Thread: photo shoot-keeping it fresh

So, I am really just getting into doing shoots now and am looking for ideas. The last 2 shoots I did were about 6 hours ...and honestly after the 3-4 hour mark I start to feel like I'm repeating myself.

Sometimes a change of music does help me. At the last shoot, I'd been using a lot of pop stuff and then I put on Pentaphobe and that helped me shift gears a bit-so did using some old skool Soul.

I do look at other's websites for inspiration before a shoot...anything I'm missing?

I'm actually just starting to organize a workshop on how to prep for a photoshoot now, so I'll be interested in anything anyone wants to add. I just got done with my second shoot with Michael Baxter and we both agreed that this shoot was even better than the first. I think finding a photographer you can work with is key, because the more comfortable you are with each other, the more creativity can flow. Still, different photographers have different eyes, so if you feel like your getting stuck in rut, trying someone new might help. Here are some suggestions to getting out of a rut

- Try changing or adding a prop. Different moves are used with different props, so if you feel like you've done everything you can think of with a veil, pick up a sword instead. Or candles, wings, cane, snake... whatever might help inspire you. Even if you don't normally dance with this prop, picking it up might help push you outside your normal boundaries to create some interesting work.

- Change your costume, hair or make up. It might take a little time for a total re-do but it could be worth the effort, giving you a total new look and feel. We all feel beautiful in our costumes, but think about how you feel when you put on that special dress, that sexy top, that power suit, etc. Every-day clothing helps change our personae, transforming us from Soccer Mom to Sexy Vixen in a single bound. Try using that power to create a new look and personae that can be captured on camera. For example, throw on an Alexandria dress and Melea and play coy; put your hair in a pony tail and a pink bedlah and camp it up ala I Dream of Jeanie; straighten your hair and make Egyptian eyes to embody Cleopatra....

- Change the light, change the mood. Lighting can create different moods and you should talk to your photographer about lighting ideas and effects. He/She might have a few ideas of their own, so be open for suggestions -- the more open you are the more the two of you can work together to create beautiful shots. Even just changing the backdrop can help change the feel of the shoot. Often a photographer will limit the number of lighting changes because the take time to set up, so it's important to plan ahead. While the photographer is changing the light, you can be getting ready in your next costume.

These are just some suggestions off the top of my head. Hope they inspire you!

I totally agree about finding a photog that you have a great relationship with. It's so essential.

The first shoot I did with my now fav we did do lots of props, lots of lighting and b/g changes and 3 costume changes.

The second we only did costume and lighting changes, no props because he wanted to focus on portraits.

Those are all great tips though! And ones I had forgotten to say we did.xo

- When I have a photoshoot, we take a break every hour and the photographer puts the material on his computer. Then we go through the shots, give our opinions of what we like and what we don't like and get back to work. If you don't have a computer, ask if you can see some of the pictures on the LCD screen of the camera.

-changing moods/styles is great. I usuallyu take 3-4 costumes with me to a shoot. the first one is a costume that I like but don't want great pictures of (Í need to loosen up in the first hour, most pictures at the beginning of the shoot look too static for my taste). the other three re compeltly different in style/props. Examples: daring Turkish costume to make me feel zexy and flirty, Egyptoan costume to make me feel like a diva, and something folkloric like meleya/sadi.

-think about adding jewelry/bodyglitter/fake lashes/bindi/fake tatoo/stick on rhinestones halfway through the session. It often makes a difference if you want to use the shots for promo material: I like to use 'bellyshots' or portraits and these little details will help you create more different looks. Changing your headband is not enough if you want a completely different portrait

after 4 hours, take a break and meditate, do yoga excerce, sit outside in the sun and talk about other stuff with the photographer. Taking your mind away from the shoot is refreshing, after that you're more focused.