Updated
- Plan wardrobe a week ahead—solid colors, fitted clothes, 2-3 options
- Sleep 7-8 hours, hydrate, skip alcohol the night before
- Bring touch-up supplies, snacks, water, and reference photos
- The first 15 minutes are always awkward—it gets better
Your first professional photoshoot doesn't have to be stressful. The difference between a good session and a great one is almost always preparation. Here's the checklist we send every first-time client.
Printable Photoshoot Checklist
Use this short version on the day of your session:
- Confirm the meeting point, start time, photographer name, and weather backup
- Steam every outfit and pack each complete look on a hanger
- Bring comfortable walking shoes, then change into the photographed pair
- Pack water, a light snack, hair product, powder, lip product, and deodorant
- Remove phones, keys, wallets, and bulky items from visible pockets
- Save 3-5 reference images that show the mood you want
- Arrive 10-15 minutes early so the session does not begin rushed
- Tell the photographer where each final image will be used
If you are planning a specific kind of shoot, start with the page closest to your session: LinkedIn headshots, executive headshots, dating profile photography, proposal photography, NYC vacation photos, or graduation photos.
If you have not booked yet, compare the scope—not only the session length—in our NYC photographer cost and rate guide.
One Week Before: Wardrobe
Wear what makes you confident, but keep the camera in mind:
- Do: Solid colors (navy, emerald, burgundy, black, cream), fitted pieces, layers for variety
- Don't: Busy patterns, logos, anything brand-new you haven't tested, neon
- Always: Steam or iron everything—wrinkles are brutal on camera
Bring 2-3 outfit options. Your photographer will help you pick what works in the actual lighting.
Night Before: Rest
This is the most overlooked part. Dark circles and puffy eyes are hard to edit out, and low energy shows in every frame.
- 7-8 hours of sleep
- Plenty of water (dehydration shows in your skin)
- No alcohol, no salty food
Morning Of: Don't Experiment
Stick to your normal routine. No new skincare, no fresh haircut (get it a week early), no untested makeup. If you wear makeup, go slightly more defined than usual—cameras flatten features. Matte finishes photograph better than shimmer.
What to Pack
- Outfits on hangers
- Touch-up kit: powder, lip product, hair product, deodorant
- Snack and water (low blood sugar = low energy)
- Reference photos of looks you like
For location sessions, add comfortable walking shoes, a small bag you do not mind setting down, and a weather backup. This matters most for outdoor routes such as Central Park portraits, DUMBO and Brooklyn Bridge photos, or multi-stop NYC vacation photography.
During the Shoot
Your only job is to follow direction and breathe. The photographer handles the rest—angles, lighting, what looks good. Trust them.
The first 15 minutes are always a warmup. Everyone feels stiff. Don't judge the session by how you feel at the start—most people hit their stride after the awkwardness passes.
If you're nervous, say so. Good photographers are skilled at putting people at ease, but they need to know. Read how one client went from camera-shy to confident if you need proof it works.
Different sessions need slightly different prep. For business shoots, bring one polished layer and one relaxed option for corporate headshots or executive portraits. For dating apps, bring outfits that feel like your real weekends, not a costume. For proposal coverage, agree on the exact approach, a safe contact method and a nearby fallback. Compare the coverage packages before planning portraits or guest photographs afterward.
For more specific planning, use the LinkedIn job-search headshot guide, the NYC creator photoshoot production plan, or the personal-branding strategy and shot list.
After the Shoot
Most photographers deliver in 1-2 weeks. Review on a full-size screen, not just your phone. Pick images based on how you want to be perceived, not just which ones you think look "prettiest." Trust your photographer's recommendations.
Before making final selections, confirm where each photograph will be used. A LinkedIn avatar, dating-app opener, website hero, vertical Reel cover, and printed announcement all need different crops. Ask whether the delivery includes both high-resolution files and web-sized versions, and keep an unedited backup of the downloaded gallery rather than relying on a temporary gallery link.
Check the agreement for retouching limits, delivery timing, personal or commercial usage, and the process for ordering additional edits. These details are easier to resolve before selecting favorites than after the gallery expires.
Make the next step easy
Find the right photographer for your plans.
Tell us what the photos need to accomplish, when you need them, and how you feel in front of a camera. We’ll match you with a photographer whose direction style fits the job.
Free inquiry. Review the creative professional, scope and quote before booking. Submitting an inquiry does not reserve a date.
If weather changes the route, use the indoor location permission checklist before relying on a public interior. Then run the wardrobe fit and packing test for the setting you can actually confirm.
