What Happens During a Photoshoot?

What is it like to work with me? If you haven't had the pleasure yet, let me take you through the journey of connection and creativity that awaits when you step into my world. It's a world of eclectic musical taste, a lot of laughter and potentially beyond-the-surface conversation all wrapped in a photoshoot. From start to finish, this is what it looks like when you work with me.

Your Vision 

We'll start by delving into your vision for the photoshoot. How do you see yourself, and how do you want to be seen by others? What will you use the images for? What is happening in your life right now that you would like to translate in a visual way?

More often than not clients are not really sure what they want or need and getting clear on that is the first step towards a successful photoshoot. This journey begins with the creation of some type of mood board - visual or with words: I'll encourage you to put together something that allows your ideas to take shape and that will guide us in bringing your vision to life.

This step is crucial because I want your photoshoot to authentically represent you.

The Location 

The mood board is also important because it will guide the selection of a location, the season and time of day of your photoshoot.

If your mood board is full of images in a dark and moody jazz club or golden sunset vibes at the beach or nothing but a stripped back, simple background - it will help us find the perfect spot for your photos.

Whether it's outdoors in the streets of the city, a great hotel lobby or a cool studio space, I will send you suggestions of places and studio spaces you can book that fit into the style vibe of your vision and ideas. 

The Outfit 

This is a big head scratcher for a lot of my clients! You want to look and feel amazing and I would be lying if I said that your outfit doesn't affect the way you feel and the result of your photoshoot.

However - over the years I have adopted a more laid-back approach to photoshoot outfits, both for my clients and when I have my own photos taken. Simplicity is key. This process is meant to be as stress-free and fun as possible.

My advice is to not overcomplicate your outfit choices. Unless you are someone completely obsessed with fashion and have a huge wardrobe at home - don't overthink it! Straddle the line between being comfortable and wearing something that you know works well - and trying something new or a wildcard that you've maybe always wanted to wear but never did: a photoshoot is the perfect occasion to cross that line a little!

You can bring two outfits to your photoshoot and items that we can mix and match, experiment with - have fun with it if you want to. The same goes for hair and makeup: if you've always wanted to go big and bold - why not do it for your photos! And if you feel more comfortable in your everyday look, more so, if you feel like you want and need images of you completely natural and not made up: go for it!

The Photoshoot 

Once the mood board is finalised and the venue is decided on, all you have to do is show up, and I'll take care of the rest!

This is the moment where the vision on paper and reality - human connection - come together. When the two align, it can be an absolutely magical creative experience!

We will have a look at your outfits - if you have brought more than one - have a little chit chat, your hair and makeup stylist might be still in the room too, once we decide on outfit number one, it's go time!

I usually put on music to start the creative flow. We can have my random playlist in the background or your own favourite tunes. My approach to photography often involves a lot of movement, even when you're sitting down.

The shutter sound is off and I shoot by looking at the screen of my camera, not the viewfinder. That way we always have eye contact, and can stay connected. I will continuously keep you engaged in conversation while you don't even realise when I am taking photos because you don't hear the shutter.

This is where the energy between us is so important: with the build up of our connection, the images become something alive, something breathing and genuine - not a deer-caught-in-the-headlights - photo that makes you feel uncomfortable just by looking at it.

The Feels 

If you feel nervous, know that you are not special, I mean this in the nicest way possible.

Almost everyone feels like that at their photoshoot. It's really absolutely normal, there is nothing wrong with you and feeling nervous should not be a reason to not book a shoot.

Being witnessed through a camera is a vulnerable thing. First, you have to allow someone else to look at you and then you have to look at yourself.

You might move through different emotions during your photoshoot: a blend of excitement, fear, fun and joy, insecurity, confidence, feeling super high - all of these and more are welcome and completely normal.

Every photoshoot has its own flavour and yours will be no different! I suggest to roll with it and embrace however that particular day feels.

After The Shoot

About two days after your shoot I will send you some previews inside a beautiful digital gallery. This will give you a taste of what's to come and bridge the wait until I have finished editing your amazing session.

The full gallery of your images (the amount varies depending on what you book) will be ready no later than 4 weeks after your photoshoot.

Some clients have a strong reaction when seeing their photos for the first time. You see yourself like nobody else does: the first thing you might see are all the things you don't like about yourself. We all do this! Remember how people who love you look at you?

Of course there's a whole spectrum between love and hate. The most normal reaction is that you will love some photos and some you won't. That happens for most of us.

And when you look through them a month or a year later, some images that you completely ignored the first time, suddenly will catch your eye and you will love them!

You change and grow constantly. Your view of yourself changes with you.