How To Keep Shoots Stress Free
I pride myself on having very relaxed photoshoots. So many people have told me that whenever they shoot with me, they never feel stressed, nervous or anxious. Of course, it's hard to say that happens every single time without fail - sometimes the inevitable does happen. But 95% of the time, my shoots are lovely to be on, and everyone has a nice time.
So how do I keep them stress free?
It's not just by accident! A lot of hard work goes on before a shoot even happens to make sure that they're kept stress free. Here's how I do it:
1. Get Everything Prepped Ahead Of Time: I'm an organisational nerd. I love to know that I have everything planned to a T. I don't like leaving things to the last minute (I was the annoying student who had her essays done a week before they were due). But that is honestly one of my biggest tips. If you can get things planned and sorted out with plenty of time, it means that when the shoot day actually comes round, you're not anxious from "last minute prep."
2. Make Lists: When I book a job, or start planning a personal shoot, I grab my notebook and make a list of every single task that I need to complete, and start to work my way down the list over the course of a few days. Having a list means that I'm not scatter brained, and don't flip flop between tasks. I can focus in on one thing, get it done, tick it off, and move onto the next one.
3. Build a solid team: I'm someone who likes to work with the same people over and over again. Be it a make up artist, hair stylist or fashion stylist, I like to work with people who I get to know well. The advantage of this is that we end up being really good friends, so every time we're on set, it just feels like spending a day with your friends! I find this even more important on campaigns than for personal shoots, because I tend to get a bit nervous before big jobs, but having a team around me of people I know and trust, means that they reassure me, and encourage me. I encourage you to find your team mates, and stick to them.
4. Smile a lot, and chat: On set, I like to try and keep the mood high. I'm an introvert, so I definitely need to use a lot of my energy on a shoot (which is why I get so drained after days of shooting), but I do it because I know how important it is for the mood on the day to be positive. If the photographer is grumpy, unfriendly, or stressed, trust me, it's going to make everyone else feel stressed too. So I make sure to chat to everyone, smile, ask questions, play up beat music and have fun!
