On Photographers, Models, and By-Standers

After being a part of numerous photo-shoots and watching countless others, it has become apparent that few people understand their roles and responsibilities in a shoot.
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Photographers:Your job is to take the best quality pictures you can that will convey whatever mood or style that you and the model have discussed. Good photographers can take the mundane and make it beautiful.
Do:

• Scout the area you’ll be using to figure out the best areas for shooting. Move things if needed/possible, work around them, or find a new location.
• Have an idea of the types of images you’d like to get ahead of time.
• Give the model direction to ensure the best pictures (posing, facial expressions, etc).
• Have your equipment setup beforehand if possible; this will give you more shooting time.
• Move around. The more angles you can work, the better.
• Take a photography class. Even if you think you know everything about photography, take a class. You’d be surprised what you can learn with someone else critiquing your work.
• Keep up to date model releases in your camera bag. This will help you with any possible legal issues that might arise over pictures you take.
• Use photo editing software to fix issues that will make the photo better. The goal should be to keep the photo looking as if no editing was done; obvious editing makes you look amateur.

Don’t:

• Over edit photos. One of the biggest and easiest things to bring a photographer down is bad editing.
• Run your pictures through filters on your phone. These are tools that are available to anyone so that average Joe Schmoe can take decent looking pictures. No one wants to pay for pictures they could have taken themselves.
• Fall into the trap of overblown pictures with a black rounded “frame” outline. The ability to put a photo through Photoshop, raise up the highlights, blur the background, and then burn (darken) the corners doesn’t make you a good photographer. Yes it makes the photo look neat, but it doesn’t make it look good.
• Keep shooting the same pose. Multiple pictures of the same pose are dull and just give you more to go through for the final selection process. If you can’t get the pose to look good in a couple frames, you’re not going to get it.
• Wait until the last minute. Rushed shoots and/or editing can lead to bad photos. Give yourself time to get them right.

Models:Without you the photographer might as well be shooting scenery, but without them you are just another face in the crowd. Bring your best to get the best photos you can.
Do:

• Research your photographer before you meet with them. Figure out what kind of shoots they do and talk to other models they’ve worked with if possible. No photography experience isn’t bad, but bad experiences definitely aren’t good.
• Bring an escort with you to all shoots. Having someone there keeps you safer both physically and legally. They can vouch for any documents you may or may not have signed as well as making sure the photographer sticks to their job.
• Show up ready to shoot. If you have outfits to change into make sure that they aren’t going to take long to change into. The less time you have getting ready, the more time you have for good pictures.
• Listen to the photographer’s direction. A pose may feel awkward to you, but might look great through the lens. Their advice can change a picture from being so-so to amazing.
• Tell the photographer if you need a break or need to change poses. Your comfort in the photo-shoot is important and will show in the pictures.
• Bring photo ideas and/or samples with you. If you have an idea of how you would like the pictures to look and share it with the photographer, it can put you both on the same page right away toward getting pictures you’ll both love.

Don’t:

• Ignore direction. You might think that your pose is fabulous, but the camera might disagree. Holding the same position for too long can also lead to less pictures overall. Take a few and move to the next pose.
• Show up tired or stressed. So many things can show through in a picture so make sure to show up to your shoot bright eyed and bushy tailed to get the best pictures you can.
• Hassle the photographer for your pictures. You never know what might be going on with the photographer outside of shooting and hassling them for your pictures is just bad form. Keeping in contact is one thing, nagging is another.
• Alter the pictures once you have them. Photographers make their reputation with the photos people see that they have done. If you edit, crop, or otherwise change them, it could ruin the photographer’s work completely. If you want a change done, ask.

By-Standers:For whatever reason you happen to be around a photo-shoot, remember that you aren’t part of it. The biggest thing to remember is that the photographer’s job includes being hyper-aware of the model and the direct vicinity around said model. Something you think might be an issue has probably already been seen by the photographer and deemed acceptable, sometimes even wanted. Jumping in to try to “fix” the issue that you see can ruin not only a few pictures, but sometimes the whole shoot. If help is needed either the model or photographer will ask, otherwise stay quiet and watch from a distance.
Don’t:

• Jump into the photo-shoot to fix something on the model. See above.
• Yell to the model to fix something. See above.
• Tell the photographer where to shoot from. See above.
• Distract the model and/or photographer. Both are there to work and distractions can lead to either ruined pictures or a completely ruined shoot.