Shoot preparation

Tips for getting ready for your photo shootby Sarah Skinner Jan 2005

Research photos:
Look around at photographs that grab your attention. Check out other photographs of dancers for ideas of poses that work. Look at fliers, CD covers, business cards and website's. Here is one good site: shanmonster.lilsproutz.com There is a huge variety of lighting, poses, colors expressions- study other photographs and see why certain ones work and others do not. Look at your past photos and see what works well on your body. Think about what message you would like to put across. As in do you want to be smiling and giggly or do you want to be moody and emotional and what kind of photographs bring that look out.

Practice:
What can help your shoot be more successful is to practice in the mirror different poses and facial expressions that you find flattering on you. Take some of your favorite movements and freeze frame it and see at what moment it looks the best.

Get use to making emotional expressions on cue. When you are on stage, you make a wide variety of faces. Capturing that look of joy on film is truly beautiful, but often it feels strange and funny to do that face in the cold setting of a photo studio. When you perform, be aware of the moves and faces you do and try to think about them isolated in a photo shoot setting. These movements will be a level of life and excitement to your photo.

The more you model the better you get. I recommend doing as many photo shoots as you can. Try different photographers and learn different tricks from each one. Or you can work with the same photographer and get more comfortable with that person and experiment with different ideas. Modeling is an art in and of it self and it is very hard work. The first couple of photo shoot I had of my self I thought I was a really good model. Now, X number of photo sessions later I look back at my first shoots and see just how much I needed to improve and know myself in front of a camera. Still photography is capturing a fleeting moment or expression, it is totally controlled by the inspiration of the model and the split second moment. Weather I am the model or the photographer, if I get one good shot out of a photo shoot, I consider it at good shoot.

You may need to do a particular movement over and over- in hopes to catch it just at the right moment. It takes effort to do that movement over and over - and keeping it fresh and "in the moment". It is very different than performing, it takes practice!

Beauty prep:
Do not try to do a crash diet two days before the shoot. Doing that does not do much to the look of your body, other than make you look sallow.

Getting your body and skin ready for a photo shoot days in advance is important. Drink lots of water. It will cleans and flush your skin.

The night before, get plenty of rest. You do not want to walk in tired with bags under your eyes! Modeling is hard work. A photo shoot with Sarah is a total work out-Be forewarned, you will be so exhausted afterwards!

Groom well. Shave, file, paint, wax, pluck- every last detail will show in a photograph.

Costume:
We can talk about what costume colors will work. White is always difficult in shoot. Have all your costumes worked out, in a bag with the accessories that you want to go with each costume. You don't want to waist time primping and figuring out what to wear. But- just in case bring extra stuff- incase some part is not working out. It is always better to bring more than less! And the more accessories the better- it makes the essence of the dancer look more opulent.

Adding veil adds extra movement and drama to your photographs. Other props will be fun also! You can bring wings but be aware that wings are so huge that often the full wing span can not be shown in the photo (see thumbnail).

Fix it up. Go over your costume and make sure all the repairs are done. No treads hanging out all over. Make sure that your costume is fitted to you well. That all the pieces are together. Bring safely pins- to pin your costume on, just as you would for a performance. You will be moving and busting your ass during the shoot. And you want all of you to look perfect. So many people make the mistake to not pin their costume because they think it will not matter. But if you are doing a movement and it slips and moves- that rumple will be for ever preserved on film- might as well take the extra moment to make sure the costumes stays on you perfectly while you are worrying about your face.

Wouldn't it suck if you loved your face and movement, but your skirt was popping up? or all the treads were popping out of your gloves? or your feet were all dry and crackly or you boobs sagged because the costume wasn't adjusted? Details details details!

Makeup:
Come to the shoot mostly made up. Bring plenty of makeup with you for touch up. You will also need to use and unusual large amount of power (any kind of shine on the skin creates a white shinny picture- makeup artists always put on way more than a natural amount- looks weird in person but it looks great in photos).

Make up artist
If you would like, I know a professional makeup artist that charges $150 that will come to the shoot and make you look wonderful. Come with a clean face and your hair done (they will fluff). Make-up artists really know how to handle make up in the un-natural bright lights of the photo studio.

Counter make up
Another option to getting a makeup artist- is setting up an appointment with a MAC counter. They charge $50 bucks and don't care if you purchase anything- but I recommend you purchase/use a lipstick and powder that you can bring with you to freshen up your make up. They do a great job. Let them know that it is for a photo shoot and they will adjust the amount they put on your for that task.

Hair:
Please have your hair done when you get there (or mostly done). There will be no time to fuss with it. If you need to do that, be sure to book that time in advance.

If your hair is very "western" looking maybe you have some head treatments.

Music:
Bring some music you would like to dance to - something you are inspired by. Modeling is a very hard job music can help set the mood for you. If you have music that you usually dance to, you will feel more at ease and be able to bring out what you look like when you perform. Bring different moods- for slow moody pics and hot exciting pictures.

Dog:
My dog Charleston, a pug, often comes. Let me know if you have any allergies and I will makes sure he is not there.

Additional people at a photo shoot
Kevin Fox (the model for the thumbnail next to "practice" above) is often at the shoot. Kevin Fox is a lighting god and often assists. Don't worry, there is a suitable change room. Kevin often sits in the side office working away.

Bringing people to a shoot
That is up to you. Sometimes it works out great- someone to help carry the huge amount of stuff around. And a partner in crime if you are feeling shy for meeting me for the first time. They can also help you make costumes changes faster.

But sometimes Additional people in the room make the model self conscious. Or they can not help but to keep looking at the friend and it prevents them from making a visual and emotional connection with the camera. But usually it is the self conscious thing- because you feel kinda silly making funny faces at the camera- so if I notice that, I'll politely kick the person out into the cozy waiting area.