Mechanics of a photoshoot

I’m often asked what the mechanics of a photoshoot are and if photographers are even needed anymore.

I assure you they are and here’s why.

Not so surprising in the era of the iPhone and the convergence of phone and camera almost anyone can take photos.

I’m going to take you through the mechanics of a photoshoot and in particular the outcomes when everything is orchestrated in just the right way for a perfect outcome.

The starting point begins with asking “what’s the purpose of these photos?”

These requirements are vital as like with most things you start with the end in mind.

If it’s just to share on social media and have as a memory on your phone, then you’re probably okay doing it yourself.

However, if you need the photos for a business or professional setting or, to be printed or used on a website or other editorial pursuits then your trusty mobile phone photos will not fulfil you needs.

Why is that?  They look good on my phone…

When you engage a professional photographer they have the equipment, knowledge and skills to do what most amateur photographers do not.

And that is to translate what your final outcome, or your intended use of the photos are into reality.

The combination of professional grade equipment coupled with their knowledge of each of the facets of photography often can transform an average photo into a stunning work of art.

Let’s start with preparation.   Not only is it important to understand the end result of the photography, but also to appreciate the final “look and feel” of the product.

Next is finding the right location to ensure these align with the final product.

I scout new locations a regular basis in and around the city.  This allows me to provide a list of great locations and backdrops for my clients thus lessening the preparation time leading up to the photoshoot.

Some of these are indoors or studios, others outdoors or on location with a specific feel to each of them.

Interestingly, not all backdrops or locations are created equal so it’s vital to have a good breadth of locations at the ready to suggest.

Next is, to determine, based on location, the best type of lighting to use.   Sometimes people are surprised when I use a combination of both artificial and natural light in my photoshoots.

Personally, I find this to be a very effective method.  The other lighting aspect to consider, particularly when you’re shooting outside shooting, is the positioning of the subject in relation to the sun and its effect.

For the best results in your photoshoot positioning of the subject is critical and often the difference between a great shot and a poor shot.

The next most important aspect after lighting is composition.

Each area of photography has its unique challenges, in particular lighting and composition but composition is where the professional photographers’ skills and expertise come to the forefront.

Most people haven’t heard of the rule of thirds but it provides a great basis for looking at your photography that is both appealing to the eye and also consistently delivers great outcomes.

It’s as simple as utilising the 9-box grid on your camera to place your subjects in a manner that draws your eye into the photo.

However, like all rules it can sometimes be broken…

Again, this is where the photographer’s expertise comes into play, when and when not to break the rule to get the desired outcome.

Another aspect of composition is defining the depth of field and looking for leading lines that draw you into the photograph.

Depth of field is all about isolating the subject and including either more or less of the background into the image with the camera.

This also allows the photographer to bokeh the background of shot if necessary.

The term ‘bokeh’, comes from the Japanese term ‘boke’ and literally translates as ‘blur’ or ‘haze’.

It allows the photographer to blur out the background and soften the image, again with the intent of drawing you line of sight into the subject matter.

In basic terms it smooths out the background to ensure it doesn’t distract the viewer from the subject matter.

During a one-hour photoshoot I can sometimes register between 200 – 300 shots.

Importantly it’s not the volume of photos but about getting the perfect photo.  This takes capturing the desired look, coupled with the exact amount of light and the best composition.

Clearly not all photos will meet your standards of quality and need, but it gives you a breadth of shots during editing which sometimes uncovers some surprising shots.

Generally, I prefer a “light-touch” approach to post production editing as it can become time consuming and counterproductive if you have a lot of photos to edit.

This is the reason that having your camera set up for the shoot in advance with your expected key basic settings and completing a small number of test shots in advance of the shoot are important.

This allows you as the photographer to tweak the settings based on the lens, set up, lighting and composition prior to the start of the photoshoot.

For me each photoshoot is different, and in many ways exciting as you truly are creating art with each and every photoshoot.

Trust me, there is nothing better than to deliver beyond the client’s expectations on the final result.

Until next week.

Ciao!