Your first client photo shoot may be a prospect that is both exciting and terrifying. The key to successful execution is preparation. 

Whether you’re shooting on location or in a studio, pulling off a photo shoot involves a lot more than bringing a big camera and tripod.

Photography is all about problem solving, so being ready for any potential issues that crop up will ensure that everything goes smoothly. 

Here are my essential tips to help you pull off your first client photo shoot. 

Create a Mood Board to Share Ideas With Your Client

When shooting for a client, you need to make sure that you’re both speaking the same language. It’s crucial to have visual information that communicates the required end result.

A mood board is one of the best ways to do this. You can ask your client for one or create one using Pinterest or an app like Mood Board.

When working with agencies, you’ll ordinarily be given visual collateral like mood boards or mock-ups but when you work with a client directly, they might only have a vague idea of what they’re looking for and are unable to adequately describe it to you.

A mood board helps solve this problem. 

A mood board is a collection of images gathered together into a digital collage. They are used extensively in design and photography to communicate the direction of a project.

Having a mood board or a collection of images that represent the desired aesthetic will ensure that everyone involved in the photo shoot is on the same page.

Miscommunication occurs when people have different ideas about what various terms mean. You may have one idea about what constitutes a “dark and moody” shot while your client might have another. Your perception of the color teal maybe someone else’s dark green.

Having a mood board can help you and your client define the lighting style, color treatment, composition, or any other important elements that are desired for the final images.

Note that 4-6 images are all that you really need. Too many images may dilute what is meant to be conveyed.

Ultimately, a mood board can go a long way in preventing any client dissatisfaction and the need for a costly re-shoot.

Do A Tech Scout of Location

A tech scout (short for technical scout) is when you visit your shooting location ahead of time to get “the lay of the land”. It’s a term used widely in the film and photographic industries.

Location can pose all sorts of challenges. Whether you’re shooting in a studio, or at a restaurant or some other external location,  it’s important to know exactly what you’ll be dealing with before you do the shoot.

As a commercial food photographer, I do a tech scout for every shoot I do for a client. 

If I’m shooting in a new studio, I make sure I have enough space to work in and that the studio has a kitchen. This is a must, especially if you’re working with a food stylist. 

If I’m shooting at a restaurant, I visit it beforehand to see if there are enough windows for me to work in natural light, or if I’ll need to bring in lighting equipment.

As a food photographer, you may have to shoot outside, like at a fair or vineyard, or capture a food festival or event. 

When shooting outdoors, there can be a variety of factors that can influence your shoot. These include the light you’ll be photographing in, how public the space is, and what the actual terrain looks like.

Timing your shoot with the position of the sun can be crucial for most outdoor shoots.  You can use an app like Sun Seeker to help you determine where the sun will be for your shoot.

Make sure that you bring your camera to the tech scout and the lenses that you plan on using. Not only can some test shots be used to determine possible camera settings for your shoot day, you may need to send them to a client.

Keep in mind that putting a tripod down in many public places can require a permit.

Rent or Borrow Extra Gear You Might Need

As I mentioned, a big part of photography is problem-solving. Unfortunately, this usually means gear issues or technical difficulties.

First of all, make sure that you have all the gear you need to pull off the photo shoot.

This may mean renting items that are not part of your regular set-up or purchasing extra SD cards, etc.

You should also bring at least two of everything.

This doesn’t mean just two batteries and SD cards. It also means two cameras, a variety of lenses, and extra extension or tethering cables.

Digital cameras get error messages and stop functioning for a host of seemingly inexplicable reasons. You need to be prepared for this.

A backup camera may be the last thing you can afford financially, but you also cannot afford to have your equipment die on you on an important photo shoot.

So if this is out of your budget right now, this might mean borrowing a camera from a photographer friend. Or buying a used one that might not be top-level but will help you get the job done in the event your camera craps out on you.

The same goes for lighting equipment if you use it. Not only do I bring along extra monolights to my commercial shoots, I also bring a couple of extra speedlights and remote triggers in case something goes wrong with my strobes.

Make a list of every single item you’ll need to complete the shoot. 

Then make sure that you have it or can buy it or rent it.

Hire an Assistant to Speed Up Your Workflow

The role your assistant should take is up to you, as is figuring out when you actually need one.

Some photographers have assistants hold reflectors, help with small things like changing batteries and lenses as well as transporting gear, while others use them to assist with lighting and make sure the images are being backup up on the computer.

I have an assistant on almost every shoot that I do, even if the job is seemingly small.

In fact, I worked with an assistant on my very first food photography job. That was a two-day restaurant shoot where I was required to photograph fifty dishes!

My assistant helped me swap out background, change my lenses and adjust my tripod. He also acted as the liaison between me and the kitchen.

His assistance helped my workflow go much faster and ensured that I would be done on time.

On shoots where I have needed to use artificial lighting in studio, my assistant has managed my lighting and gear in addition to making sure everything I need is at my fingertips.

There is only so much you can do with one pair of hands. Having an assistant is not necessarily expensive and the cost is worth tacking onto a quote or even paying out of pocket for if need be.

What to Do the Day Before the Shoot

Here are the things you need to do the day before your photo shoot.

• Finalize what equipment you’ll need to bring. My suggestion is to have a checklist of the gear and accessories you need to bring to shoots and refer to it whenever you’re packing for your photo shoots. If you’re working on a commercial shoot, you’ll need to determine any gear rentals ahead of time. Pack any reflectors, extension cords and your laptop if you use it for tethering.
• Clean your equipment. Wipe your camera and lenses and laptop keyboard and screen.
• Charge your batteries. Have several on hand to change out before you run out.
• Look up directions to the venue. Don’t rely on your GPS on the day of. I have been taken to the wrong address more than once by relying on apps.
• Check your camera settings. Make sure they are at a neutral starting point or that any settings that you don’t want are switched off and vice versa, such as back button focusing or exposure compensation.

What to Do the Day of the Shoot

Always be early for your shoots. How early you need to be will be determined by the type of shoot you are doing.

If you are shooting in a studio, you may need at least an hour to set up and test your lighting.

On the other hand, if you’re doing a restaurant shoot, fifteen minutes should be sufficient to set up your gear depending on the light source at the location.

Hopefully, you’ll have done a tech scout and are familiar with the location. Give yourself extra time if you need to find parking or if you need to walk a stretch.

Not that any model releases and contracts should be signed up front. Bring a copy of these with you in case you need to refer to them.

Conclusion

There is that old saying that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. That is definitely true when it comes to pulling off your first professional photo shoot.

The last thing you want is to discover a dead battery with no backups, or that you have forgotten to pack your favourite lens.

Knowing you have everything under control will help you focus on your photo shoot and allow your creativity to flow.

 

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