How to prepare for a lifestyle photography shoot
And what made this Littleton MA lifestyle shoot run so well
Written by Mark Mendoza on September 12, 2018
4 models and a Littleton, MA home made up this lifestyle shoot a success
Lifestyle photo shoots are a production. No matter how big or small the business, there are a lot of details that go into planning, organizing, and orchestrating a lifestyle photography shoot. And like most things, it’s best if the person managing those logistics knows what he or she is doing. In other words, the best way to prepare for a lifestyle photo shoot is to make sure someone involved has experience as a producer.
What does a producer do, exactly?
A producer is the person responsible for managing the photo shoot and making sure the session runs smoothly the day-of. Most notably, the producer knows what questions to ask in the weeks and days leading up to the shoot to make sure everything is ready to go.
Questions like:
What is your budget for models and how many do you need?
No budget? What about your using your employees?
Do you have an appropriate location or do you need help finding one?
What about a shooting schedule?
Hair and makeup?
These are just a few questions that need to be sorted out before the photography session. There are many more details that must be managed day-of. Like when each model should arrive and which shots will be shot in what location.
I’m not saying all of this to scare you off from ever considering a professional lifestyle photography shoot. Not at all! In fact, I believe lifestyle photography is critical to your marketing. There is no better way to showcase your unique products.
So, with that said, you might be wondering:
How do I find a producer?
For many businesses, small ones in particular, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to hire an outsourced producer just to run one photo shoot. So what’s a business owner to do?
Ask your photographer!
A good photographer should be able to help guide you through the logistics of planning and producing a photo shoot. Which is why I strongly recommend asking each photographer you interview, before deciding whom to hire, how involved he or she will be in the overall production and whether there is any fee involved.
It is extremely valuable to have a photographer on board who is capable of wearing two hats: that of professional lifestyle photographer and producer.
An example from a Littleton, MA photo shoot
Take the image at the top of this post for example. This client had never done a lifestyle photography shoot before, and therefore, didn’t know what pieces needed to be managed to turn his vision into the final image you see here.
So I helped prepare them for the shoot by asking several questions similar to the ones listed above. I guided them through what to expect the day of the photo session and worked with him to make sure they had a written shot list and a schedule ready to go. With four models to manage, this preparation was particularly important to help the shoot run smoothly and efficiently.
So as you can see, it is crucial to have some kind of producer involved right from the start, who can offer guidance and ensure a smooth and successful photo shoot.
Want to learn more? Feel free to contact me any time!
Tags: professional photographer, lifestyle photography