Now that you have your concept and your location, it’s important that you have the right type of equipment on your shoot day. Though you should feel free to experiment with different equipment to achieve distinct looks, here are some helpful tips for conducting specific types of photoshoots:
- Wildlife Photography. Wildlife photography requires knowledge, planning, and patience. You have to be willing to spend time researching, learning about animal behavior, and tracking them in remote areas. In addition, wildlife photography requires expensive gear and accessories that include fast cameras, telephoto, and super-telephoto lenses, fast memory cards, and reliable batteries. But all the hard work and expense are forgotten when you photograph a wild animal in its environment and capture unique and authentic life moments.
- Fashion photography. Fashion photography is much more than this and you might be wondering how you can get started? Shooting for fashion might include spreads for fashion magazines and photographing clothes on runways, in showrooms, and yes, even exotic locations. Some fashion photographs may be more like works of art, while others can be more commercial for online stores or catalogues. One of the first skills for a fashion photographer is capturing the essence of clothing, or accessories, whether on a model or a mannequin, with an important focus on lighting and colors.
- Portrait photography. In portraiture, the focus is generally on the subject’s face. A portrait photographer should make sure they have a camera that can capture a person’s facial expressions clearly, especially if they’re shooting a headshot or family portraits. Film, mirrorless, and DSLR cameras allow creative flexibility while also providing high-resolution image quality.
- Wedding photography. Wedding photography requires a professional photographer to know how to capture a variety of different moments without a lot of time for set-up. Wedding photographers, for instance, should be sure to pack a variety of lenses that be used for different parts of the wedding. A wide-angle lens is useful for group and landscape shots, whereas a prime or macro lens might be needed for specific high-drama moments, such as cutting the cake or the first dance.
- Food photography. In addition to having a camera that can capture the mouth-watering details of the food, you’ll want to make sure you have a background that will make the colors of the food pop. Something textured but monochromatic, like a rustic wood or grey stone, will make the food stand out. Boosting the color hues in the post-production photo editing process can make the food look even more eyecatching against your background. When taking food or product photos, it’s also helpful to bring a lightbox so that the object is illuminated from all angles so as not to produce harsh shadows.
- Sports or concert photography. These types of fast-moving events require a lot of high-speed shooting and a willingness to jump from location to location to get the perfect shot. If you’re shooting a concert or sporting event for the first time, make sure you have a camera that allows you to shoot at a fast shutter speed without having your image be underexposed as a result of strobes or other lighting effects.
