Great photos are a major part of blogging. I’m sharing blog photoshoot tips to make planning and executing photoshoots a breeze.
Photography is something that I’m so passionate about and so particular about. If it’s not right, it’s never going to be seen. I like a certain aesthetic with my photos. When I first started my blog, I had no idea what I was doing. No one offered up any blog photoshoot tips and I pretty much had to figure it out on my own. I used a point and shoot camera to snap photos of everything. I had no clue that photos were so important. Sometimes I even used my cell phone. Now, I currently shoot on a Canon EOS t7i (camera body only) with a 50mm or 24mm lens and I love it!
As a blogger we take so many photos and a lot of the time it’s one of the first things that sets us apart in a crowd. No one wants to see the same old cookie cutter photos or pictures with terrible quality. What some bloggers don’t realize is that there’s more that goes into a photoshoot than just snapping a picture. There are a million things you have to take into consideration in advance let alone on the day of. Great photos are a major part of blogging so I wanted to share a few of my top blog photoshoot tips to make planning and executing photoshoots a breeze.
Blog Photoshoot Tips
1. Come up with a concept
The first step to planning a blog photoshoot is coming up with a concept. When I’m trying to create a concept for a shoot, I think about what I want the photos to say. Most of the time my pictures are going to evoke the same vibe of the post, like this one here. My pictures from this post show sweet, tender moments between Tatiana and I during our trip to Dallas and me trying to hold on to memories of her brother since we couldn’t bring him with us.
Concepts are everything. What do you want your pictures to say? How do you want your readers to feel? Think about that when you’re creating a concept. Think about what elements make up a great post on your blog and go for that.
2. Create a moodboard
The next thing that you want to do after you’ve created a concept is to create a moodboard. A moodboard can help you keep everything together. It should be filled with all of the inspiration for your shoot. Scouring through magazines and blogs can help you to find photos and color palettes that you love.
3. Scout locations
Location scouting is my favorite! I love driving around town looking for the perfect places to shoot. The location can make or break a picture. Do you like greenery or street style photos? If you’re a mom blogger, what types of places do you visit in your everyday life? If you’re a lifestyle blogger, search for places that emulate your lifestyle. The locations should look like it matches your blog aesthetic. The only time you should steer away from that is if you’re going for a certain theme for a special post.
4. Lighting is key
I can’t tell you how much lighting matters. I love natural light! If you’re aiming for light, bright photos natural light can help you to achieve that. Sometimes when it’s too bright outside or the sun is hitting at the wrong angle, I shoot in a shadowy location. I can control the brightness of my photos better when I’m in a location that isn’t too bright.
If you’re shooting at home or in a place where there isn’t natural lighting or the lighting isn’t great, you can shoot with a shadowbox or ring light to achieve the lighting you desire. Learning how to shoot manually on your DSLR can help you find the right settings for shooting in natural light. If you want to minimize your photo editing, take a little bit of time to learn your camera settings before you begin your photoshoot and it will make a world of difference. Focus on learning more about the shutter speeds and depth of field for the subject that you’re shooting.
5. Pick your outfits in advance
One of things that I do to save time when prepping for a photoshoot is pick my outfits in advance. Typically I shoot a few looks in one session so I stick to a color palette which allows me to keep my lipstick the same and only have to change my shoes. My timeless wardrobe essentials are always my go-tos when deciding what to wear for a shoot.
6. Try your looks on the night before
The last thing you want is to show up on the day of shooting and find out that the clothes you picked out don’t fit. Been there, done that. It’s not fun at all. Try your looks on the night before to save yourself the heartache.
7. Know how many photos you need
Before I even go to a photoshoot, I know how many pictures I need of each concept. I like somewhere between 5-10 photos of each concept. Think about how many pictures you’ll need for your blog post plus how many additional pictures you’ll want for social media. I like a good mix of portrait and landscape shots too.
8. Consider props
I’ll admit, this is something that I need to get better at. I don’t typically use a lot of props in my shoots because I honestly just forget. This year I’m working on getting better at incorporating props into my shoots.
