Orange County Photographer Offers Tips for a Successful Photoshoot

Marriage Articles | April 21, 2009

This article includes a list of tips that photographers can follow in order to have a successful photoshoot.

During a photo shoot, there are a number of moving parts. If you are a new professional photographer, you may find it to be a challenge to manage all of these moving parts. This article addresses some steps that most professional portrait and wedding photographers follow in order to have a successful shoot and happy client.

1. If you will be shooting outdoors for any reason, make sure you know when the sunlight will be the best for taking pictures and planning accordingly. Many photographers learn this lesson through the school of hard knocks. They schedule an outdoor shoot at the same time they did the previous month. When they arrive they find that they and their clients need to wait around for an hour or so for the light to be optimal or they have missed the optimal light and are now shooting with too many shadows. To avoid these scenarios find out when the sun will be setting in your area and plan accordingly. This action is even more important for professional photographers who travel. Remember the best lighting will be at different times in different locations.

2. During a photo shoot have an upbeat, fun and positive attitude. While this is helpful at a wedding since if you are easy to work with you will be more likely to help people relax and get more spontaneity from you subjects, it is particularly crucial when shooting children. If the photographer is not upbeat and on top of her game in directing, encouraging, and engaging small children in a fun, positive and upbeat way she will lose the children's attention. They will not look where they need to look, sit where they need to sit or smile when asked. Dealing with small children can present a challenge that is not always evident in all types of photography. If you choose to photograph small children, you either need to naturally have these traits or work very hard to develop them for they are crucial to success.

3. Be early in everything you do. Getting to a wedding venue not only prevents the obvious disaster of missing key parts of the wedding but it gives you an opportunity to plan your game plan. By setting expectations early with your clients on ordering, cost and expectations you will avoid costly and uncomfortable misunderstandings. By finishing your editing work prior to when you said you would do so, you are communicating competence and responsibility to you clients and they will be more likely to use you again.

Becoming a professional photographer is hard work. Following these suggestions will help you be successful in that effort.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephen and Vanessa are Orange County residents. Vanessa began her photography business by serving Murrieta and Temecula. She shot weddings, family portraits, and engagement shots.

She later started an office in Newport Beach and became an Orange County Photographer. She expanded her services to Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Dana Point and San Diego.

Vanessa now works as a Laguna Beach Family Portrait Photographer. She also teaches classes on technique and business practices to other Orange County Wedding Photographers.