Preparing for a Shoot

If you are reading this, we are probably going to shoot together. I like to keep my work transparent and straightforward, so I wrote down a few principles that make clear what I expect and what you can expect from me. Please read them all — don't skip anything.

These apply to every shoot. If we are shooting nudes, also read the nudity categories, where I describe what kinds of nude work I do and how I distinguish them.

1. You

The first step is introducing yourself and setting basic expectations. What to send me is described on the Collaboration page — in short: a portfolio or natural unretouched photos (no older than 2 years), your basic details and what you expect from the shoot.

2. The Idea

Before we agree on anything, the vision must be clear. The more specific it is, the easier it is to execute. Creativity has no limits, but these questions need answers:

  • What is the idea and the motivation behind it?
  • If we shoot nudes — which category?
  • Where do we want to publish the result?

With nude work, also consider the less pleasant consequences in advance. Nudity is natural, but not everyone treats it that way — unwanted attention, rumours or harassing messages are unfortunately not rare and can be mentally draining. Keep in mind that most social networks restrict or outright ban nudity, including possible penalties for your profile.

For non-photographic creators and brands: describe your idea, ideally with a moodboard, and be clear about what you offer, what you expect and under what conditions you want to work (trade, budget, contract).

3. Preparation

You are the one in front of the lens, so part of the preparation is on you:

  • make-up and hair
  • accessories (jewellery)
  • skin condition, marks from tight clothing (wear loose clothes without elastic bands on the day)
  • overall condition, enough sleep and hydration
  • signing the model release

These are details people tend to underestimate — and they decide the result. The model release is the last and essential step of preparation: a contract between the model and the photographer, without which photographs cannot be published where personality or privacy rights would otherwise be infringed.

4. The Shoot

Most of the work here is mine. I shoot mainly with natural light, so expect some flexibility in timing — light doesn't follow a calendar. A typical shoot including preparation takes roughly 3–4 hours and yields around 25–35 quality photos.

5. Publication and Credit

Done — time to show the result. You don't have to share the photos everywhere, but if you publish them, it is essential that they remain traceable to everyone who worked on them:

  • Tag and mention the collaborators (photographer, make-up artist, stylist…).
  • If you pass the photos on (to an agency, brand or partner) for public use, these rules apply to them as well.

A lot of time and energy goes into every shoot — without proper credit, it goes to waste. Credited content is also harder to steal.

Ready?

Reach out via Collaboration or fill in the model release directly.