For business clients
Preparing Your Business for a Shoot
A little preparation makes a real difference in the final images. This guide covers the most common things worth thinking through before a commercial session — spaces, products, headshots, events, and brand days. None of it is complicated, but it's worth reading once before your shoot.
Preparing your space
A clean, considered space photographs dramatically better than a busy one. Before your session, take a pass through the areas we'll be shooting and edit ruthlessly — remove anything that doesn't belong to the story you want to tell.
Specifics: declutter surfaces, wipe down glass and mirrors, hide cords and equipment, clear out anything that will distract from your product or atmosphere. If you have signage or a logo displayed, make sure it's crisp and legible.
Think about the time of day. Natural light changes everything — a space that looks flat at noon can look incredible at 4pm. If you know your space has a golden window, mention it when we schedule.
Fresh flowers, a styled shelf, a thoughtfully placed prop — small details add up. You don't need to redecorate. Just notice what's already there and edit it down.
Preparing products
Products should arrive to the shoot clean, polished, and at their best. This sounds obvious, but it's easy to overlook: smudges, fingerprints, small scratches, and price tags are all highly visible in high-resolution photography.
Bring backups if you have them. If a label is slightly crooked or a surface gets marked during handling, having an extra on hand saves time.
If your products have a natural arrangement or a way they're typically displayed, set that up before I arrive or bring reference photos. You know your products better than I do — lean into that.
For food and beverage: think about freshness and timing. A plate that's been sitting for 30 minutes tells a different story than one that just came out of the kitchen. Plan for multiple rounds if the shoot involves plated food.
Headshots and staff portraits
For headshots and staff portraits, clothing is the most common thing people underestimate. A few practical suggestions: solid colors photograph better than busy patterns, layers add visual interest, and pieces in your brand's color palette can tie a set of headshots together.
Avoid large logos on clothing unless they're your own. Avoid very bright white next to skin — it tends to blow out in natural light.
Hair and makeup don't need to be elaborate. Come as you normally would for a professional day, perhaps with a little extra attention to details that matter to you. Natural looks age better in photographs.
If multiple staff members are being photographed, coordinate loosely — not matching, but complementary. A consistent visual tone across a set of headshots reads as intentional.
Events and brand days
For events, the most useful thing you can send me in advance is a timeline. Key moments, key people, any speeches or presentations, and the general flow of the event — even a rough version helps me position and prepare.
Designate a day-of contact who knows the schedule and can flag things I shouldn't miss. This doesn't need to be you — it can be a staff member or coordinator.
Think about access. Will I need a parking pass, a wristband, a contact to check in with? Getting logistics sorted in advance means I'm focused on shooting rather than navigating.
Let me know in advance if there are any subjects who should not be photographed, or any areas of the venue that are off-limits.
Brand and lifestyle shoots
For lifestyle and brand work, mood references are genuinely helpful — not because I'll copy them, but because they show me what you respond to. A few images saved on your phone or a simple Pinterest board communicates more than a paragraph of description.
Think about what props, products, or details belong in the frame. What tells the story of your brand? What do you want people to feel when they see the images?
Be thoughtful about what you include versus what you leave out. The most effective brand images tend to be edited rather than overloaded — one strong focal point, a clean supporting environment.
If your brand has specific colors, consider how they'll appear in the frame. This doesn't mean staging everything to match your hex codes — just being aware of what's already present and what might compete.
Logistics
Let me know about parking and access in advance, especially for commercial spaces with loading restrictions or limited street parking.
Be thoughtful about who's present during the shoot. Extra people in the space can be great — or they can create noise and distraction. If you're bringing staff, let them know what to expect and how to stay out of frame.
If the shoot involves multiple locations or setups, build in buffer time between them. Rushing from one space to another rarely produces the best work.
If something changes on your end — a space isn't ready, a product shipment is delayed, a staff member cancels — reach out as early as possible. Most things can be rescheduled or adjusted with enough notice.
Quick reference
Before the shoot
Your space
- Declutter surfaces
- Clean glass and mirrors
- Hide cords and equipment
- Note best natural light times
Products
- Clean and polish everything
- Remove price tags and stickers
- Bring backups if possible
- Prepare fresh food day-of
Headshots
- Solid colors over patterns
- Bring 2–3 outfit options
- Coordinate staff loosely
- Natural hair and makeup
Events
- Send a timeline in advance
- Designate a day-of contact
- Sort parking and access
- Note any off-limits areas