Let’s improve how you plan a Photo session…

-Creative & Digital Workflow-

Beginner photographer, small business, collaborative photographer, photography resources, digital workflow, brainstorming, productivity

When I first started doing freelance work not do paid work. On top of that didn’t have a purpose it was more or less for experimenting with growing my portfolio and skill level. During my middle school and the beginning of my high school, career were the foundations of understanding the basics of the camera: Aperture(F-stops), ISO (camera sensitivity), and Shutter (Speed for capturing the action/subject).

While in the early stages of developing the idea of my dream photography business. It jumped-started my drive to better planning sessions. Because when I was an intermediate hobbyist at the time (4 years ago). I wasn’t delighted with the end result. There was always that one moment after it went delivered of unsatisfied like I missed an element that could’ve made the creative session ELEVATED. (Whether that factor is: light(time of day), props, theme, mood board).

Since then we’ve learned a lot….I have. That’s where this article can better help you as a creative in whatever stage of your career. I love a great and efficient planning system. For different types of paid or creative marketing sessions, there is A TON OF PLANNING.

But today we’re going over the basics and also the programs I use. I will give you alternative resources to help a curious creative wanting to capture right away.

FIGURE OUT THE WHY.

(For this I recommend starting to create a mood board/photo reference that connects to this aspect of the photoshoot preparation process)

If you're getting comfortable with the idea of planning what we call “concepts”, or “themes” there are other ways to describe it. But essentially what do you want the purpose of the photoshoot to be?

Now theme and purpose may sound like they make no sense at all. But they work cohesively together in order to get the first stages of creating your ideal shoot happen. So you don’t miss a beat or that

photo YOU REALLY WANTED TO GET!

Theme: Could be used for your main inspiration not to copy but to help convey the approach to how you want the session to come together. It’s an element and ingredient to get you results.

PURPOSE.

(ask yourself this question before brainstorming and Pinterest searching)

Q: Why are you shooting this?

For a client, to experiment, update your website, Update your portraits/self-portraits, and marketing material, and add to your portfolio in a specific area.

ANOTHER QUESTION TO ASK YOURSELF:

Q: Who/what is this going to reflect? What’s the message or story connected to this session?

WHO:

EX: My new brand identity

WHAT(What is this for):

EX:

For marketing and creating bolder visuals to represent a new phase in a business venture. The elements of it are: Adventure, free-spirited, and deep connections in exciting experiences

DIGITAL WORKSPACE

(Creating the standard material for preparation)

When I first began my process by brainstorming how I should approach getting my ideas together. I was a mess mentally. I didn’t like that feeling of all these thoughts/reminders jumbled in my head. It felt unnecessary. You shouldn't make yourself do that if you're already worrying about 10,000 other tasks on a daily. You definitely shouldn’t do it if you're doing this for fun or for paid work.

Know your preference in how you like brainstorming.

Do you feel better writing down your notebook at the moment then translating the brainstorming then creating the material? Do you have to search for inspiration? Like you have visuals of the ideal vision in your head but in order to get the technical parts of the execution down?

If so, then search the internet for reference images for inspiration and to make them your own.

I recommend going to; Pinterest & Pexels.com you can support other artists and download high quality more UNIQUE images from there. I still use Pinterest for reference photos for 10% of the reference board. Once I am satisfied I have enough reference photographs to use it can create good mental reminders.

I will do my next step…Creating the reference material

Mood/Reference Board

Shot day Guide and Itinerary

(here is one representation of what a mood board can look like. But you can customize it to what works best to visually organize your thoughts)

What is a Mood/reference Board?

Essentially just like with a painter for example they use a reference of a live model or scenery to help it be accurate to what they see. Because you work from multiple sources of inspiration this helps tie it together in an easy visual map that you or your collaborator/paid client can use in prep for the day of the session. I use at least 10 of the best closest images that embody my vision the closest and the clients. It allows the client or collaborator a visual that can make approving or reject the approach. This material is fully for the visuals. It’s the nice icing to the cake of creativity that we’re making together :3 This also better prepares a small team, models, and MUA to understand the entire picture…Literally lol

What programs do you use to create this?

Well, you can use a couple of different alternatives based on your comfort and how much you want to embody it visually.

-Adobe Photoshop

-Adobe Spark (What I use)

-Canva (Crowd favorite through other creatives)

After it’s completed I will upload it to my google drive for a master client and creative copy. Get it backed up with google photos and have it export the file in both: JPG and PDF just in case of worst case scenario you cannot access the internet. Print it out and have it on a clipboard.

NEXT MATERIAL CLIENT

CREATIVE RESOURCE

-Shot Photo checklist-

This may seem like it doesn’t need much explanation. When I first was starting to put my ideal aspects of brainstorming together. I didn’t think of what type of lens I was going to be using, or the settings I’ll use during/in between changing settings. This is the technical (Boring-side) to getting the evacution

DOWN TO A T.

Without the lack of TEA EFFORT

Initially, when I start creating this document I write it in Google Drive. In my business folder as a master copy to create a template for future shot-list.

I have this organized into different segments:

Initially, when I start creating this document I write it in Google Drive. In my business folder as a master copy to create a template for future shot-list.

I have this organized into different segments:

FORMAT OF DOCUMENT

TITLE

*At the top*

(Name of the shoot | Client/Model | Date of Session)

*Underneath*

Then once I do that I divide each segment based on the duration or complexity of the session type. This is really useful if there is a more technically challenging photo to create or again for a client to make sure you're getting all the angles/details for the post-production process.

____________________

*I insert Divider above top*

Then beneath it, the focus is the micro checklist.

TITLE:

"MOVEMENT-ACTION"

Below choose checkboxes beside the Checklist. I add put

“ _____(Wide, Portrait, Close-up, Macro) | (Lens type) | ____/4(variety of different angles

Then repeat it in a variety of different ways that vary based on your creative needs.

After I have written down the technical aspects all are typed down. I will add an additional contact card with all the information for everyone who was a part of the project.

Depending on the type of session that you're doing. If this isn’t for a client then disregard this part. But you can still add this just in case. I will export it to PDF, and a word document for printing and downloading purposes. Then download it offline in the case of no internet which most likely can happen. Make sure to print both files just in the case depending on your location.

One last tip of productivity goodness….For now!

Well, those are just the basics of getting your creative juices flowing in a more organized way. It does take time to practice and find what works best for you this is only just for ideas to hopefully better improve getting out of a creative funk. Another word of advice do not squeeze the ideas out of you, if you are tired, hungry and etc. If you are bored or something isn’t clicking like focus. I recommend probably taking a walk, doing another hobby, writing, reading maybe running errands. Then, come back to the drawing board. Don’t pressure yourself so much that the creative process doesn’t stay enjoyable.

This will help distract your mind and could probably refresh it being out of the environment thats causing the funk can help.

Completing a mundane task can also be great do!

Mindful reminder, CUT YOURSELF SLACK and just enjoy the ride of self-expression it takes time to improve, you’ll get there.