9 Things to Consider When Preparing for Your Photo Shoot

Congratulations on your engagement, wedding, and/or new addition to your family! We are thrilled for you as you enter this new chapter in your life. To commemorate the event, you may call on us to photograph the engagement, wedding, and/or family portrait.

To make everything go a little smoother, here are nine things to consider when preparing for your photo shoot with Adrian Tamblin Photography:

1. Please list a few locations you are considering for the shoot. Perhaps you have a favorite spot, like a winery, brewery or some other special place in mind?
2. Don’t hesitate to check out the exact photo shoot locations beforehand. We encourage you to find a spot that reflects your love and a place you’ll both feel comfortable. And please note that there is no such thing as an ‘ugly’ location….there is beauty everywhere….we just have to find it! We’ve shot many locations, so please know that the location doesn’t necessarily have to be pretty at every corner.
3. Consider the time of day. We prefer to do the shoot around sunset. Why? Because the best lighting is about 45 minutes prior to sunset. A lot of pre-sunset photos look fantastic thanks to Mother Nature’s daily light show.
4. Have your clothing, hair, and makeup in place before the photo shoot. Consider one change of outfits, as well. It’s better to be prepared ahead of time than to stress and feel frazzled.
5. Bring a comfortable pair of shoes along with you. Even if you have a gorgeous pair of shoes intended for the photoshoot, you may not want to walk around in them too much. Just in case you have to walk on grass, dirt, or wet walkways, a comfy pair of shoes will help you get there more easily. Then, slip into your photoshoot shoes when you’re ready to pose for the camera.
6. Please be on time! We are natural-light photographers, so the sun dictates how long we can photograph you. Please make proper considerations for traffic, hair delays, and fashion emergencies. An average shoot lasts 60 to 90 minutes. If you show up 30 minutes late, it affects the amount of light we can work with. We want the absolute best pictures for you and we need light in order to achieve this.
7. Be sure to check out wedding blogs and Pinterest for engagement sessions and engagement slideshows before the shoot. I’ve discovered that when the prospective groom views some pictures in advance, it helps him feel more comfortable in front of the camera. Gals are usually more likely to model or what we lovingly refer to as “workin-it” in front of the camera. Guys, on the other hand are sometimes not. However, if they see some of our images and poses beforehand, they know that we are only there to make them look extra manly.
8. It’s always fun to bring along props. We view every engagement session like a mainstream shoot–complete with models and props and scenery. We want every engagement shoot to look like it could be in a magazine, so feel free to bring things along that really reflect your personalities. For instance, we’ve had a couple bring along a soccer ball because they met on the field. Another couple bought cotton candy and had fun eating it together. Another couple had matching iPods, so they brought them along because they’re both really into music. The list is endless! Suggestions: Bikes, Polaroid camera, a favorite journal, magazines you like reading. Anything! Don’t hesitate to bring anything that truly reflects you individually or as a couple.
9. Relax and have fun. A photo shoot can really be fun and memorable, especially with the Adrian Tamblin and his team.

Do you have any questions or additional ideas for your photo shoot? If yes, contact us at 707-322-2233 or adrian@adriantamblin.com. We’ll be happy to do everything we can to make you feel comfortable during your photo shoot.

Filled Under : Engagements