What to bring to a shoot?

So what do I bring:

I shoot a lot of models and I can tell you, almost every model wishes they had brought something along to a shoot that they left at home, there favourite hat, her knee high boots, her little blue skirt etc. etc. So if in doubt, bring it! You are much better off to bring way too many clothes than be left scratching around for clothes you just didn't bring. Clothes should always be ironed before a shoot too. That's very important. Wrinkles in clothes look tacky and take away from the natural beauty of a photo. Always bring shoes to match your outfits and have some variety so that you and your photographer can have some choice. Always bring some touch up makeup (including lip gloss) (makeup with UV protection will make you look pail) and always bring combs or bushes to a shoot. You never know when the wind is just going to kill your perfect hairstyle. Be Prepared!!! Always bring a bottle of water and a big towel too. The water is for your thirst and the towel is for your privacy. I always turn my back when a model is getting changed but not every person gives you that courtesy. A BIG towel can often be the difference between you getting changed privately and the whole world seeing your buns!! Bring that towel!

Who's Makeup?

A lot of models ask me if they can do their own makeup for their test shoot with me. I always prefer they go and see my makeup artist and have their makeup done properly. Good makeup can mean the difference between a successful shoot and an average shoot. It's $50 well spent. You go to all the other trouble to get everything else just right and then your makeup lets you down. Don't risk it, book into the makeup lady! I promise you that you wont regret it. (note this is not compulsory, just recommended).

Preparing for a shoot:

It's very important to prepare for a shoot the day before the shoot. Good preparation can mean the difference between a good shoot and a great shoot. It's very important to do any personal grooming the night before. Hair should always be washed the day before a shoot and any shaving should also be done the day before the shoot as well. Shaving on the day of the shoot can cause skin irritations and red marks that really show up in photographs. It's also very important to wear loose clothes to a shoot. You don't want to arrive there and have Jean and belt marks all over you. Those marks take at least an hour to fade and often longer. Wear loose clothes so the shoot can commence straight away when you arrive. If a makeup lady has been supplied don't wear any makeup to the shoot at all. It just slows things down as the makeup lady has to take all your makeup off first then put the real stuff on.

Props:

Although a lot of jobs will provide everything you need for a shoot, always ask if anything else is needed. If your not sure, then just bring the props along any way's. Props can be basically anything that would look good in a photo (an old hat, scarf, toys etc.). For example recently photographed a girl in a farmyard barn. I brought along the hat and the boots and asked her to bring along old jeans and an old shirt. She also brought along a really old think rope too. The final photo looked a lot more real because the viewer can look at that photo and relate to is. She was standing in the barn, hat tipped down, cute smile, boots, old clothes and holding an old coiled piece of rope. The viewer knows exactly what is going on in the photo and it looks "real". Never under estimate the value of good props.