Tips for a Successful Portrait Photography Shoot in Toronto

Introduction to a Successful Portrait Shoot

Want to take a photo for your business but don't know how to use a camera properly? The solution is simple, get a professional portrait/photoshoot done. If it's your first time doing a professional photoshoot, then you will have some questions which I will try to answer here along with any tips or general knowledge you might need to know. 

First things first, finding a photographer, you're gonna want to research who you want to shoot you, go to their websites, make sure they have good reviews and see what they have to offer. Some photographers will suit your needs more than others, like if you want to do a shoot of your pet, some will better tools and environment for your pet. Make sure that you also get along with them, a photoshoot is something that could be improved drastically if it has a little bit of a personal touch to it, so if you can get along with your photographer, they'll be more likely to put more effort into your shoot which would result in a better overall product. 

How Much Will a Portrait Photography Shoot Cost Me?

That has a few variables that you need to consider. Some photographers will have higher rates than others, and it also depends on what package you get from them, since a lot of them will offer different packages which include a variety of options. On average, you should expect to spend over $150 for the cheapest options. The more expensive ones can go above $1000, but if you're REALLY rich and you want a famous photographer, you can spend over $5000 for one shoot. But you're probably not gonna spend that money on a photoshoot, you'll likely spend somewhere around $250 - $750 for a shoot, which can also change depending on how long you're going to shoot. 

Any Other Costs I Should Be Aware of?

The price on the photographer is not the only price you might need to pay however, you have to keep in mind that there might be some costs that come outside of the shoot, for example: you might need to bring in your own equipment or props or clothing to a shoot which you might have to factor into the cost overall.

Where Do We Shoot Professional Portrait Photographs?

Usually you will probably shoot in a professional studio with proper lighting equipment and tools for your shoot. But if you have a specific place in mind that you would like to shoot in for any reason, make sure that the photographer can get there with the equipment they need. Asking too much of your photographer can lead them to charging you more, so be aware of their needs as well. 

I’m Not Sure Where Exactly I Can Shoot My Headshots

Well that again, depends on what you're shooting for. Let's say you're a realtor, you're probably gonna shoot in front of a nice house you sold. If it's a photoshoot for a construction company, it'll most likely be in front of a construction site. So think about what your shoot is for and find a location that suits that well.

What Do I Wear for My Headshots Photoshoot?

This seems a bit obvious, but wear proper clothing, clothing that fits the theme of your shoot, and that it's comfortable to wear in the setting you're in.

Bring Quality Clothing to your headshots session

You want to make sure that the clothes you wear are of a decent quality because it will show in the pictures, and if you bring clothing that is under par, it will appear unprofessional. If you're an athlete, wear brand clothes if you can, e.g. nike, under armor, adidas. A business exec would wear a suit or blazer to their shoot, so think about what you're shooting for and dress accordingly. But if your shoot requires less clothing, e.g. beach shoot, bodybuilder shoot or if you're a swimsuit model, then wear less clothing

Have Options for your portrait session

Bring a change of clothes too, it's good to have options with your wardrobe when you're shooting, it gives you a variety of options with your pictures to choose from once you're done with the shoot, so you can pick what works best for you. Having a variety of pictures that you can show can help you if you're planning on using the pictures for a professional thing like a website. It can convey a message to the visitors of your website that you might want to tell them, like if you have a casual outfit along with a professional one, it shows that you aren't so uptight and a little more laid back, so you can get along with most people.

What Else Might I Need to Know for a Successful Photoshoot?

This might seem like an obvious thing to say, but so many people just don't do this. Be nice to them, photographers are human beings too, and you're gonna be spending a good few hours with them, so why spend those hours being mad at them for no real reason? Have fun with it. Most photographers in Toronto are very friendly, so you wont have trouble with this step, but it's worth pointing out. A photographer will always try to make sure that you are comfortable, so try to return the favour, make sure that they too, are comfortable doing what you're doing, and being where you are.

In Conclusion

Well, that's about everything you are going to need to know. To recap: find a photographer that suits your photoshoot needs, make sure that they fit in your budget, get to know them well enough for your shoot, pick out a location you think works best for you with the proper wardrobe you need and have fun with it! It's a simple but long process that will take a little bit of time, so be patient and again, have fun with it.