9. Shoot in batches
Batch shooting is my favorite! I recently started doing this and it’s been a game changer! I shoot 4 concepts for each photoshoot. Not only does it help me crank out blog content quicker but it also allows me to save time on taking pictures.
10. Set a time limit
Time is money and photoshoots are exhausting. I set aside 3 hours of time for each photoshoot. 1 hour is for travel time and the other 2 hours is for snapping photos. It’ll take you a few tries to get the hang of shooting in batches but once you’ve got the hang of it, you can set a time limit for yourself so that you’re not spending all day taking pictures.
11. Learn your angles
I’m so picky about which angles are my best. Learn which angles work best for you so that you’re only taking pictures from the angles that you love. This will save you so much time.
12. Charge everything
Don’t forget to charge every single electronic device you’re bringing to a shoot with you. It’s not fun at all when your phone or camera dies in the middle of a shoot.
13. Bring snacks
I bring snacks to every single photoshoot. I usually schedule time to take pictures in the morning which means that I’ve either eaten a small breakfast or no breakfast at all. Snacks always save the day. Granola or energy bars work the best for me plus water of course.
14. Don’t forget the comfy shoes
My flats are my saving grace. I always have a pair on hand with me. I bring my high heels or shoes that I’m going to shoot with me in a bag so that I don’t have to walk from location to location in heels.
15. Ditch the hangers and pack everything in a bag
Finally, once your looks are picked and ironed out you can pack everything in a bag. Bags are so much easier to carry around than hangers. I use a large tote bag to pack all of my outfits and essentials in.
16. Leave it to the pros
If all else fails, hire a professional photographer to execute the ideas you have in mind. One of the best things that I could have done for my brand this year is to hire a photographer. It saves me so much time not having to take and edit my photos. I still do my own shoots from time to time but execution is key especially if you don’t have the time to learn photography. Communicate with your photographer in advance with exactly what your are looking for for each session.
Once you get the hang of planning and prepping for photoshoots it’ll become second nature. I love shooting every other week. Photoshoots are a way for me to express my creative side and my personal style. I hope you’ll give these blog photoshoot tips a try before you next shoot.
Do you have any blog photoshoot tips that you live by?
Photos by Emma Shourds Photography
AnnMarie John says
I know quite a few bloggers who would love to read this, including myself. I don’t do much shoots with me, but I do them with my 6yr old and shooting a child is a little bit more difficult, but when you have a child in a good mood, I say shoot as much as you can. I sometimes walk around with my camera and take shots outdoors to use in blog posts as stock photos instead of using ones others use. These are all really great tips!!
Bianca Dottin says
I shoot my daughter a lot too. She’s always ready for a photoshoot!
Stacie says
These are awesome tips! You can’t just plop down somewhere and expect to get great shots. Scouting is a biggie for me, and I’m glad you included it.
Ashley says
Lighting is for real the key! We’ve had the worse light here the last few days thanks to the rain!
Bianca Dottin says
The lighting here has been so bad the past couple of days too.
Scott says
Good lighting is so key. Even the worst photographer can take good shots if the lighting is ideal. Even with just a phone camera!
Ladena says
Such GOOD tips! I usually wing my photo shoots but I really need to plan ahead. I’m going to refer to your list before my next shoot. 🙂
Amy says
I never love to be in front of the camera. I am all about being behind it. I love to shoot food the most and sometimes cooperative people..haha!!!
Bianca Dottin says
Haha! We’re complete opposites, food is my worst enemy!
Claudia Krusch says
Loved your tips! I need to use photoshop more!
Mama to 6 Blessings says
Those are great tips for this blogging mama! I agree with lightening because if it’s bad it really strains my eyes.
Anne Marie says
I really want to invest in a DSLR (finally) this year and take some classes, too. Your post really inspired me!
Bianca Dottin says
Classes are a great way to learn!
Sarah says
Awesome tips! I have a DSLR but I’m always trying to figure out how to use it better. It’s a slow process for sure.