Planning

A session can be anything from a portrait sitting to a full-body fashion shooting with some storytelling (editorial), supported by props, costumes or unique clothing.

If you want to achieve great results, it needs a fair amount of planning to prepare a session, even if you want to improvise. Generally speaking, it's safe to say that the more time you spend preparing, the better the results will be.

Further reads:

TFP vs. Pay: Non-paid work vs paid work: who pays, who gets paid and who can use the pictures?

Apps & services for planing, collaboration and organization

Before we plan the session in detail, we agree on the genre and style we want to shoot. Based on the genre, the framing plays a vital role and location we shoot.

Each genre and framing needs planning and preparation: this can be anything from a short briefing via phone or WhatsApp or up to a couple of weeks of work with lots of people involved.

More on genres & styles

A test shoot doesn't need a massive amount of planning. You should know what clothes to bring and the type of make-up if no make-up artist is on set.

More on test shoots

On the other side, a fine art glamour shot with lots of props might take weeks, if not months, to plan and prepare, from creating the looks and building the set.

For Test Shots the look is set, but with every other creative session, we will first discuss the photo shoot's general idea.

Once we have outlined the basic idea, we do a wardrobe check (aka "wardrobe raid"). You will look for key pieces that might match the general idea and send some pictures.

Check also for items you haven't worn that much, or never worn at all! This might be the right time to get the cool stuff out!

Based on the available wardrobe, we will create a general style, start planning and create a mood board.

More on the "Wardrobe Raid" and examples

Now we're getting serious. Assuming you have a Pinterest account, we will start collecting ideas/inspiration within a shared Pinterest board, the so-called mood board. You might also find some interesting pictures in fashion magazines, so tear them out or take a photo with your phone and upload it to a Pinterest board.

The mood board is a collection of ideas of light settings, locations, colours, poses or little details we like and might want to incorporate into our session. The mood board assists us during the preparation and later with the session to follow our ideas and work towards our expected outcome.

More on mood boards and Pinterest

A session with a make-up and hair stylist can take between 4 and 6 hours and usually happens on Saturday or Sunday afternoons. Shorter portrait sessions for up to two hours can be done during the week, typically in the evening.

Depending on the project, the shooting location will be either The Studio in Alcaidesa, Spain, on-location or outdoors.