5 Pillars to Quality Portrait Photoshoots & Effective Communication
Welcome to the inaugural episode of Clued Up with Maria B: The BTS Photography Podcast. In this episode we discuss the 5 Pillars to a Quality Photoshoot that will influence what goes on BTS before you ever hit the shutter and will not only change but elevate your photography.
Have you spent a lot of money and invested a lot time trying to improve your photography? We all have. Most renowned photographers will tell you what you’re about to learn here, only it’s not going to take you as long to learn it:
The secret to great portraits lies in preparation. It’s everything that goes on behind the scenes that elevates the best photographers and will elevate your portrait photography.
Everything that goes on behind-the-scened can be broken down into 5 categories that I call the 5 Pillars to a Quality Photoshoot. In this episode, I define the 5 Pillars to a Quality Photoshoot:
CORT-Consistency, Organization, Redundancy, and Time
Mapping Your Photoshoot and Workflow
Skill: Technical Skills and People Skills
Business
Growth
We begin by talking about a subtopic of one of the Pillars. That Pillar is Skill and the subtopic is People Skills, specifically the skill of Effective Communication. We talk about the importance and the reasons for good communication with clients, collaborators, and businesses, and the pitfalls of poor communication.
We also talk about the role as photographer and as a director and the critical importance of gaining and remaining in control of your set be it in a studio or on location. We also chat about professionalism and maintaining connections.
Here are a few highlights from this episode:
[02:45] The purpose of this podcast is to try to change that, to help you develop a system, a workflow, a state of mind that allows you to walk onto an into a photoshoot relaxed with less anxiety and with confidence, because in changing your approach and your preparedness for a photoshoot, you're going to make a better experience for your subject, your client, and a better experience for yourself.
[05:18] As a photographer, being the director of what goes on on a set or during a photoshoot demands a strong command of people skills based on good communication.
[05:54] We're going to talk about growth, growth as a photographer growth as a person and why growing beyond your comfort zone is so rewarding.
[13:16] I should have done a much better job at communicating. Please learn from my mistake.
[14:54] Communication centers on building relationships with everyone involved in the shoot.
[22:31] I try and avoid having the camera in my hand all the time, because I think sometimes it gives the impression that as the photographer, I'm in a hurry to shoot when more time should definitely be devoted to communicating the pose and the expression with the client.
[32:53] There's the right way to be responsible and respectful and that comes across in how you communicate.
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Here’s a List of Apps and Sites Mentioned in this week's episode:
Apps
Sites
