Plan to begin your shoot when you know you’ll have plenty of sunlight coming through your windows for hours to come. This way you won’t have to rush your photo shoot. If your room gets bright sunlight, diffuse it with a sheer white curtain or thin white sheet. This will create a softer effect and eliminate harsh shadows. Even on overcast days, the sun should provide plenty of light for your shoot.
You may also consider buying shop lamps, which artists and photographers use for this very purpose. These are inexpensive and can be found at hardware or photography stores. If you’re planning to create more than one home photo shoot, these will be a worthwhile investment.
One light should point toward the ceiling, creating a warm glow against the white paint. This should shine softly on your subject from above. Use another light as a “fill light”; place it in the back of the room, far enough away from the subject so that it doesn’t create shadows. Both of these types of lighting can be used in combination with diffused natural light. The varied light sources will create the optimal setting for a professional-looking photo shoot. Don’t use overhead ceiling lights; these will cast harsh shadows over your subject. You may use an umbrella, a piece of cloth, or another material to diffuse or filter your lights.
Consider asking your model to be ready to change into several different outfits. If you’re taking graduation photos of your daughter, for example, you may want to have pictures of her wearing her graduation dress, her favorite outfit, and her basketball uniform. Gather props to go with the different looks. Hair and makeup are also important components when it comes to creating a professional effect. Remember makeup doesn’t show up as well in photos as it does in person, so you may want your model to wear a brighter shade of lipstick or a tad more eyeliner than normal.
Prep him or her before you begin the shoot by describing the effect you’re going for. Perhaps you want to stick with a traditional portrait-style pose, with your model smiling straight at the camera. Or maybe you want to capture your model’s personality - his smile, or his “pensive” look. Either way, the shoot will go more smoothly if your model knows what to expect.
Most digital cameras have an “automatic” setting. This should be fine in most cases, but make sure that the flash is turned off. You’ve already set up the proper lighting, so there should be no need for a flash. Have a tripod or a flat surface in place. Make sure it’s set at the right angle for professional-looking photos.
Take more pictures than may be strictly necessary. You went to a lot of trouble to set up this photo shoot, and you’ll want to make sure you come away with some great shots. The more you have to choose from, the better!
If you conducted your photo shoot with a film camera, take your film to a photo developing store to get your photos developed.
