The day before the shoot I organise my camera gear.
I always have a pile of essentials, things I may also use & gear to leave in the boot just incase there is a shot in mind on the day. I tend to always pack the day before to provide piece of mind, I always like to be prepared. I pop my batteries on charge & ensure I have fresh memory cards ready to go. I then clean all of my gear before packing it away in my trusty camera bag.
Once all my gear is ready I look up the location & plan the shoot. If it is somewhere I have never been I will always visit the location prior to the shoot. The reason I do this is to find the hot spots & locations where I know I could get a great picture. For example, where the light will be at the time of the shoot & if there is a beautiful bridge or tree that would be perfect for a shot.
The day of I always start my mornings with a coffee!
Oh how I love my coffee, not sure how I would function without it ha! Then I will load up on breakfast & check over my gear once more before getting on the way. Tunes are essential! Thank god for Spotify, I struggle to imagine life without it!
I always leave early, I hate to be late. I usually arrive at least 20 minutes prior to a shoot, if it is a wedding I will be there 30 minutes to an hour prior. Once I arrive I have a quick walk around to assess the location, introduce myself to any venue staff, and sync my gear. I always have my camera ready before the client arrives so it’s a smooth and professional process.
When the client arrives I will introduce myself & tell them to just be natural & have fun with it. During the shoot I do talk to the client to ensure they are comfortable & getting the shots they want. Don't be afraid to ask for a particular photo of your family or a certain group shot. At the end of the day I want you to be happy with the photographs you receive.
It's as "easy" as that! If only cleaning cameras and lenses was as quick and easy as it sounds! haha
Want to know how you can prepare for your shoot? click here!