Photoshoots can be fun and exciting, but they can also be stressful or sometimes chaotic with a lot going on behind the scenes. Here are 10 mistakes you can easily make on a photoshoot and how you can avoid them as they are more common than you think.

1. Planning- Not showing up to a photoshoot could cause chaos and waste time because failure to prepare. Coming to a shoot equipped with a shot list and inspiration for posing and styling can be beneficial to easing stress and encouraging organisation on set. Make sure you prepare mood boards, potential locations, styling (even though it’s the stylist’s job) and poses for the shoot.
2. Not having enough back up batteries that are fully charged could be a big mistake to make on the day of the shoot. If you have no battery, there is no photoshoot.
3. Lighting can become your enemy if you are not prepared for every situation. Natural lighting is unpredictable so arriving to set early to understand the lighting in the location can be beneficial, testing lighting and equipment would be a good practice before a shoot.
4. Too many distractions in the background could take away from the focus or object of the photoshoot. Check out the set before the photoshoot and make any adjustments before the model arrives or the shoot begins.
5. Sticking to the same angle in the photoshoot can be so boring, try different positions and angles to elevate the photoshoot.
6. Rushing, I know time can be of the essence sometimes, but too much rush can cause chaos, planning and going according to a schedule may help you keep on track of time and keep organisation on the shoot.
7. Not communicating with your client through out the process could be a no go. Getting feedback and keeping the energy positive on set can avoid any later errors or awkwardness.
8. Not having emergency plans or a plan B in place will show your inability to plan and be prepared for errors. Make sure that you have several back up plans in place because not every aspect of the day may go according to plan.
9. Attention to detail is very important, not checking the small details like hair on the face, wool on the clothing or wrinkled clothing can be tedious to fix later on in the editing stage and can ultimately ruin the shots later on as well. Fixing the issues right there an then will avoid this.
10. Not having a positive or comfortable energy on set can make the photoshoot awkward and uncomfortable which will translate on camera if the model isn’t comfortable. Be professional on set but also be friendly to make the chemistry on set good and the model feel enthusiastic about working.

Final Thoughts

There are a lot of factors that need to be taken into consideration for a photoshoot, having this guide will help you prepare for your next photoshoot and also prepare you for any errors. Save this blog for later so you can avoid these mistakes in the future.