Behind the Scenes: Spring Morning Photoshoot

Preparation and improvisation were everything behind-the-scenes of our spring morning photoshoot.

Photoshoot Preparation

The preparation began more than a week in advance with the creation of a mood board and shot list. I sent these to my model so that she would know what to expect as well.

We chose the outfit a couple of days in advance in case something would need to be laundered. At the same time, I reviewed the locations we would be shooting with my model. We thought about possible storms and mud and planned around those possibilities. We reviewed the shot list again, and I was able to gauge which shots she was excited about. This helped me get a feel for what she was expecting.

Since we were shooting at dawn, we talked about logistics beforehand. What time would the model arrive? What would we do if it rained? We set out umbrellas and rain jackets since the week had been stormy. I kept my sunglasses with our supplies in case the sun got too bright before all the photos were taken.

The morning of the shoot was a perfectly clear, cool morning. My model arrived on time, and we headed towards the lake where I wanted the silhouettes taken. I wanted to take those earlier while the sky was bright but everything else was still dark. I referred to my shot list frequently to make sure we got the best shots in the best places along our path. We kept up a happy conversation to keep both of us relaxed and excited.

Improvisation

The only camera I had available was an older iPhone camera, so it took some playing around to get good pictures. I took multiple pictures while changing settings to get the right lighting and composition setup.

With the way the light changed as the sun rose, I was able to play with the lighting. We used the sun to make silhouettes, like a spotlight, and to create an orange outline around my subject’s face. The beams made for great candid photos as well.

Though we had a plan and a shot list, the unplanned poses made for the best pictures. The planning had prepared us for anything, but the improvisation is what made the shots magical.