. Finally, I raised my camera and probably captured only 10 images during the session--but each were very unique and very intimate.
His wife sent me a note: "Gregg, that photo is priceless. Your lens captured how we, his family, see him and that few others get to. Your portraits of various individuals are truly beautiful and you obviously possess an amazing gift. Thanks for sharing your blessing."
This investment of preparation and careful execution is the real key to our style."   | | |
Careful planing. |
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