The Pre-Shoot Design Consultation: Crafting Your Perfect Session
3 min read
What is a Pre-Shoot Consultation?
Before we even pick up the camera, we take time to plan every detail of your session, ensuring that the experience is fully tailored to you. The pre-shoot consultation is a collaborative planning session where we:
✔ Get to know each other
✔ Define your vision for the shoot
✔ Discuss styling, location, and logistics
✔ Plan how you’d like to display your final images
This step is essential for creating a stress-free, meaningful, and beautifully curated experience.
Step 1: Inquiry & Booking
Once you reach out, we’ll discuss availability, pricing, and package options to ensure we’re the right fit. Once you’ve booked your session, we begin planning your experience!
Step 2: Creating Your Mood Board
Before we schedule your pre-shoot consultation call, I’ll ask you to create a mood board with images that inspire you. This helps me understand:
✔ Your preferred photography style
✔ Mood and aesthetic you’re drawn to
✔ Posing and composition styles you like
✔ Colors, wardrobe, and locations that resonate with you
How to Create Your Mood Board:
You’ll select 10–20 images that represent what you love.
These can include poses, lighting styles, locations, or wardrobe ideas.
If you’re unsure where to start, I’ll provide some inspiration boards to help guide you.
You can create your board on Pinterest.
Having this visual reference ensures that by the time we have our consultation call, we’re already on the same page and can dive deeper into your vision.
Step 3: The Pre-Shoot Consultation
Once your mood board is ready, we’ll schedule a call (via phone or Zoom) to refine all the details. This is where we get clear on:
✔ Your goals for the session
✔ The mood, style, and aesthetic preferences reflected in your mood board
✔ Who or what will be photographed
✔ Any concerns, preferences, or questions you have
✔ Wardrobe, styling, and location ideas
I’ll review your mood board with you in real-time, noting any trends. Sometimes clients don’t realize what they gravitate toward until we analyze their selections together. For example, you might pin only black-and-white images, anonymous portraits, or outdoor lifestyle shots without knowing it. I’ll guide you through these choices to ensure your final images reflect your vision.
Another key question: Why are you doing this session?
People book photoshoots for many reasons—personal milestones, rebranding, documenting family moments, or rediscovering confidence. Understanding your deeper motivation allows me to tailor the experience to you.
Step 4: Styling, Location & Final Details
With the vision locked in, we’ll finalize:
📍 Choosing the Perfect Location
Do you want a natural, outdoor setting like the mountains or a serene lake?
Would you prefer a studio session with controlled lighting and an editorial feel?
Are we capturing a product or personal brand story in a curated space?
No matter the setting, we ensure that it reflects you and the feeling you want your images to convey.
👗 Wardrobe & Styling Guidance
Need outfit inspiration? We’ll discuss color palettes, textures, and silhouettes that work best.
Want to borrow from my client wardrobe? I’ll show you the available options.
Prefer to go DIY? I’ll provide a wardrobe guide with styling tips to help you feel confident.
💄 Hair & Makeup—Your Way
If you love a natural look, I’ll provide tips on how to prep for your shoot.
If you want the VIP experience, we can schedule professional hair and makeup as an add-on.
The goal is simple: to feel like YOU, just in your best light.
🛋️ Comfort & Posing Considerations
A crucial part of planning is ensuring you feel comfortable, especially when it comes to posing and body language.
Do you have any physical discomforts or injuries? I ask about anything that might impact movement, like back pain or plantar fasciitis, so we can adjust poses accordingly.
Are there body features you love or prefer to downplay? I ask what you love most about yourself so I can highlight those features.
What level of direction do you prefer? Some clients want to be fully guided, while others like more freedom. I ensure you feel supported without ever feeling stiff or over-posed.
For branding sessions, what message do you want to convey? Confident? Approachable? Creative? We’ll align poses and expressions with your brand identity.
Step 5: Bringing It All Together
Before your session, I’ll provide:
✔ Session Prep Guide – A quick checklist on what to bring, how to prepare, and what to expect.
✔ Detailed Timeline & Location Info – So you know exactly when, where, and how the session will flow.
✔ Final Check-In Email – Sent the week of your session to confirm details, ease any nerves, and answer last-minute questions.
This consultation ensures that on shoot day, you feel prepared, relaxed, and excited.
Why This Step is So Important
A pre-shoot consultation isn’t just about logistics—it’s about connection. The more I understand you and your vision, the better I can bring it to life.
Whether we're capturing portraits, a branding session, a fine mineral collection, or a milestone in your life, the magic starts with preparation.
Let’s start planning your perfect session today!