What To Pack For A Photoshoot: Quick Guide

Each person is going to be different when it comes what to bring to your photoshoot. The guiding principle is “less is more” as this allows you to be unencumbered and to focus on the session itself. Here are some things to think about as you prepare for you photo session when it comes to packing your bag for it.

ESSENTIALS

Keys, wallet, phone.

Keys, wallet, phone.

Say it every time you leave the house.

(You can add transit card here too. )

TOILETRIES AND MAKEUP

Of course, take any toiletries or hygiene products you carry with you daily already. Makeup, however, should be limited to a few items, trying to only have one product covering the base categories: skin/foundation, eyes, and lips. Have makeup as prepared ahead of time as possible, so only brief touching up will be needed during the session.

CLOTHING

Dressing ahead of time in the right amount of layers will allow for shooting down and facilitate not having to carry additional clothing. If you plan on shooting more than one outfit, have the clothing organized and packed to avoid wrinkling. If you have clothing that needs care, think to bring items that will help with this.

ACCESSORIES

Jewelry and accessories can offer variety and a greater range of options and allow for greater color depths in your image. Do try to limit them to a few pieces and have somewhere to pack them when not shooting with them.

USEFUL PROPS

If you have a particular item you would like to be photographed with, take care to have the details of its management worked out for a display at its best. Sometimes, this might include asking a friend to assist during the shooting.

OTHER OBJECTS

I understand that people have certain objects they would like to be photographed with or wearing, this is more food for thought. Think if you would like to have these images for yourself or other people, either is fine. For other people, remember that the reference you have to the object may be different from their perceptions, so think on how you are going to relate this (captioning is fine). If just for you, practice with the object ahead of time to determine the best poses and framings you would like to achieve.

WATER (& BEVERAGES)

I can not stress enough that you should bring some water with you during a photo session. Staying hydrated even a bit is important. Other beverages, however, should be avoided. Coffee and soda can discolor teeth. Alcohol is well, alcohol, and even the red wine here can leave stains.

Bring a small, folded plastic shopping bag to keep in your bag too. This allows us to stash the bag on most surfaces and keep your items dry and safe while shooting.

A remember that if you are having a hard time carrying it, leave it at home. Best not to have your shopping and work materials to have to worry about.

Shooting in Paris: The Best Opportunities

Choosing to shoot in Paris will not only give you the most beautiful city in the world as your backdrop, but also offer some of the best opportunities to create dynamic, unique and outstanding images of yourself. The city offers everything from classical settings teaming you and its major monuments, allowing for perfect vacation photos, but also lesser-known spots to give you more neutral photos focusing on you without refernce, great for those looking to update social or work profiles.

MOST POPULAR

Let’s first get into the big names of the city. The Eiffel Tower, Louvre, The Marais, Montmarte…the list is endless. Here’s “15 Paris Photoshoot Locations” with some of the most popular places in the city for photography and some great tips to think about. Shooting at popular locations can actually offer great one-of-a-kind and creative photos where the model, photographer and location work together to build an effective three-point photo. Let’s do it!

OTHER LOCATIONS AND NEUTRAL BACKGROUNDS

There is countless amounts of content which locations to visit, but sometimes you are looking for more direct photography of you or your party. Paris really can offer additional backdrops for your images, allowing for a wider range of photography looks. Surface textures, from ancient to modern, as well as a variety of streams of light across its roads and through its gardens make for outstanding images, especially for those looking for perfect profile imagery or model book photography. Watch “Paris Balcony Photoshoot” and “Street Photography In Paris With Model” by Jessica Kobeissi where she takes you through some what else is available throughout the city and “Shooting Tess In Paris” by Peter Coulson with an Parisian interior shoot.

Still not sure where you want to shoot? Take a walking tour and do some scouting. Not in the city? Check out these 4 walking tour videos from spring, summer, fall and winter (in that order), throughout Paris and maybe you’ll spot something interesting. I know these streets pretty well between travel, work and day-to-day use and its never a dull moment, never without its architecture, history and vibrance that make it an amazing setting for any type of photo shoot.

ADVANCED

If you want to get scientific, use Photo Ephemeris to pinpoint exact dates, times and locations throughout Paris, based on the sun’s positioning. Don’t forget to check local weather, with weather.com or meteofrance.com to know conditions and cloud cover. But most importantly, save a bit to unpredictability and we can let Paris tell us how to work to take up some excellent opportunities for amazing imagery.