Styling your clients:

This is one of the most sought after topics of photographers, how do I achieve the style of photography I really want! Its cyclical, and two-part, how do I get the clients I want, and how do I get my current shoots to attract the type of clients that I want and be the style I want.  

As I've said for the last few years, a photographer really needs to be a leader to make this happen.   While you may not have to do everything, unless budgeting requires this, but having others you can source help from is essential!  I will completely go over these 4 steps to help you style your shoots & clients in depth, in how me and my team prepare and style our couples before the shoot.  

Then we will actually execute the shoot LIVE in the streets of New Orleans.  This will not be a how to shoot, but a behind the scenes production!  The shoot will be limited to the 1st 25 people to sign up!

Here are the 4 steps to styling your couples we will go over during the class & the shoot.  

Step 1. Know what you want.  Pick out some samples of work from photographers or from ads you've seen, then you can put together some ideas to inspire you.  Jose Villa is one photographer that really inspires me & I love his work.  I have some recent shoots here on my blog.

Step 2. Listen and THEN educate your clients.  Chances are your clients may have a style, but its up to you to pull it out of them.  Don't tell them who they are, let them talk, listen and then put together some ideas, props, locations, clothing ideas.  All with the option for them to easily reject them w/o offending you.   

Step 3. Write down a timeline of the theme, locations, wardrobe changes, props, Put all this down and have a game plan with time to change & set up for each idea or scene. Take into account transporting, adjusting, and getting everything right, our shoots take up to 5 hours.

Step 4.  Get an assistant.  You can't do it alone.  Our clients value us more for not being a one man show.  Wether your lighting, or having someone run and grab props, move things around, or just there for support, parking, driving, holding lights, lenses, reflectors, all these are essential and often can be done by 1 or sometimes 2 people.  We have recently hired a stylist for our casual portrait shots.  You may be thinking, "I can't afford to hire an assistant!", you may be right, BUT you can trade help with another photographer.  That doesn't cost anything and you BOTH gain experience.  Someone once told me, "they will copy me!".  Don't be scared of that.  They'll see what you blog anyways.  The better you get, the more people who will want to help you, and the more you assist others, the more you will learn.  Get our there, style your shoots, style your clients, have fun and get the clients you want.  What are you waiting for!

I look forward to seeing you there!