How to get awesome model shots
A couple of weeks ago I shot with the incredibly talented Anya Conlon, a model signed with MOT in London. I messaged her on Instagram (absolutely loooove it for research) and it didn’t even take us 5 minutes to agree on a location and date. I guess you could call it a perfect match. We met at the Farm Girl Café in Notting Hill and started shooting there before moving on to three other locations around the area. The Farm Girl Café was absolutely beautiful – maybe a bit pricey – but definitely worth a treat. I went there with the thought of shooting in their outside area and after a quick chat with the manager we started. They were so sweet and even brought us drinks while we were taking photos and kind of blocked their entrance.
What can I say – it was such an epic shoot. We worked so well together and I personally (I hope Anya too :P) had a lot of fun creating these images. The photos turned out great and it reminded me once again how much I love working with models. Fashion Photography for the win!
From just writing these few sentences it must seem so easy. Find a model + go to a location + shoot = epic stuff happening.
But I tell you: It ain’t THAT easy. Not saying it’s awfully difficult, like writing a Doctorate in Astrophysics. But there is a little more to it than just rocking up with a good camera and positive vibes. So here are my five tips to make sure a model shoot - or any shoot - turns out great.
Joy’s Tips + Tricks for an epic photoshoot
Don’t shoot with every model
Say whaaat? Yes, I actually mean that. Not every model is for you – and you are not the photographer for every model . Especially when it comes to personal (and often unpaid) projects.
Personality
Of course, it's hard to check out your models personality on social media. But you can still get a grasp of it through stalking photos, stories and comments ( I am a pro at that and probably a creep). Seems like a lot of effort, but it is essential for me to be on the same page. I need to connect with models on a personal level – otherwise, I very fastly feel insecure, stupid and just can´t give a 100% Joy.
Style + Looks
As a Photographer, you have a vision for every collaborative photoshoot and especially at this point in my career I don’t have mega budgets to do them. No Make-up Artist to transform a model in what type of look you want to have and no stylist to bring a tone of clothes to a shoot. That’s why I often have to rely on my models personal closet (or mine) and make-up skills. So their style matching your idea is very essential.
2. Check your Photo Location upfront
Since I just moved to England I really don´t know London that well. I firstly asked Anya if she knows of some nice locations for a photo shoot and she suggested Notting Hill. So now I could leave it like that: just rock up there and go shoot. But being me (with my German inheritance) things need to be planned. So I went online and checked the area out – found the beautiful Café (our first location) and all the other locations before I even got there. That means you can plan your photos and look but it also saves a tone of time actually shooting.
3. Get to know your model beforehand
I suggested to Anya that we meet at the Café for coffee first – I always like to meet models (and in general people I shoot with) beforehand. It just makes things so much easier when you know each other a little and already formed a relationship. Especially sentences like: “Can you put your right hand just a little closer to your left boob” or “Would you mind putting your finger in your mouth” just come easier if you are not talking to a stranger.
In this particular case I got along so well with Anya I could have sat there for ages with our Mocha and just chat. But work, work, work.
4. Be spontaneous
With all that planning in mind – things never go as you might think. Locations look different, which may not allow you to shoot or an ugly truck all of a sudden parks in front of it – but don´t stress. Things will be fine if you have just a tiny spontaneous bone in your body and react quickly.
5. Know what you want
That may be obvious, but back in the days, I would go somewhere with a model and just start shooting – without knowing how the photos should look like in the end. It is essential to have a quick sit down and just write down what you want the shoot to be.
Should it be cheeky, elegant, messy, with straight lines or a plain background. Do you need Props for it?
With that in mind, you can now find an amazing location that fits your idea, you can brief the model according to your vision so she turns up in an outfit | Make-Up that works well with let’s say your 50’s Fashion idea.
I hope those tips help you as much as they help me. And if you see this I am forever grateful, because it means you actually read all of the above (or you just scrolled down). Whatever. You are here and that counts. See ya. XO.
